Is Margate safe?
Margate, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Margate as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Margate
“Go. Margate is a standard, quiet Broward County suburb that is generally safe for everyday visitors, diners, and families. While major commercial corridors like State Road 7 experience typical suburban property crime, residential areas are peaceful and low risk.”
About the area
Margate is an established suburban community in northwestern Broward County featuring quiet residential neighborhoods, golf courses, and strip-mall dining. It serves primarily as a residential hub between Coral Springs and Pompano Beach, offering casual parks and diverse local eateries.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Margate
Walk score: 46/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There are no public bike-share systems, but local canal paths and residential roads accommodate recreational cycling; painted bike lanes on major thoroughfares lack physical protection.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates consistently track below state and national averages.
- Strong mix of established owner-occupied neighborhoods and quiet 55-plus retirement communities.
- Abundant community parks and recreation facilities with active municipal upkeep.
Cons
- Commercial strips along State Road 7 / US-441 see occasional property theft and vehicle break-ins.
- Heavily car-dependent layout with wide, high-speed arterial roads that are hazardous for pedestrians.
- Pockets of aging multi-family rental complexes experience higher calls for nuisance service.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, occasionally observed in the form of panhandling near major intersections along State Road 7 and Atlantic Boulevard, but large encampments are absent.
What Margate is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and suburban as commuters head out and residents jog or walk dogs through residential subdivisions.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active along Atlantic Boulevard and State Road 7 with typical retail traffic; neighborhood parks remain calm.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential winding down with moderate dining crowds at neighborhood strip centers; safe overall.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic; commercial parking lots empty out and standard nighttime precautions are advised along main avenues.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides bus coverage via major routes like Route 18, 31, and 81, though service intervals can be long; the nearest Tri-Rail commuter rail station is Pompano Beach, about 5 miles east.
Parking is exceptionally easy and universally free in vast surface lots across shopping plazas, strip centers, and municipal parks.
Things to do in Margate
- Cool off with family water slides and pools at Calypso Cove Waterpark.
- Play a round of 18 holes at the public Oriole Golf Club.
- Catch local sports leagues or walk the paths at the Margate Sports Complex.
Local favorites
- Spanky's Cheesesteak Factory · Sandwich Shop · 4.6★ (1150)Long-running casual counter serving authentic Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies.
- La Bamba Mexican & Spanish Restaurant · Mexican & Spanish Restaurant · 4.5★ (2300)Vibrant local staple known for generous platters of fajitas, paella, and margaritas.
- Pasta And... · Italian Restaurant · 4.7★ (520)Cozy, family-owned trattoria serving homemade pasta and traditional regional Italian dishes.
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.