Is Leavell Woods safe?
Jackson, Mississippi · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Leavell Woods as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Leavell Woods
“Skip unless you are visiting specific family or community venues in South Jackson. The neighborhood experiences elevated rates of both property and violent crime consistent with South Jackson's broader safety challenges. Visitors should exercise strict situational awareness, travel by car, and avoid unfamiliar residential streets after dark.”
South Jackson neighborhoods, including Leavell Woods, have experienced persistent municipal water system disruptions alongside heightened police initiatives targeting vehicle break-ins and gun violence.
About the area
Leavell Woods is an established mid-century residential neighborhood in South Jackson characterized by single-family ranch homes and mature pine trees. While it retains a quiet suburban layout, it faces systemic municipal infrastructure challenges and elevated crime rates relative to the national average.
- Suburban Decline
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
- Mid-Century Stock
Walking and biking in Leavell Woods
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 31/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is virtually nonexistent in the area, and there is no connection to regional multi-use trail networks or bike-share programs.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established single-family residential layout with ample yard space and mature greenery
- Convenient access to major arterial corridors like Terry Road, Raymond Road, and I-20
- Relatively low-traffic interior residential streets
Cons
- Significantly elevated rates of violent crime and property theft compared to national benchmarks
- High local poverty rate and notable residential vacancy in adjacent South Jackson blocks
- Widespread municipal infrastructure issues including recurring water pressure instability and road deterioration
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential streets of Leavell Woods, but occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed along major thoroughfares such as Terry Road and Highway 80.
What Leavell Woods is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm as residents commute, though foot traffic is sparse and visibility should remain high.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet residential atmosphere, but visitor vigilance is advised along commercial perimeter roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly; staying in well-lit private premises or vehicles is strongly recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking through the neighborhood after dark is not advised due to heightened risks of opportunistic crime and poor street lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
JATRAN operates fixed-route bus services along primary corridors like Terry Road and Raymond Road, though frequency is limited and there are no light rail or BRT systems.
Driveway and street parking are abundant and free throughout the residential subdivisions, with no parking garages or metered zones.
Things to do in Leavell Woods
- Visit the nearby Jackson Zoo to explore animal exhibits and family-friendly grounds
- Explore local community worship spaces such as Leavell Woods United Methodist Church
- Take a short drive north to Battlefield Park for historic markers, tennis courts, and open green space
Local favorites
- Bully's Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)James Beard Award-winning iconic soul food spot serving smothered pork chops, greens, and ox tails nearby.
- Big Apple Inn · Sandwich Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)Historic Jackson eatery famed for its smoke sausage sliders and pig ear sandwiches.
- CS's Restaurant · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (420)Longtime local dive known for hearty burgers and relaxed diner-style comfort food.
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.