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Is Savannah State & Brentwood safe?

Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly

70out of 100

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 University's campus and the adjacent Brentwood neighborhood are generally pleasant and calm during the day, offering scenic marsh views and quiet streets. Visitors should remain mindful of their surroundings after dark, especially along commercial corridors like Skidaway Road where property crime and opportunistic vehicle break-ins occasionally occur.”

About the area

Savannah State & Brentwood is a tranquil, community-oriented district centered on Georgia's oldest public HBCU and bordering peaceful salt marsh waterways. The area features a mix of mid-century residential homes, student housing, and historic campus architecture draped in Spanish moss. It is primarily residential and academic rather than tourist-focused, offering a low-key, authentic Savannah neighborhood feel.

  • College Town
  • Quiet Residential
  • Marshside
  • Car-Dependent

Walking and biking in Savannah State & Brentwood

Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100

There are no public bike-share hubs in the immediate area, and dedicated bike lanes are scarce, though low-speed campus and residential streets are manageable for casual cyclists.

Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice

Pros

  • Dedicated campus police patrols (SSU PD) provide active surveillance and emergency response across the university grounds
  • Scenic marshland views and expansive open green spaces around the campus perimeter
  • Relatively low violent crime compared to denser urban corridors in central Savannah

Cons

  • Elevated rates of opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins along Skidaway Road and unfenced residential driveways
  • Below-average median household incomes and student-influenced poverty levels create economic disparities in surrounding blocks
  • Limited commercial density and street lighting on residential side streets after dark

Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the university grounds and Brentwood residential streets, with occasional panhandling observed near retail plazas and bus stops along Skidaway Road.

What Savannah State & Brentwood is like at each time of day

Morning · 5a – 11a
Peaceful and active with students heading to class and residents walking pets along tree-shaded neighborhood streets.
Afternoon · 11a – 5p
Busy and open with campus foot traffic, university operations, and regular suburban vehicular activity.
Evening · 5p – 10p
Quiet residential atmosphere sets in, though illuminated campus paths remain safe and relatively frequented.
Late night · 10p – 5a
Streets become desolate and dimly lit; walking alone off-campus along Skidaway Road or through side streets is not advised.

Transit, parking and getting around

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) serves the neighborhood via Route 12 (East Savannah) and Route 31 (Skidaway/SSU), providing direct bus connections to downtown Savannah; there is no local passenger rail or BRT system.

Parking is abundant and free along most residential streets in Brentwood; university campus lots require valid SSU visitor or student permits during enforced hours.

Things to do in Savannah State & Brentwood

  • Stroll the historic Savannah State University campus to view live oak avenues and the restored 1901 Hill Hall
  • Catch a college football or track event at Theodore A. Wright Stadium
  • Observe coastal marsh ecology and tidal creeks near the university marine science docks

Local favorites

  • Carey Hilliard's Restaurant · Seafood & Barbecue · 4.2★ (3200)
    Long-running local institution famous for fried seafood platters, barbecue sandwiches, and drive-up curb service.
  • Coach's Corner · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.4★ (1850)
    Vibrant sports pub just north along Victory Drive featuring extensive memorabilia, wings, pizza, and live trivia.
  • China Wok · Chinese Restaurant · 4.1★ (210)
    Convenient, highly frequented neighborhood counter-serve spot dishing out generous portions of classic takeout fare.

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.