Is Southeastern Hills safe?
Lexington, Kentucky · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Southeastern Hills as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Southeastern Hills
“Go. Southeastern Hills is a tranquil, established suburban neighborhood characterized by low violent crime rates and stable residential streets. Visitors will find it very safe and comfortable, though a car is recommended to navigate the area.”
About the area
Southeastern Hills is a peaceful residential enclave in eastern Lexington featuring mid-century to late-20th-century single-family homes on spacious lots. It offers a relaxed neighborhood setting while being only minutes away from the commercial corridors along Richmond Road and the scenic grounds of Jacobson Park.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Southeastern Hills
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There are no dedicated on-street bike lanes within the neighborhood, but multi-use paths are easily accessible in nearby Jacobson Park; bike-share stations are not available here.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low rates of violent crime compared to the wider metro area
- High homeownership rates and stable median household incomes
- Quiet residential streets with minimal through traffic
- Immediate proximity to extensive outdoor recreation at Jacobson Park
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal sidewalk connectivity in some pockets
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins typical of outer suburbs
- Lack of walkable commercial establishments directly within the residential core
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within Southeastern Hills, though occasional panhandling occurs along the major commercial intersections of Richmond Road.
What Southeastern Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful, with residents walking dogs and minimal traffic across neighborhood roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and quiet with occasional delivery vehicles and local residential traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Relaxed suburban ambiance with residents returning home and very safe conditions for a walk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and tranquil with minimal activity, remaining safe despite limited street lighting in some cul-de-sacs.
Transit, parking and getting around
Lextran operates bus service along nearby arterial corridors like Richmond Road, but service within the neighborhood interior is virtually nonexistent and there is no passenger rail.
Parking is exceptionally easy with generous private driveways and free, unrestricted curb parking across all residential streets.
Things to do in Southeastern Hills
- Walk the lakeside trails and rent pedal boats at nearby Jacobson Park
- Play a round of golf at the adjacent Lakeside Golf Course
- Explore the dining and shopping hubs along the Richmond Road corridor
Local favorites
- Ramsey's Diner · Southern Restaurant · 4.5★ (2150)A classic Lexington staple known for hearty meat-and-three meals and scratch-made pies.
- Apollo Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (630)Casual local joint serving specialty pies, craft beers, and baked pastas.
- Lakeside Golf Course · Public Golf Course · 4.3★ (350)A well-maintained 18-hole municipal golf course situated next to the reservoir.
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.