Is New Tampa safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates New Tampa as “Go”.
Gogo's take on New Tampa
“Go. New Tampa is one of the safest and most affluent suburban sectors of the Tampa Bay area, defined by master-planned gated communities, golf courses, and family-friendly parks. Visitors have virtually zero safety concerns beyond navigating busy suburban arterial traffic.”
About the area
New Tampa is a sprawling suburban community situated along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in northeast Tampa. It features modern subdivisions, nature preserves, shopping centers, and well-maintained infrastructure tailored to residential family living.
- Suburban Master-Planned
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Leafy & Quiet
Walking and biking in New Tampa
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no public bike-share systems, but recreational cycling is exceptionally popular along the paved 7-mile trail inside Flatwoods Wilderness Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent and property crime rates compared to both Tampa and national averages.
- Affluent economic profile with high median household incomes and very low poverty rates.
- Immediate access to premier outdoor recreation, including the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
Cons
- High car dependency with poor walkability across massive commercial strip centers.
- Heavy traffic congestion and accident risk along the main artery, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
- Lacks an authentic historic core or walkable urban nightlife district.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent throughout the residential subdivisions, with only rare, isolated panhandling observed near major I-75 highway exit ramps.
What New Tampa is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with morning commuters, school traffic, and neighborhood joggers on paved paths.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and vibrant with shoppers and families running errands around retail plazas and community centers.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and family-oriented as restaurants fill up and residential subdivisions wind down.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Exceptionally quiet and dark with virtually empty streets and negligible street safety concerns.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) operates Route 48 and Route 275LX along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, but service is infrequent and the area relies almost entirely on personal vehicles.
Parking is abundant and universally free across large commercial strip center surface lots, public park trailheads, and residential complexes.
Things to do in New Tampa
- Cycle or rollerblade the paved 7-mile multi-use loop at Flatwoods Wilderness Park.
- Play a round of golf at one of the neighborhood's championship courses like Hunter's Green Country Club.
- Kayak or hike through nature trails along the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
Local favorites
- The Fat Rabbit · Gastropub · 4.5★ (1150)A popular neighborhood pub serving elevated comfort food, craft beer, and wings in a relaxed setting.
- Liang's Bistro Asian Diner · Asian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1280)Sleek, longstanding eatery offering traditional Chinese classics, Thai dishes, and vegetarian specialties.
- Ciccio Cali New Tampa · Health Food Restaurant · 4.4★ (920)Casual, vibrant spot known for customizable grain bowls, wraps, stir-fries, and California-style pizzas.
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.