Is Mays safe?
Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Mays as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Mays
“Go with care. Mays is primarily a quiet, working-class residential neighborhood of mid-century ranch homes, but it offers very few visitor-oriented attractions. While inner residential streets are generally calm during the day, commercial corridors along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive experience elevated rates of property crime and occasional violent incidents.”
Local police initiatives in Atlanta Police Zone 1 have focused on curtailing recurring car break-ins and commercial corridor gun violence along adjacent sections of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
About the area
Mays is a leafy, residential neighborhood situated in southwest Atlanta near Interstate 285 and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Characterized by modest brick homes and mature trees, it functions almost entirely as a commuter community for long-time residents rather than a tourism destination.
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet / Suburban Feel
- Mid-Century
Walking and biking in Mays
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 22/100
There is no dedicated bike infrastructure or bike-share stations in Mays, and topography plus narrow road shoulders make cycling challenging.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established residential community with relatively high homeownership rates among long-term residents
- Quiet, low-traffic residential interior streets with ample tree canopy
- Convenient vehicle access to Interstate 285 and the Interstate 20 interchange
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle theft rates are notably higher than national and statewide averages
- Poverty rate sits above the regional average with limited commercial investment
- Extremely car-dependent with minimal walkable amenities or retail options
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks, but occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near commercial plazas and bus stops along MLK Jr. Drive.
What Mays is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute out to work and school, with standard residential awareness recommended.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm residential atmosphere on neighborhood blocks, though commercial strip plazas on perimeter roads show higher foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly in the residential sections, while main road convenience centers require heightened caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted; pedestrian travel is not recommended due to limited lighting and increased opportunistic crime risk.
Transit, parking and getting around
MARTA operates bus routes 68 and 73 through the area, connecting passengers to the Hamilton E. Holmes rail station (Blue Line), located roughly 1.5 miles northeast.
Free residential street parking and private driveways are abundant throughout the neighborhood; commercial plazas offer free surface lots without meters.
Things to do in Mays
- Explore the mid-century residential architecture along the quiet neighborhood loop streets
- Visit nearby Anderson Park for outdoor recreation, walking paths, and sports fields
- Sample local southwest Atlanta comfort food and wings along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Local favorites
- JJ Fish & Chicken · Fast Casual Seafood & Wings · 3.9★ (840)A casual neighborhood counter-serve staple known for fried catfish, whiting, and seasoned chicken wings.
- American Deli · Deli & Wings · 4.1★ (460)Popular regional chain location serving hot lemon pepper wings, cheesesteaks, and gyro sandwiches.
- Big Daddy's Soul Food · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (1150)Longtime nearby casual eatery dishing out smothered pork chops, mac and cheese, and collard greens.
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.