Is Pleasant Grove safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Pleasant Grove as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Pleasant Grove
“Go with care. Pleasant Grove is a primarily residential East Tampa neighborhood where visitors should maintain basic situational awareness. While daytime residential blocks are generally calm, the broader surrounding district contends with elevated rates of property and violent crime.”
Recent local coverage in East Tampa focuses on ongoing municipal investments in street lighting, infrastructure improvements, and targeted community policing to curb violent crime.
About the area
Pleasant Grove is an established, working-class residential enclave in East Tampa filled with modest single-family homes, neighborhood churches, and local small businesses. Situated close to major thoroughfares, it offers convenient access to historic Ybor City, Seminole Heights, and downtown Tampa.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Historic East Tampa
Walking and biking in Pleasant Grove
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
No bike-share docks are located in the neighborhood, and cycling is largely on mixed-traffic residential roads without dedicated protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to central Tampa attractions including Ybor City, Midtown, and the Channel District.
- Quiet, low-traffic residential side streets during daytime hours.
- Lower living and rental costs compared to coastal and downtown Tampa neighborhoods.
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates in the surrounding East Tampa planning district track above Tampa municipal averages.
- Higher poverty rate and lower median household incomes relative to Hillsborough County benchmarks.
- Patchy street lighting and occasional neglected or vacant residential parcels.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the strictly residential grid, but individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling are seen along major commercial corridors like E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd and E Hillsborough Ave.
What Pleasant Grove is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and quiet as residents head to work and school buses circulate through the neighborhood.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons feature routine residential activity and feel reasonably secure for daytime strolls with normal awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings quiet down quickly on side streets, though uneven illumination warrants keeping to well-lit paths.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry elevated safety risks regarding property offenses and occasional disturbances, making solo pedestrian travel inadvisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART), with nearby bus lines such as Route 6, Route 12, and Route 32 providing connections to Marion Transit Center downtown and the University area; there is no light rail or BRT station in the immediate area.
Parking is straightforward with abundant free curbside street parking on residential blocks and complimentary surface parking lots at local shopping centers.
Things to do in Pleasant Grove
- Sample authentic local Southern barbecue and soul food along the nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.
- Enjoy outdoor sports, walking paths, and community facilities at nearby Cyrus Greene Park.
- Take a short five-minute drive south to explore the historic cigar factories, dining, and shops in Ybor City.
Local favorites
- Big John's Alabama BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (1450)Historic open-pit barbecue landmark serving tender ribs, pulled pork, and signature sauce since 1968.
- Brocato's Sandwich Shop · Sandwich Shop · 4.5★ (3200)Renowned local staple famous for oversized Cuban sandwiches, stuffed devil crabs, and hearty meatball subs.
- Mr. B's Southern Kitchen · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.3★ (950)Popular comfort food eatery dishing out fried chicken, seasoned catfish, mac and cheese, and collard greens.
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.