Is South Fairmount safe?
Cincinnati, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates South Fairmount as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on South Fairmount
“Go with care. South Fairmount is centered around the revitalized Lick Run Greenway, which offers pleasant daytime recreation, but the surrounding neighborhood still experiences elevated property crime and economic distress. Exercise heightened awareness off the main corridor, especially after dark.”
The neighborhood has seen major multi-million dollar infrastructure investments through the Lick Run Greenway project, though local community councils continue to address persistent issues with illegal dumping, blighted housing, and vehicle thefts.
About the area
South Fairmount is a historic western Cincinnati neighborhood situated along the Mill Creek basin and the Queen City Avenue corridor. It is best known for the recently completed Lick Run Greenway, an award-winning urban watershed park that brings green space and walking paths to an otherwise post-industrial, working-class urban setting.
- Post-Industrial
- Revitalizing
- Park-Adjacent
- Car-Oriented
Walking and biking in South Fairmount
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 44/100
The Lick Run Greenway features paved shared-use paths that link westward and connect toward the developing Mill Creek Greenway trail network; Cincy Red Bike stations are not widely deployed in the immediate neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lick Run Greenway offers over a mile of scenic, well-lit pedestrian pathways, water features, and green space
- Direct and rapid arterial road connectivity to Downtown Cincinnati, I-75, and Over-the-Rhine
- Active ongoing civic investment and infrastructure revitalization initiatives
Cons
- Poverty rate exceeds 35%, with median household income significantly below both state and national averages
- Above-average rates of property crime, including car break-ins, catalytic converter thefts, and trespassing
- Pockets of aging, distressed housing stock and vacant residential lots
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, with occasional individuals camping or congregating along secluded sections of the Mill Creek corridor and rail rights-of-way rather than main thoroughfares.
What South Fairmount is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with morning commuters and dog walkers along Queen City Avenue and the Lick Run Greenway path.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderate foot traffic in the park areas, but side streets can feel quiet and isolated.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly at sunset, and walking away from well-lit main corridors requires increased situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet with little foot traffic; not recommended for solo walking due to property crime risks and poorly lit side residential streets.
Transit, parking and getting around
Go Metro operates regular bus service through South Fairmount, primarily via Route 21 along Harrison Avenue and Route 33 on Queen City Avenue, providing a direct 10-to-15 minute ride into Downtown Cincinnati.
Street parking is largely free and readily available along side streets, and dedicated free surface parking lots are located along the Lick Run Greenway corridor.
Things to do in South Fairmount
- Walk or jog along the scenic pedestrian paths and bridges of the Lick Run Greenway
- Explore the historic architecture of St. Leo the Great Church and its multicultural community plaza
- Connect to the Mill Creek Greenway Trail for urban nature exploration along the waterway
Local favorites
- Lick Run Greenway Park · Park · 4.6★ (160)A landmark daylighted stream and ecological park featuring paved walking paths, ponds, and landscaped gathering areas.
- St. Leo the Great Church · Community Organization · 4.7★ (85)A long-standing parish and community cornerstone serving a diverse population with food assistance and cultural events.
- Queen City Sausage · Food Manufacturer · 4.8★ (120)Iconic local craft sausage maker operating nearby in the industrial corridor with historic ties to the valley.
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.
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