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Updated Thu, 08 May 2025
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Is Jacksonville safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of August 2026, Jacksonville scores 73/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Jacksonville is generally safe for visitors who stay in tourist-friendly areas and follow basic precautions. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Jacksonville 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 8 August 2026
73
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~77% of countries
What drives this score
Crime64/100FairCrime index 49.2 / 100
Sentiment71/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories75Good
Stability75Good
Health76Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:06Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-08-03T14:07:48.9689885-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Urban scale factor
1.0M residents
74
City SignalCity Geocoding
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging risk is moderate and occurs mainly in high-crime neighborhoods like 29th & Chase after dark, not in tourist zones.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing is moderate in crowded venues such as Jacksonville Beach, Riverside Arts Market, and downtown events.
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
71/100
Reported feel78Mostly positive
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Recent traveler reports indicate visitors feel safe in designated tourist districts, though some express unease near homeless encampments and occasional verbal altercations.
Yes — Jacksonville is generally safe for visitors who stay in tourist-friendly areas and follow basic precautions.
Jacksonville scores 80/100 on live safety data, with moderate crime risk concentrated in specific neighborhoods away from downtown, beaches, and Riverside. Visitors face low to moderate robbery and pickpocket threats, mostly petty theft in crowded spots.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026Jacksonville man indicted for child sex crime and attempting to entice a 13-year-old; case highlighted by DOJ as a local predator concern— Action News Jax
- Nov 2025WSJ story claimed Jacksonville has highest legal homicide rate; JSO responded that facts were omitted, sparking local debate— Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Common scams
- Overcharging at unlicensed parking lots or shuttle services
- Fake charity collections targeting tourists near downtown events
Full briefing
Jacksonville is safe for travelers who stick to well‑patrolled tourist corridors such as downtown, the riverwalk, Jacksonville Beach, and the Riverside/Avondale arts district. Live safety data gives the city an 80/100 score, reflecting moderate overall crime but low risk in the areas most visitors use. The city’s homicide rate is elevated compared to other U.S. cities, yet recent incidents are isolated — a June 2026 DOJ indictment of a local predator and a November 2025 dispute over homicide statistics — and do not affect visitors who avoid high‑crime neighborhoods like 29th & Chase or Northside after dark. Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are moderate risks in crowded spots such as the beach boardwalk and Riverside Arts Market, while robbery is moderate but confined to specific residential zones; scams include overpriced unofficial parking shuttles and aggressive charity solicitations near event venues. To stay safe, keep valuables concealed, use rideshares or hotel transport after sunset, and verify any airport or TSA assistance before paying. Following these steps lets you enjoy Jacksonville’s beaches, museums, and festivals with confidence.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Jacksonville districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Jacksonville safety map.
Northsideavoidhigh property‑crime rates and documented gang activity; nighttime foot traffic is discouraged
Westside (including 29th & Chase)avoidreported spikes in shootings and drug‑related incidents; recent police alerts advise against lingering after dark
Downtown Jacksonvillecautionpolice presence is strong but pickpocketing and occasional street disputes after dark require vigilance
Riverside/Avondalecautionpopular dining area, generally safe but isolated side streets can have homeless encampments and verbal harassment
Southside (Parkway corridor)cautionresidential zone with elevated theft reports; daytime use is acceptable with standard precautions
Jacksonville Beachsaferwell‑patrolled tourist corridor with low violent crime and visible security staff
Lake City (near I‑10)saferquiet commuter suburb with minimal transient crime and good street lighting
Ponte Vedra Beachsaferaffluent coastal enclave, low crime and frequent security patrols
07 · After Dark
Is Jacksonville safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging risk is moderate and occurs mainly in high-crime neighborhoods like 29th & Chase after dark, not in tourist zones.
After dark, be most careful around Northside, Westside (including 29th & Chase), Downtown Jacksonville, Riverside/Avondale. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Jacksonville safety FAQ (2026)
Is Jacksonville safe right now (2026)?
Yes — Jacksonville is generally safe for visitors who stay in tourist-friendly areas and follow basic precautions. Jacksonville scores 80/100 on live safety data, with moderate crime risk concentrated in specific neighborhoods away from downtown, beaches, and Riverside. Visitors face low to moderate robbery and pickpocket threats, mostly petty theft in crowded spots. (Assessed 8 August 2026.)
Is Jacksonville safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Jacksonville report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Jacksonville should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Northside, Westside (including 29th & Chase) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Jacksonville (2026)?
- Overcharging at unlicensed parking lots or shuttle services
- Fake charity collections targeting tourists near downtown events
How does Jacksonville compare with other places in United States (2026)?
Jacksonville ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 73/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this jacksonville safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
More United States reports
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4 reportsBrowse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: jacksonville.json (CC BY 4.0).