Is Richmond Heights safe?
Richmond Heights, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Richmond Heights as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Richmond Heights
“Go with care. Richmond Heights is an established, historic residential community in South Miami-Dade that is generally peaceful and welcoming. While property crime is moderate and street lighting varies, violent crime rates are lower than in adjacent South Dade districts.”
About the area
Founded in 1949 by Captain Frank C. Martin as a community for African American World War II veterans, Richmond Heights is a quiet, tight-knit suburban neighborhood. It consists largely of mid-century single-family homes, modest community parks, and local churches bounded by Kendall and South Dixie Highway.
- Quiet Residential
- Historic
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Richmond Heights
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no bike-share program in the neighborhood, but cyclists can access the paved South Dade Rail Trail / Transitway multi-use path running parallel to US-1 just to the east.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High rate of long-term homeownership fostering a stable, community-oriented atmosphere
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than neighboring areas in South Miami-Dade
- Close proximity to major regional attractions like Zoo Miami and Larry and Penny Thompson Park
Cons
- Occasional property crimes such as vehicle burglaries and catalytic converter thefts
- Uneven street lighting and sidewalk coverage on secondary residential roads
- Virtually no walkable commercial district or nightlife within the neighborhood interior
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is rare within residential Richmond Heights, though individuals occasionally congregate near commercial plazas and bus stops along SW 152nd Street and US-1.
What Richmond Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant with residents commuting and children walking to neighborhood schools.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet suburban atmosphere with steady local car traffic along main connectors like SW 152nd Street.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly as families return home, maintaining a low-key and secure feel.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are deserted and dark in parts; driving is recommended over walking after midnight.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit (DTPW) operates Metrobus routes 52 and 252 (Coral Reef MAX) along SW 152nd Street, connecting directly to the South Dade Transitway and the Dadeland South Metrorail station about 5 miles north.
Parking is exceptionally straightforward, with ample free curbside parking along residential streets and large surface lots at local parks and strip plazas.
Things to do in Richmond Heights
- Explore the expansive wildlife exhibits at Zoo Miami located right on the neighborhood's western edge
- Walk the trails and green spaces at Sgt. Joseph Delancy Park
- Camp or hike through native pine rocklands at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park
Local favorites
- Zoo Miami · Zoo / Attraction · 4.6★ (26800)World-class, cage-free zoo spanning hundreds of acres featuring global wildlife habitats and interactive animal encounters.
- Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park · Park / Campground · 4.6★ (2900)Sprawling county park featuring freshwater lake views, wooded equestrian trails, and peaceful camping grounds.
- El Rinconcito Latino · Cuban Restaurant · 4.3★ (3200)Bustling local diner serving traditional Cuban comfort dishes, generous portions, and fresh cafecito near SW 152nd Street.
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.