Is Wilma Farms safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Wilma Farms as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Wilma Farms
“Go with care. Wilma Farms is primarily a quiet, working-class residential pocket in North Tampa, but its proximity to busier commercial strips means occasional property crime spills over. Visitors without specific personal or residential business in the area have little reason to stop, though basic situational awareness is sufficient during the day.”
Local coverage in the surrounding North Tampa district frequently notes ongoing Hillsborough County initiatives targeting vehicle burglaries and pedestrian infrastructure improvements along major adjacent corridors.
About the area
Wilma Farms is an unassuming, low-density residential neighborhood situated in the northern sector of Tampa. Composed mostly of mid-century single-family homes, rental properties, and mature oak trees, it sits between key thoroughfares providing access to the University of South Florida area. It offers little in the way of tourist attractions but functions as an accessible, car-dependent residential community.
- Suburban / Modest
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
- Tree-Covered
Walking and biking in Wilma Farms
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 46/100
There are no bike-share hubs or dedicated cycle tracks within the neighborhood; cyclists must share mixed-traffic lanes to connect to bike lanes along Fowler or Fletcher avenues.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime incidence compared to surrounding commercial corridors along Nebraska and Fowler avenues
- Quiet residential atmosphere set back from high-density commercial strips
- Convenient driving access to USF, local healthcare networks, and I-275
Cons
- Elevated rate of opportunistic property crime, including vehicle break-ins and theft
- Lower-than-average median household income and pockets of aging, deferred-maintenance housing
- Sparse street lighting and inconsistent sidewalk infrastructure on interior residential streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal on the interior residential streets of Wilma Farms, though panhandling and unhoused individuals are common along the nearby commercial stretches of Nebraska Avenue and Fletcher Avenue.
What Wilma Farms is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful as residents commute, feeling safe for morning walks or runs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet suburban environment with low foot traffic, generally safe with ordinary caution.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly; poor street lighting makes walking less comfortable after dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are deserted and dark, presenting elevated risk for vehicle prowling and property theft.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) operates bus service on the perimeter arterial roads like N Nebraska Ave (Route 1) and E Fletcher Ave, though there are no transit stops in the neighborhood core and no passenger rail stations.
Parking is free and easy, primarily accommodated on private residential driveways with unmetered, informal curbside parking on residential streets.
Things to do in Wilma Farms
- Visit nearby Copeland Park for its public swimming pool, sports courts, and community recreation facilities
- Catch live music and outdoor dining at the historic Skipper's Smokehouse located just to the north
- Explore the nearby University of South Florida Botanical Gardens featuring walking trails and rare plant collections
Local favorites
- Skipper's Smokehouse · Seafood & Live Music Bar · 4.5★ (2850)Rustic, celebrated institution serving smoked fish, gator ribs, and live blues in an open-air setting.
- Mojo Books & Records · Record & Book Store · 4.7★ (1620)Beloved independent shop offering vinyl records, used books, vegan coffee, and alternative gifts.
- Taco Bus · Mexican Restaurant · 4.0★ (3150)Original converted-bus storefront offering classic Mexican street food and late-night eats.
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.