Is Memphis Heights safe?
Bradenton, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Memphis Heights as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Memphis Heights
“Go with care. Memphis Heights is an older, working-class residential enclave where visitors should maintain basic situational awareness, especially after dark. While it is generally quiet during the day, property crime rates and occasional localized disturbances make standard precautions advisable.”
About the area
Memphis Heights is a modest, established residential neighborhood situated in the north Bradenton/Palmetto corridor of Manatee County. The area primarily consists of mid-century single-family homes, duplexes, and local trades businesses. Visitors primarily pass through or stay when seeking affordable accommodations close to the Manatee River and downtown Bradenton.
- Working-Class
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Memphis Heights
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 49/100
There are no dedicated bike-share programs in the neighborhood, but the flat terrain allows for quiet neighborhood cycling, with connections to the Palmetto and Bradenton trail systems roughly 1.5 miles away.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick 5-to-10-minute driving access to the Bradenton Riverwalk and Palmetto historic district
- Close proximity to diverse and authentic local dining and independent specialty markets
- Lower traffic congestion compared to the heavier tourist corridors along the barrier islands
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle burglary rates are elevated compared to Manatee County averages
- Lower median household income and pockets of deferred housing maintenance
- Inconsistent sidewalk infrastructure and limited pedestrian street lighting
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, though individuals experiencing homelessness are occasionally seen along nearby commercial stretches of US-41 and major intersections.
What Memphis Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work and children waiting for school buses; generally safe for walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet residential rhythms with light neighborhood traffic, feeling relaxed and low-risk.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly as daylight fades, requiring extra caution along unlit or poorly lit side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted; walking alone is not recommended due to sporadic opportunistic crime and limited visibility.
Transit, parking and getting around
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) serves the perimeter of the neighborhood via Route 1 and Route 201 along the US-41 and 17th Street corridors, though headways are typically 30 to 60 minutes with no rail connectivity.
Parking is abundant and entirely free, primarily relying on private driveways and unrestricted curbside street parking on residential blocks.
Things to do in Memphis Heights
- Visit the nearby Lincoln Park sports complex and community pool facility
- Explore local culinary markets and taquerias along the adjacent 17th Street East corridor
- Take a short drive south across the Green Bridge to stroll the Bradenton Riverwalk
Local favorites
- D's Breakfast & Burgers · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (1100)A beloved casual staple nearby serving hearty morning platters, classic griddle burgers, and homemade pies.
- Acapulco Tropical Supermarket · Supermarket & Taqueria · 4.4★ (1450)A bustling Latin market featuring a fresh meat counter, specialty produce, and an authentic in-store taqueria.
- Popi's Place · Family Diner · 4.5★ (980)A welcoming regional diner known for Greek specialties, all-day breakfast, and quick service.
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.