Is Paradise safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Paradise as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Paradise
“Go with care. Paradise is a predominantly residential and quiet pocket in northeast Tampa that rarely experiences severe violent incidents. However, standard precautions are recommended due to elevated opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins near surrounding commercial thoroughfares.”
About the area
Paradise is a modest, tree-shaded neighborhood situated in northeast Tampa near the Hillsborough River and Temple Terrace. Composed largely of mid-century single-family homes and small apartment blocks, it offers a tranquil suburban feel close to major regional attractions.
- Suburban Feel
- Car-Dependent
- Tree-Lined
- Quiet / Residential
Walking and biking in Paradise
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no municipal bike-share system here; cyclists generally utilize residential side streets to connect toward Temple Terrace parks and trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Relatively low violent crime rates within the interior residential pockets
- Convenient access to regional attractions including Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida
- Established tree canopy providing a calm neighborhood atmosphere
Cons
- Elevated rate of property crime and theft from vehicles along bordering commercial corridors
- Lower-than-average median household incomes and some aging rental housing stock
- Inconsistent sidewalk infrastructure and limited interior street lighting
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior neighborhood, though occasional panhandling is seen along commercial bus shelters on East Busch Boulevard.
What Paradise is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and quiet as residents leave for work and school across residential lanes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and uncrowded, though vehicular traffic picks up along the perimeter of Busch Boulevard.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential setting, though walking after dark requires attention to traffic and darker roadway patches.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally peaceful in the core, though visitors should lock vehicles and avoid poorly lit corridors near major intersections.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) services the neighborhood perimeter primarily along Route 39 on Busch Boulevard, offering connections to the NetPark Transfer Center and University Area.
Parking is straightforward and free along most residential streets, with ample off-street parking available at all local retail plazas.
Things to do in Paradise
- Spend a relaxing morning along the water at nearby Riverhills Park
- Visit Busch Gardens Tampa Bay located just minutes to the west
- Take a nature walk or kayak along the Hillsborough River corridor
Local favorites
- Mister B's Pizza & Wings · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (320)Longtime local strip-mall fixture turning out classic pies, hot wings, and hearty Italian subs.
- Taqueria El Sol · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (210)Unassuming roadside eatery serving authentic Mexican street tacos, quesadillas, and tortas.
- Twistee Treat Busch Blvd · Ice Cream Shop · 4.6★ (850)Iconic ice-cream-cone-shaped roadside stand known for soft-serve cones, shakes, and sundaes.
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.