Is Oak Hill safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Oak Hill as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Oak Hill
“Go with care. Oak Hill is a mixed suburban-residential pocket on Jacksonville's Westside that is generally quiet during the day but sees elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents, especially along commercial corridors. Visitors should stay alert at night and stick to main roadways.”
Local news frequently covers periodic aggravated assaults and property crimes along the neighboring 103rd Street and Ricker Road corridors.
About the area
Oak Hill is an established residential neighborhood on the Westside of Jacksonville featuring mid-century ranch homes, older apartment complexes, and strip retail. It is bordered by major thoroughfares like 103rd Street and Ringhaver Park to the south, offering basic conveniences but few traditional tourist attractions.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Residential
Walking and biking in Oak Hill
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no public bike-share programs in Oak Hill, and designated on-street bike lanes are rare, though Ringhaver Park connects into local multi-use paths.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Immediate proximity to Ringhaver Park and the Ortega River kayak launch
- Affordable neighborhood dining and everyday retail services nearby
- Quiet interior residential streets with low daytime foot traffic
- High vehicle ownership ensuring convenient highway and beltway access
Cons
- Above-average rates of property crime and auto theft relative to national benchmarks
- Commercial strip on 103rd Street experiences higher incidents of violent crime
- Higher-than-average local poverty rate nearing 20 percent with deferred housing maintenance
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with disconnected sidewalks and heavy vehicle traffic
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along the 103rd Street commercial strip, with panhandling around gas stations and retail intersections. Encampments occasionally form in nearby wooded lots along the creek beds.
What Oak Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and functional with residents commuting and school buses navigating residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are moderately active around shopping plazas, though heavy vehicle traffic requires caution along major arterials.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial strips see increased activity and lingering crowds; it is best to avoid poorly lit side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry a noticeably higher risk of property crimes and suspicious activity; staying indoors or in well-lit areas is advised.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates bus routes along 103rd Street (Route 31) and Ricker Road, connecting to the Rosa Parks Transit Center downtown. There is no passenger rail or BRT line serving the neighborhood directly.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, consisting of private residential driveways and large surface parking lots at commercial plazas.
Things to do in Oak Hill
- Explore nature trails and launch a kayak along the Ortega River at nearby Ringhaver Park
- Sample local comfort food and Southern barbecue along the 103rd Street corridor
- Play soccer or softball on the athletic fields at the adjacent sports complex
Local favorites
- Balkan Cafe · European Restaurant · 4.8★ (320)Authentic Bosnian and Eastern European specialties including cevapi and freshly baked pita.
- The Potter's House Soul Food Bistro · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.4★ (2150)Popular cafeteria-style spot serving classic Southern comfort staples, oxtails, and sweet tea.
- Trent's Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (840)No-frills local favorite known for fried shrimp baskets and fresh fish platters.
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.
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