Is Northwest Kendall West 2 safe?
Kendall West, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Northwest Kendall West 2 as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Northwest Kendall West 2
“Go. Northwest Kendall West 2 is a quiet, family-oriented suburban community in western Miami-Dade County that is generally very safe for visitors. Violent crime is rare, though visitors should take standard precautions against vehicle break-ins in commercial parking lots.”
About the area
Northwest Kendall West 2 is a classic South Florida residential enclave characterized by single-family subdivisions, townhome communities, and neighborhood strip malls. The area has a vibrant Hispanic cultural flavor, offering authentic Latin American dining and bakeries in an overwhelmingly peaceful suburban setting.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Northwest Kendall West 2
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no local bike-share program, and while neighborhood side streets are rideable, arterial roads lack protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to the broader Miami-Dade County average
- Strong homeownership and stable middle-class household incomes
- Family-oriented residential streets with low foot traffic and minimal disturbance
- High rates of private vehicle ownership and well-maintained private properties
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with high vehicular traffic along main arteries like SW 88th St
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as car break-ins in retail plaza parking lots
- Very limited pedestrian infrastructure connecting neighborhoods across multi-lane avenues
- Distance from major Miami cultural landmarks and transit hubs
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in this quiet suburban community, with only occasional individuals seen near major commercial intersections.
What Northwest Kendall West 2 is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with school traffic and residents commuting, very safe for morning walks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Suburban and quiet with moderate shopping traffic along main thoroughfares and low safety concern.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Strip plazas and local eateries hum with neighborhood families; residential streets are calm and secure.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet with minimal activity; residential pockets remain safe though commercial parking lots should be approached with standard situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit is provided by Miami-Dade Transit, primarily through local bus routes like Route 88 and Route 72 connecting eastward to the Dadeland South Metrorail station, which is roughly 10 miles away.
Parking is exceptionally easy with abundant free surface parking lots at shopping centers and ample driveway or street parking in residential areas.
Things to do in Northwest Kendall West 2
- Enjoy authentic Cuban pastries and cafe con leche at nearby Latin bakeries
- Relax or jog around the sports fields at Kendall West Park
- Sample traditional Colombian, Peruvian, and Cuban cuisine in local strip mall eateries
Local favorites
- Pinecrest Bakery - Kendall West · Cuban Bakery · 4.3★ (1120)Popular 24-hour spot offering traditional Cuban pastries, sandwiches, and espresso.
- Super Pollo · Latin American Restaurant · 4.4★ (980)Laid-back neighborhood standby known for charcoal rotisserie chicken and hearty sides.
- Milly's Empanada Factory · Empanada Shop · 4.6★ (540)Cozy counter-serve shop serving a wide variety of baked and fried Latin empanadas.
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.