Is Nowatney safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Nowatney as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Nowatney
“Go with care. While Nowatney contains quiet residential streets and offers proximity to the University of South Florida and nearby amenities, the broader surrounding area experiences elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, particularly after dark, and avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars.”
About the area
Nowatney is a predominantly residential, modest neighborhood located in the North Tampa area just west of the University of South Florida. It features a mix of single-family ranch homes, small apartment complexes, and local commercial corridors along main perimeter avenues.
- Suburban-Urban Mix
- Car-Dependent
- University Adjacent
- Modest Residential
Walking and biking in Nowatney
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 53/100
Biking is practical along quieter interior streets, but dedicated protected lanes are rare on major arterials; there are no public bike-share stations in the immediate neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient access to USF, major hospitals, and Interstate 275
- Lower living and lodging costs compared to South Tampa and Downtown
- Established residential pockets with mature oak trees and modest traffic
- High vehicle ownership ensuring straightforward regional mobility
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle burglaries occur at rates higher than the national average
- Higher local poverty rate and lower median household income than Hillsborough County averages
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with sporadic sidewalks along secondary roads
- Commercial borders along major avenues experience occasional loitering and disturbances
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, primarily clustered around bus stops, intersections, and commercial strips along E Fletcher Avenue and N 22nd Street near service providers in the broader University area.
What Nowatney is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and quiet with residents commuting and USF staff/students heading to campus.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy along the main perimeter thoroughfares with moderate traffic and normal neighborhood activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial plazas stay active, but poorly lit side streets require vigilance when walking.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet on interior residential streets, though heightened caution is advised near commercial corridors due to elevated risk of theft.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) serves the periphery with bus routes such as Route 1, Route 6, and Route 9, connecting passengers to the University Area Transit Center, though rail transit is not available.
Parking is generally easy and free, with plentiful off-street parking in private driveways, apartment lots, and suburban strip mall surface plazas.
Things to do in Nowatney
- Explore the nearby USF Botanical Gardens featuring diverse plant collections and walking paths
- Visit the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) located just east of the neighborhood
- Enjoy outdoor recreation, disc golf, and lake views at nearby University Area Community Park
Local favorites
- Tacos Sonrisas · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (320)Authentic, laid-back taqueria serving freshly prepared tacos, quesadillas, and traditional Mexican staples.
- Jericho Halal Meats & Grill · Middle Eastern Restaurant & Market · 4.5★ (410)Neighborhood market and grill known for generous shawarma platters and Middle Eastern specialty groceries.
- Salem's Fresh Eats · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.1★ (1150)Local chain offering late-night gyros, chicken tenders, wings, and seafood plates.
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.