Is Savannah State & Brentwood safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Savannah State & Brentwood as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Savannah State & Brentwood
“Go with care. Savannah State & Brentwood offers a peaceful college campus setting alongside quiet mid-century residential streets, making daytime visits quite pleasant. Standard urban awareness is recommended at night, particularly along the Skidaway Road commercial edges and unlit neighborhood blocks.”
Campus and municipal police have stepped up joint patrols along the campus perimeter to deter vehicle break-ins and property crimes.
About the area
Centering on Georgia's oldest public HBCU, Savannah State University, and the modest residential pocket of Brentwood, this area features salt-marsh vistas and moss-draped live oaks. It has a distinctly collegiate and local community feel, located just west of historic Thunderbolt.
- Collegiate
- Suburban / Residential
- Scenic Marshfront
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Savannah State & Brentwood
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 53/100
The campus interior has wide pathways suitable for cycling, but Skidaway Road and Whatley Avenue lack dedicated bike lanes, requiring road sharing.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Savannah State University maintains a dedicated 24/7 campus police department and emergency call stations
- Scenic coastal marsh views and historic campus architecture offer pleasant walking grounds
- Brentwood features an established base of longtime homeowners and stable residential blocks
Cons
- Elevated property crime and vehicle break-in rates along adjacent commercial strips like Skidaway Road
- Lower median household incomes and student demographics result in pockets of economic vulnerability nearby
- Poor street lighting on several residential side streets after dark
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential neighborhood and university core, with occasional individuals visible near Skidaway Road transit stops and strip retail plazas.
What Savannah State & Brentwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and safe with university students and staff commuting alongside local dog walkers.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally lively on campus grounds and peaceful throughout the Brentwood residential streets.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in the neighborhoods, though visitors should remain cautious in commercial parking lots along major perimeter roads.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Foot traffic drops significantly; stick to well-lit campus areas and avoid walking alone off-campus.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is served by Chatham Area Transit (CAT) via Route 12 (East Savannah) connecting the university and surrounding neighborhoods to downtown Savannah.
Residential street parking in Brentwood is free and widely available; campus parking requires a visitor permit or designated guest lot ticketing.
Things to do in Savannah State & Brentwood
- Stroll the historic Savannah State University campus and view the iconic Hill Hall
- Walk along the university's marshfront perimeter for views of the tidal river and local birdlife
- Explore the nearby Thunderbolt riverfront along the Wilmington River just east of campus
Local favorites
- Tubby's Tank House · Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (2150)Lively neighborhood staple just east in Thunderbolt serving fresh local seafood and southern classics with water views.
- Coach's Corner · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.4★ (1620)Vibrant sports pub nearby offering pizza, wings, and an energetic atmosphere for game days.
- Tortugas Island Grille · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.6★ (890)Cozy eatery on neighboring islands serving Caribbean-influenced coastal dishes and craft cocktails.
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.