Is San Mateo safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates San Mateo as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on San Mateo
“Go. San Mateo is a quiet, working-to-middle-class residential neighborhood on Jacksonville's Northside with a low profile for violent crime within its residential core. While standard situational awareness is advised around commercial corridors along Main Street and Baisden Road, visitors will find a peaceful riverfront suburb.”
No significant recent safety incidents or major news events have specifically impacted the residential interior of San Mateo over the past year.
About the area
San Mateo is an established residential community nestled along the Broward River in North Jacksonville. Dominated by mid-century ranch homes, tidal marshes, and quiet cul-de-sacs, it provides a tranquil, suburban atmosphere away from the city core.
- Suburban / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Riverfront
- Quiet
Walking and biking in San Mateo
Walk score: 21/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There is no municipal bike-share system, and streets lack dedicated bike lanes, though neighborhood residential loops have low traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Stable homeownership rates with well-maintained single-family residential streets
- Violent crime rates within the residential blocks are low compared to urban Jacksonville averages
- Waterfront access along the Broward River offering scenic marsh views and boating access
Cons
- Spillover property crime and petty theft near major commercial corridors like North Main Street
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with limited sidewalks and dark residential streets at night
- Isolated location requiring a vehicle for dining, retail, and emergency services
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent in the residential interior, though occasional individuals or panhandlers can be seen near commercial nodes and bus stops along North Main Street.
What San Mateo is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work and walking pets along quiet neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with light residential traffic and open, quiet residential roadways.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and tranquil, though low lighting on side streets makes carrying a flashlight advisable for walks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally safe within interior streets, but isolated and very dark, so staying in vehicles or homes is best.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), primarily through Route 1 (North Main) running along the western border; there is no rail or BRT station in the immediate area.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with abundant free driveway, commercial plaza, and unrestricted residential street parking.
Things to do in San Mateo
- Launch a kayak or boat onto the Broward River from nearby public ramps
- Visit the San Mateo Little League and community park facilities for outdoor recreation
- Take a scenic drive along marshland routes leading toward Eastport and the Timucuan preserves
Local favorites
- Trent's Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (820)Down-home neighborhood spot known for fried shrimp, catfish platters, and classic Southern sides.
- Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q (North Main) · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (1150)Longtime local Jacksonville staple serving traditional wood-smoked barbecue, ribs, and sweet tea.
- Joseph's Pizza (Main St) · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1650)Historic Northside favorite serving hearty Italian pasta, calzones, and classic thin-crust pizza.
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.