Is Sylvan Terrace safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Sylvan Terrace as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Sylvan Terrace
“Go with care. Sylvan Terrace is a quiet, mid-century residential neighborhood in midtown Savannah with very few tourist attractions of its own. While interior residential streets are generally calm during daylight hours, visitors should exercise standard urban precautions against property crime and avoid walking alone along adjacent busy commercial thoroughfares late at night.”
Local news in the surrounding midtown and Montgomery Street corridors frequently highlights recurring vehicle break-ins, property theft, and occasional isolated gunfire incidents along adjacent commercial thoroughfares.
About the area
Sylvan Terrace is a modest, mid-20th-century residential neighborhood located south of central Savannah, characterized by brick ranch-style homes and quiet grid streets. It sits just minutes away from major midtown shopping centers, hospitals, and arterial roads like Montgomery Street and Abercorn Street.
- Mid-Century Residential
- Quiet Suburbia
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Sylvan Terrace
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes within the neighborhood or direct multi-use greenway connections, and bike-share services do not operate this far south of the historic district.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential interior with stable long-term homeowners and low foot traffic
- Centrally positioned in midtown with fast driving access to hospitals, universities, and commercial corridors
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than downtown core fringe neighborhoods
Cons
- Higher risk of opportunistic property crime, including vehicle prowling and theft
- Bordering arterial corridors feature pedestrian safety concerns and occasional spillover crime
- Limited neighborhood lighting and sidewalk connectivity on several residential blocks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks of Sylvan Terrace, but individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling are commonly seen along the nearby commercial strips of Abercorn Street and Montgomery Cross Road.
What Sylvan Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work and morning dog-walkers on interior streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and subdued, with light residential vehicle traffic and quiet neighborhood blocks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, though caution is warranted near adjacent commercial edges as darkness sets in.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic; poorly lit side streets and surrounding commercial strips carry increased risk for walking.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Chatham Area Transit (CAT), with bus routes running primarily along nearby Montgomery Street and Abercorn Street; there is no light rail or BRT system in Savannah.
Parking is abundant and free, with private driveways and ample unrestricted on-street parking available throughout the residential streets.
Things to do in Sylvan Terrace
- Take a quiet walk through the tree-lined residential streets to view classic 1950s Savannah brick ranch architecture
- Explore nearby midtown dining and international grocery markets along Montgomery Cross Road and Abercorn Street
- Use the neighborhood as a peaceful, central base for visiting nearby Hunter Army Airfield and Savannah State University
Local favorites
- Carey Hilliard's Restaurant · Southern / Seafood Restaurant · 4.2★ (3150)Longtime Savannah institution serving classic fried seafood, barbecue platters, and curb service.
- Midtown Deli & Bagel Shop · Deli & Bakery · 4.5★ (820)Popular local morning spot known for New York style boiled bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and deli classics.
- Taqueria El San Luis · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (430)Authentic, casual taqueria offering traditional street tacos, tortas, and hearty regional Mexican platters.
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.