Is Scotts Little Farms safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Scotts Little Farms as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Scotts Little Farms
“Go with care. Scotts Little Farms is a quiet, working-class residential pocket in Northwest Tampa with little for tourists to explore directly, but it experiences relatively low violent crime compared to the urban core. Visitors staying in local vacation rentals can feel reasonably comfortable, though basic awareness regarding vehicle security is advised along the perimeter corridors.”
About the area
Scotts Little Farms is a low-density, semi-suburban neighborhood in Northwest Tampa characterized by single-family ranch homes, large lots, and bordering light commercial/industrial districts. Its location between Hillsborough Avenue and Waters Avenue offers easy vehicular access to Tampa International Airport and major business corridors.
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Suburban
- Working-Class
- Spacious Lots
Walking and biking in Scotts Little Farms
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There are no bike-share programs in the immediate vicinity, and perimeter roads lack protected bike lanes. The paved Upper Tampa Bay Trail is located about a 10-minute drive to the west.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower rate of violent crime compared to Tampa's inner-city neighborhoods
- Large residential lot sizes that keep residential streets quiet and low-density
- Quick access to major transit routes including the Veterans Expressway and Anderson Road
Cons
- Isolated property crime and vehicle break-ins along commercial border arterials
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with intermittent sidewalks and sparse street lighting
- Heavy commercial and automotive repair traffic along the neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets, though unhoused individuals and panhandling can occasionally be seen near major bus stops along West Waters Avenue.
What Scotts Little Farms is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and quiet as residents commute, feeling safe for brief neighborhood walks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons stay peaceful within the residential interior while commercial edges see increased auto traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are subdued and quiet, though minimal street lighting makes situational awareness important.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights are isolated and dark; walking is not recommended due to limited visibility and lack of sidewalks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides bus service along the perimeter, primarily via Route 16 on Waters Avenue. There is no passenger rail or BRT connection nearby, making personal vehicles the primary mode of transportation.
Parking is abundant and hassle-free, with generous private residential driveways and free surface lots at all commercial establishments.
Things to do in Scotts Little Farms
- Enjoy casual Latin American street food along the nearby West Waters Avenue corridor.
- Spend an afternoon at the nearby indoor entertainment and tactical gaming venues on Anderson Road.
- Take a short drive west to access trailheads for the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.
Local favorites
- Mr. Empanada · Latin American Restaurant · 4.4★ (420)Longstanding local staple offering a wide selection of fried gourmet empanadas and Cuban specialties.
- Laser Ops Extreme Gaming Arcade · Amusement Center · 4.6★ (1450)Large nearby indoor entertainment center offering tactical laser tag, arcade games, and virtual reality.
- Tacos Las Californias · Mexican Restaurant · 4.7★ (1850)Acclaimed local food trailer known across Tampa for authentic birria tacos and consommé.
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.