Tampa is now safer than 19 percent of cities in the United States, according to NeighborhoodScout.com.
The website collects raw crime data from all 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States. NeighborhoodScout.com then assigns these reported crimes from each of these law enforcement agencies to the specific local communities the agency covers.
Relative to Florida, Tampa has a crime rate that is higher than 62% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Tampa is 1 in 32.
NeighborhoodScout.com Ratings
The five safest Tampa neighborhoods are (in order starting with the safest):
- Race Track Road and Nine Eagles Dr.
- Montague St. and W. Linebaugh Ave.
- Memorial Highway and Countryway Blvd.
- Cory Lake Blvd. and Morris Bridge Road.
- N. Boundary Blvd and Radar Road.
Many of the safest rated neighborhoods have higher middle-aged populations, low poverty rates and high education rates. Many of these neighborhoods are also among some of the most expensive in the city.
Some of the Tampa neighborhoods rated as the least safe (in no particular order) are:
- Ybor City
- Drew Park
- USF Main Campus and Fletcher Ave.
- Adamo Drive and N. 50th Ave.
- N. 15th St. and E. 109th Ave.
Many of the least safe rated neighborhoods have more apartment homes and renters, and high rates of vacant apartments. In fact, many of the apartments are vacant all year round.
"I look at what it's doing to the value of the homes surrounding it," said Jennifer Nichols, an Ybor City homeowner. "I definitely want those homes to be turned around so families can move in."
But she said she and others like her are eager to take a chance on places like Ybor City, especially because of the area's history.
"It's part of the culture," she said.
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