Is Lauderdale Lakes safe?
Lauderdale Lakes, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Lauderdale Lakes as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Lauderdale Lakes
“Go with care. While Lauderdale Lakes boasts exceptional Caribbean culinary spots and quiet residential enclaves, its elevated rates of property crime and violent crime along commercial corridors warrant vigilance. Visitors should stick to well-trafficked plazas during daylight hours and practice standard suburban street smarts.”
Local law enforcement has maintained focused patrols along the State Road 7 corridor to address recurring retail property crimes and vehicular break-ins.
About the area
Lauderdale Lakes is an established, centrally located Broward County municipality known for its vibrant Caribbean-American community and West Indian eateries. The built environment consists mainly of mid-century condo developments, residential single-family neighborhoods, and busy commercial strip centers along State Road 7.
- Caribbean Cultural Hub
- Suburban Strip Malls
- Car-Dependent
- Residential Condos
Walking and biking in Lauderdale Lakes
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Bike-share programs are not available, and cycling is largely restricted to painted on-street lanes on busy thoroughfares without dedicated off-street greenway connections.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Diverse culinary destination renowned for authentic Jamaican, Haitian, and Trinidadian dining
- Centrally positioned in Broward County with convenient access to Florida's Turnpike
- Well-maintained municipal park facilities like Vincent Torres Memorial Park
- High household vehicle access providing straightforward regional mobility
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates trend higher than state and national benchmarks
- Poverty rate exceeds 20% with lower median household income than the Broward County average
- Elevated frequency of vehicle burglaries and opportunistic thefts in retail parking lots
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, primarily through individuals panhandling at major commercial intersections along State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard, though large organized encampments are rare.
What Lauderdale Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally quiet and safe, with steady local activity around breakfast spots and transit stops.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons bring bustling commercial plaza traffic that is comfortable for daytime shopping and dining.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are moderately busy, but increased situational awareness is advisable around dimly lit plaza perimeters.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late night hours carry elevated safety risks, making pedestrian travel ill-advised along main arterial corridors.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides bus service across the city via key routes including Route 18 (along State Road 7) and Route 72 (along Oakland Park Boulevard); the nearest Tri-Rail commuter rail station is Fort Lauderdale station roughly 5 miles east.
Free surface lot parking is readily available across almost all retail centers and community parks, though leaving valuables visible in vehicles is discouraged.
Things to do in Lauderdale Lakes
- Sample traditional Jamaican jerk specialties and Haitian baked goods along State Road 7
- Enjoy the walking paths, sports courts, and lake views at Vincent Torres Memorial Park
- Shop for specialty Caribbean spices, tropical produce, and imported goods at local markets
Local favorites
- Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.1★ (1420)Popular fast-casual spot dishing out generous portions of jerk chicken, oxtail, and curried goat.
- Silver Pond Seafood Restaurant · Chinese Restaurant · 4.3★ (690)Long-standing strip-mall fixture known for authentic Cantonese cuisine, dim sum, and seafood.
- Donna's Caribbean Restaurant · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.0★ (980)Busy neighborhood staple serving hearty portions of classic West Indian stews and fried fish.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.