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 community in midtown Savannah that is generally peaceful for everyday visitors. While violent crime inside the neighborhood grid is relatively low, its proximity to busy commercial arterials means occasional property crimes like vehicle break-ins do occur.”
About the area
Sylvan Terrace is an established mid-20th-century neighborhood located south of Savannah's historic core, characterized by modest brick ranch homes, mature oak trees, and a working-class residential feel. Visitors typically pass through or stay in local rentals while accessing midtown amenities, nearby shopping corridors, and medical centers.
- Quiet Residential
- Mid-Century
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Sylvan Terrace
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Savannah is naturally flat and interior neighborhood roads are low-stress for cycling, though there are no dedicated bike lanes or municipal bike-share stations in Sylvan Terrace.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Predominantly single-family residential fabric with low violent crime rates relative to the broader Savannah metropolitan average.
- Stable homeownership base and established long-term residents foster a watchful neighborhood environment.
- Central location provides rapid 10-to-15-minute vehicle access to both downtown Savannah and Southside commercial hubs.
Cons
- Spillover property crime, including car break-ins and theft, from surrounding high-traffic thoroughfares like Montgomery Street.
- Below-average median household incomes and pockets of aging housing stock with deferred maintenance.
- Limited street lighting and lack of continuous sidewalks on several interior residential streets.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks, though individuals may occasionally be seen near bus stops along major perimeter arterials like Montgomery Street.
What Sylvan Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with residents commuting and walking dogs along quiet neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low activity and calm, with routine residential deliveries and light local traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and generally secure, though pedestrian visibility drops quickly after sunset due to sparse streetlamps.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Subdued with very little activity, but walking alone is not recommended due to opportunistic vehicle prowling.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) serves the perimeter via routes along Montgomery Street and DeRenne Avenue, providing bus connections to downtown Savannah; there is no rail transit in the city.
Ample and free on-street parking is readily available throughout the neighborhood, and almost all homes feature private driveways.
Things to do in Sylvan Terrace
- Take a quiet walk through the neighborhood under mature Spanish-moss-draped live oak canopies.
- Enjoy outdoor recreation and tennis courts at nearby Bacon Park.
- Explore local midtown retail and dining along the nearby Hodgson Memorial Drive corridor.
Local favorites
- Barnes Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.2★ (1250)Longstanding, unpretentious local staple serving classic Southern barbecue, fried chicken, and buffet sides.
- Carey Hilliard's Restaurant · Seafood & Barbecue · 4.3★ (3600)Historic Savannah drive-in and family diner famous for fried seafood platters, hushpuppies, and barbecue.
- Chong Qing Restaurant · Sichuan Restaurant · 4.6★ (510)Highly rated neighborhood eatery offering authentic, spicy Sichuan dishes and traditional Chinese favorites.
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.