Is Monticello Park safe?
Winston-Salem, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Monticello Park as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Monticello Park
“Go with care. Monticello Park is a quiet, working-class residential pocket, but its proximity to higher-crime corridors in East Winston warrants vigilance, particularly after dark. Visitors will find little commercial attraction within the residential streets, though nearby cultural institutions and dining staples are easily reached by car.”
Citywide public safety efforts in Winston-Salem have maintained targeted patrols across eastern arterial corridors to address property crime and sporadic shots-fired incidents.
About the area
Monticello Park is an established, modest neighborhood in East Winston-Salem characterized by mid-century single-family homes and mature greenery. Primarily residential, the area offers a low-key atmosphere while sitting just minutes from downtown and Winston-Salem State University.
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Monticello Park
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 32/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes and bike-share hubs, though cyclists can connect to the paved Salem Creek Greenway a short ride to the south.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential streets with mature trees and long-term residents
- Quick drive to downtown Winston-Salem, university campuses, and Salem Lake
- Ample street parking and minimal neighborhood traffic congestion
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates are elevated compared to the Forsyth County average
- Lower median household incomes and higher localized poverty rates compared to state averages
- Virtually no walkable commercial, dining, or retail amenities within neighborhood bounds
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential core of Monticello Park, though panhandling and unhoused individuals are occasionally seen along nearby major commercial arterials and transit stops.
What Monticello Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are peaceful with light neighborhood traffic as residents head out for their daily commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons remain calm and quiet with occasional pedestrian activity around residential yards.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are subdued, though diminished street lighting makes casual walking less comfortable.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late-night foot travel is not recommended due to limited visibility and sporadic localized crime spillover from adjacent thoroughfares.
Transit, parking and getting around
Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) operates bus routes along bordering corridors like MLK Jr. Drive and New Walkertown Road, connecting into the Clark Campbell Transportation Center downtown.
Free, unrestricted street parking is widely available throughout the residential blocks; there are no parking garages or metered spaces.
Things to do in Monticello Park
- Relax or walk dogs along the neighborhood's quiet, tree-lined residential streets
- Explore the art collections and cultural heritage at Winston-Salem State University's Diggs Gallery nearby
- Head a short distance south to bike, fish, or hike the trails around Salem Lake
Local favorites
- Forsyth Seafood Market & Cafe · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (2450)A storied Winston-Salem staple serving up classic fried fish platters, hushpuppies, and fresh catches.
- Kermit's Hot Dog House · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (980)Long-running roadside counter known for Carolina-style chili dogs, burgers, and thick milkshakes.
- Sweet Potatoes · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (2210)Celebrated nearby downtown restaurant crafting inventive, upscale Southern and soul food 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.