Is South Collinwood safe?
Cleveland, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates South Collinwood as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on South Collinwood
“Go with care, and keep visits largely confined to daylight hours and specific destinations. South Collinwood experiences elevated rates of violent crime, property offenses, and persistent economic challenges that warrant heightened vigilance. It is primarily a residential and light-industrial district rather than a conventional tourist destination.”
Local law enforcement and city officials have maintained focused patrols along the East 152nd and St. Clair corridors to combat recurring incidents of gun violence and car thefts.
About the area
South Collinwood is a historic, working-class East Side Cleveland neighborhood centered around the Five Points junction at St. Clair Avenue and East 152nd Street. The landscape is characterized by modest single-family homes, industrial corridors, pockets of vacant lots, and vital community assets like the Collinwood Recreation Center.
- Working-Class
- Industrial Heritage
- Pockets of Vacancy
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in South Collinwood
Walk score: 53/100 · Bike score: 46/100
South Collinwood has minimal dedicated on-street bike infrastructure, though riders can access the Harrison Dillard Bikeway roughly two miles to the west via Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Home to the modern, LEED-certified Collinwood Recreation Center offering extensive community amenities
- Convenient access to Interstate 90 and major arterial routes for regional commuting
- Active grassroots community stabilization and urban farming initiatives across vacant parcels
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates are substantially higher than state and national medians
- Economic distress reflected in a poverty rate exceeding 30% and depressed median household incomes
- Elevated residential vacancy rates and neglected housing stock on several secondary streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is relatively limited to occasional panhandling near major commercial intersections like Five Points, with primary shelter services and encampments situated closer to downtown Cleveland.
What South Collinwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally quiet with commuters and school-related traffic, presenting a relatively calm environment for essential travel.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Activity increases around commercial corridors and transit stops; staying alert in retail parking lots is advisable.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets clear out quickly after dark, and walking alone through unlit residential or industrial pockets is not recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Safety risks elevate sharply late at night due to higher incidence of vehicular crime and violent altercations; travel through the area should be strictly vehicle-based.
Transit, parking and getting around
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) serves the neighborhood via major bus routes including Route 1 (St. Clair) and Route 7 (Monticello); the nearest heavy rail connection is the Red Line Windermere Station roughly 2 miles southwest.
Free on-street parking is widely available on residential streets and near commercial intersections; there are no paid meters or parking garages in the immediate area.
Things to do in South Collinwood
- Use the swimming, track, and fitness amenities at the expansive Collinwood Recreation Center
- Browse the historic collection and community resources at the Cleveland Public Library Collinwood Branch
- Visit nearby Forest Hill Park and the historic Lake View Cemetery located just past the southwestern neighborhood boundary
Local favorites
- Collinwood Recreation Center · Community & Recreation Center · 4.5★ (430)A major municipal facility featuring a zero-depth entry pool, fitness center, walking track, and public event spaces.
- Kim's Wings · Soul Food & Wings · 4.1★ (395)A neighborhood fixture along St. Clair Avenue known for crispy fried chicken wings, Polish boys, and classic soul food sides.
- Cleveland Public Library - Collinwood Branch · Public Library · 4.6★ (75)A welcoming neighborhood library branch offering public computers, youth programs, and community workspaces.
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.
Add this score to your site
Writing about South Collinwood? Copy this code to show its live safety score on your blog or listing.