Is Perrine safe?
West Perrine, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Perrine as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Perrine
“Go with care. West Perrine is primarily a quiet, residential South Miami-Dade community, but elevated rates of property crime and occasional localized violent crime warrant standard situational awareness. Visitors heading to local parks, community venues, or commercial strips along US-1 will generally find the daytime atmosphere calm, but nighttime caution is recommended.”
Miami-Dade Police regularly run targeted neighborhood safety and youth violence prevention initiatives in West Perrine following isolated shooting incidents in recent years.
About the area
West Perrine is a historic, predominantly residential suburb in southern Miami-Dade County situated just west of the South Dixie Highway (US-1) corridor. It features modest single-family homes, neighborhood parks, and strip retail centers, bordered by more affluent suburban areas like Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay. While not a conventional tourist district, it offers a look into local South Dade history and community life.
- Residential
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Historic Community
Walking and biking in Perrine
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 58/100
No dock-based bike-share programs operate here, but the South Dade Rail Trail runs directly along the eastern boundary parallel to US-1, providing miles of continuous paved multi-use trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient location adjacent to US-1 and the South Miami-Dade Busway corridor
- Active community center and revitalized public parks like West Perrine Park
- Close proximity to South Dade attractions like Zoo Miami and Larry and Penny Thompson Park
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates remain noticeably higher than county and national averages
- Elevated poverty rate exceeding 20% alongside lower median household incomes relative to Miami-Dade County
- Limited pedestrian and lighting infrastructure along some residential interior roads
- Lack of tourist-oriented dining, nightlife, and cultural amenities
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is generally low in residential sections, though occasional individuals or panhandlers may be seen near major commercial intersections and bus stops along South Dixie Highway (US-1).
What Perrine is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and active with school drop-offs and commuters heading toward US-1 and the South Dade Busway.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are generally peaceful with local park activity, though traffic builds noticeably on main thoroughfares like SW 184th Street.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings quiet down quickly as commercial areas close, making foot travel on poorly lit side streets less advisable.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late-night hours experience low foot traffic and require heightened vigilance due to an elevated risk of opportunistic property crime or disturbance.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit serves the area via the South Miami-Dade TransitWay (Busway) along US-1, providing rapid bus routes like the 38 Busway MAX connecting directly to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station roughly 5 miles north.
Parking is easy and widely available; commercial plazas offer free surface lots and residential streets feature free curbside parking with no meters.
Things to do in Perrine
- Visit West Perrine Park to enjoy the aquatic center, sports courts, and family playground
- Explore the historic exhibits and community programming at the West Perrine Community Center
- Bike or walk along the adjacent South Dade Rail Trail / Busway multi-use path
Local favorites
- Bar-B-Q Ribs Supreme · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.3★ (320)Longstanding neighborhood staple serving classic Southern-style smoked ribs, pork, and soul food sides.
- Shuckers Bar & Grill (Cutler Bay/Perrine border) · Seafood & Grill · 4.1★ (480)Casual neighborhood hangout along the US-1 corridor offering wings, oysters, and draft beer.
- Super Nice Tropical Restaurant · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.2★ (140)Popular local spot serving hearty Haitian and Caribbean dishes, including griot and legume.
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.