Is Southwest Margate safe?
Margate, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Southwest Margate as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Southwest Margate
“Go. Southwest Margate is a peaceful, standard suburban community with relatively low violent crime rates. Visitors can comfortably explore local parks and neighborhood dining, needing only standard urban awareness in commercial shopping plazas after dark.”
About the area
Southwest Margate is a largely residential sector of Broward County defined by single-family subdivisions, quiet condo communities, and neighborhood strip centers. It offers a calm, family- and retiree-oriented environment situated conveniently between Coral Springs and central Margate.
- Suburban
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Southwest Margate
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
No bike-share programs operate in this area; cycling is generally confined to residential neighborhood streets and sidewalk paths due to limited dedicated bike lanes on major thoroughfares.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are consistently lower than regional South Florida metro averages
- Stable residential fabric with active community associations and well-maintained public parks
- Ample access to essential retail, grocery stores, and diverse local dining
Cons
- Occasional property crimes like vehicle burglaries occur around open parking lots
- Heavy arterial traffic on Atlantic Boulevard creates hazards for pedestrians and cyclists
- Car-dependent layout requires a vehicle for almost all daily errands
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential streets, with only occasional individuals observed along major transit corridors like Atlantic Boulevard.
What Southwest Margate is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe, with locals walking dogs and steady school and commuter traffic on collector roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy but orderly around commercial plazas, community centers, and local parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential atmosphere with relaxed dining crowds along the main commercial corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally peaceful and low-crime, though side streets can be dark and basic vehicle security precautions apply.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Broward County Transit (BCT), with routes like Route 62 and Route 83 serving Atlantic Boulevard and nearby arterials; there is no commuter rail station within walking distance.
Parking is abundant and free across wide commercial surface lots, community recreation lots, and residential driveways.
Things to do in Southwest Margate
- Enjoy the waterslides, pool, and splash pads at Calypso Cove Waterpark
- Play sports, walk paved trails, or visit the playground at nearby Firefighters Park
- Play a round of golf on the public fairways at the adjacent Oriole Golf Club
Local favorites
- La Bamba Mexican & Spanish Restaurant · Mexican & Spanish Restaurant · 4.5★ (2350)Long-running Broward favorite serving generous portions of fajitas, seafood, and margaritas.
- Jalisco Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (640)Laid-back neighborhood eatery offering authentic Mexican tacos, burritos, and combos.
- The Big Cheese · Pizza & Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (870)Casual strip-plaza staple dishing out classic NY-style pizzas, pasta, and garlic rolls.
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.