Is Melrose Manors safe?
Fort Lauderdale, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Melrose Manors as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Melrose Manors
“Go with care. Melrose Manors is a primarily residential, working-class neighborhood that sees little standard tourism. While daytime visits along residential streets are generally uneventful, elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents in adjacent corridors along West Broward Boulevard warrant heightened situational awareness, especially after dark.”
Local news coverage intermittently reports vehicle break-ins and occasional street-level gunfire incidents along the surrounding West Broward Boulevard and State Road 7 commercial corridors.
About the area
Melrose Manors is an established mid-century residential neighborhood located just west of I-95 in Fort Lauderdale. It features single-family ranch homes, local community parks, and Caribbean-influenced dining along its perimeter corridors.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Grid
Walking and biking in Melrose Manors
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 56/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse within the neighborhood, though standard roadway cycling is common; there are no municipal bike-share stations located directly in the neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Close proximity to major arterial routes and I-95 for quick regional access
- Quiet, low-traffic interior residential streets lined with single-family homes
- Rich presence of authentic local Caribbean and soul food eateries nearby
- Active local community presence with neighborhood green spaces like Shirley Small Park
Cons
- Property crime rates and motor vehicle thefts are higher than the Broward County average
- Lower median household income and higher poverty rates compared to eastern Fort Lauderdale
- Commercial borders along major avenues experience sporadic violent crime and drug activity
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with sporadic sidewalks and dark interior streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential blocks but becomes noticeable at bus stops and retail strip centers along West Broward Boulevard.
What Melrose Manors is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work and children waiting for school buses.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet residential streets with standard suburban activity and moderate traffic on perimeter roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly in residential sections; caution is advised around convenience stores and transit stops along Broward Blvd.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is not recommended late at night due to limited street lighting and higher risk of opportunist street crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) operates local routes including Route 22 along Broward Boulevard and Route 81 nearby. The nearest rail hub is the Fort Lauderdale Tri-Rail/Brightline station downtown, roughly 2.5 miles east.
Free street parking is widely available throughout the residential grid, and commercial plazas along the main avenues provide ample complimentary surface parking.
Things to do in Melrose Manors
- Enjoy the playground, basketball courts, and community space at Shirley Small Park
- Explore local Caribbean culinary specialties along the West Broward Boulevard corridor
- Attend community events and youth programs at the nearby Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park
Local favorites
- Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.1★ (1850)Popular local counter-serve spot dishing out generous portions of jerk chicken, oxtail, and curry goat.
- Snappers Fish & Chicken · Seafood Restaurant · 4.2★ (920)Fast-casual staple famous for seasoned fried fish, crispy wings, and conch platters.
- Lester's Diner · Diner · 4.4★ (5600)Iconic 24-hour retro Florida diner located just minutes south, renowned for oversized 14-ounce cups of coffee and classic comfort fare.
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.