Is West Lauderdale Lakes safe?
Lauderdale Lakes, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates West Lauderdale Lakes as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on West Lauderdale Lakes
“Go with care. While the residential condo and retirement communities are generally peaceful, the commercial corridors experience elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Daytime visits for local Caribbean dining and shopping are fine, but extra awareness is advised around busy intersections and at night.”
Broward Sheriff's Office periodically increases patrols along commercial corridors in Lauderdale Lakes to address retail theft, car break-ins, and traffic safety concerns.
About the area
West Lauderdale Lakes is an established suburban community in central Broward County, known for its strong Caribbean cultural influence and dense concentration of condo complexes and multi-family developments. The area is largely residential, anchored by busy retail strips along West Oakland Park Boulevard and State Road 7.
- Suburban
- Diverse Dining
- Car-Dependent
- Residential Condos
Walking and biking in West Lauderdale Lakes
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no local public bike-share program, and cycling is mostly restricted to painted lanes on wide, high-speed arterial roads without dedicated protected greenways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Vibrant Caribbean dining scene and specialty cultural grocery markets
- Gated and age-restricted condominium pockets offer quieter residential pockets
- Centrally located in Broward County with direct access to major east-west thoroughfares
Cons
- Poverty rate sits near 20%, well above Broward County and national averages
- Higher incidence of property crime and vehicle break-ins along commercial plazas
- High-traffic arterial roads create hazardous conditions for pedestrians
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low in purely residential sectors but occasionally observable near bus shelters and commercial plazas along West Oakland Park Boulevard.
What West Lauderdale Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with commuters and local shoppers; residential streets are calm and safe for walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy traffic along Oakland Park Boulevard; plazas are active with steady foot traffic and normal daytime safety.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity concentrates around takeout spots and shopping centers; exercise standard urban awareness in parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets clear out considerably, and unlit areas or strip mall parking lots can feel isolated; walking is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides bus service along major arterials including Route 72 on Oakland Park Blvd and Route 18 on SR 7, connecting eastward to Fort Lauderdale. The nearest rail option is the Fort Lauderdale Tri-Rail station, roughly 4 miles east.
Ample free surface parking is available in all commercial plazas and retail centers, while residential parking is mostly off-street within designated complex lots.
Things to do in West Lauderdale Lakes
- Explore authentic Jamaican and Haitian specialties along West Oakland Park Boulevard
- Visit Vincent Torres Memorial Park for walking paths, sports courts, and community events
- Shop for Caribbean groceries and hard-to-find ingredients at local markets
Local favorites
- Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.1★ (1820)Popular fast-casual spot serving jerk chicken, oxtail, and classic Caribbean comfort foods.
- Silver Pond Restaurant · Chinese Restaurant · 4.3★ (960)Longtime local fixture known for authentic Cantonese dishes and seafood specialties.
- Bamboo Shack · Bahamian Restaurant · 4.2★ (510)Casual eatery serving cracked conch, fried snapper, and Bahamian-style sides.
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.