Is Windy Hill safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Windy Hill as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Windy Hill
“Go. Windy Hill is a typical, moderately safe suburban Jacksonville neighborhood centered around major commercial arteries and residential subdivisions. Violent crime rates are below the Jacksonville city average, though standard vigilance is advised regarding vehicle break-ins and commercial property crime.”
About the area
Located on Jacksonville's Southside near Beach Boulevard and Interstate 295, Windy Hill is a heavily commercialized suburban district featuring shopping centers, residential subdivisions, and apartment complexes. It serves primarily as a commuter-friendly residential hub with convenient proximity to the University of North Florida and the beaches.
- Suburban Commercial
- Car-Dependent
- Commuter Hub
- Shopping District
Walking and biking in Windy Hill
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There is no local bike-share program, and while some roads feature narrow bike lanes, high traffic speeds on Beach Boulevard make cycling purely utility-oriented rather than recreational.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Jacksonville's urban core and Northwest quadrants
- Solid household income levels and low overall residential vacancy rates
- Convenient driving access to the St. Johns Town Center shopping corridor and Atlantic Beach
Cons
- Elevated property crime and auto burglaries around large retail parking lots and major intersections
- Heavy vehicle traffic and poor pedestrian safety on major thoroughfares like Beach Boulevard
- Pockets of aging multifamily housing complexes with higher incident call volumes
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential streets, but individuals panhandling or lingering can occasionally be observed near major arterial intersections along Beach Boulevard.
What Windy Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and quiet with standard suburban commuter traffic flowing along Beach and Southside Boulevards.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy commercial activity around shopping centers with heavy vehicle congestion and generally safe conditions.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Well-lit and lively around restaurants and retail strips, though walking between disconnected plazas is uninviting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet across subdivisions, while commercial parking lots empty out and require standard situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) bus lines, including Routes 8 and 10 along Beach Boulevard, though frequencies are limited and a car is essential.
Parking is exceptionally easy and plentiful, with vast, free surface parking lots fronting almost all shopping centers and residential communities.
Things to do in Windy Hill
- Practice your swing and play rounds at Topgolf Jacksonville on Brightman Boulevard
- Shop and dine across dozens of retail options at nearby St. Johns Town Center
- Hike nature trails and explore wooded boardwalks at the adjacent UNF Sawmill Slough Preserve
Local favorites
- Topgolf · Entertainment & Dining · 4.5★ (5600)Sprawling entertainment complex featuring high-tech driving bays, food, and drinks.
- Culver's · Fast-Casual Restaurant · 4.6★ (2300)Popular fast-casual spot known for butterburgers and freshly churned frozen custard.
- Alhambra Theatre & Dining · Performing Arts · 4.8★ (3200)Historic professional dinner theater presenting Broadway-style musicals and multi-course meals.
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.