United States · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Jacksonville scores 69/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Jacksonville is a moderately safe city for travelers, requiring awareness of common urban risks. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
United States · Assessed 29 July 2026
69
/ 100
Safer than ~71% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
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 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateWorry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with violent crime perceived as a significant local problem.
Pickpocketing
ModerateProperty crime is considered a local problem, suggesting a moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mixed to Negative
58/100
Locals report feeling unsafe walking alone at night (29/100) and perceive violent and property crime as significant local issues, indicating a lower level of day-to-day safety confidence.
Jacksonville is a moderately safe city for travelers, requiring awareness of common urban risks.
While official advisories are low-level, local crime perception and statistics indicate a need for caution, particularly regarding violent and property crime. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take standard precautions.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Jacksonville, Florida, presents a mixed safety profile for travelers. Official government advisories from Canada and the UK recommend exercising normal security precautions, aligning with a low-risk assessment for general travel. However, local sentiment and crime data suggest a need for heightened awareness. The composite safety index is favorable, but specific indicators like the homicide rate (5.8/100k, matching the US average) and local perceptions of crime warrant attention.
On the ground, travelers may encounter moderate risks of robbery and property crime. Numbeo data indicates that worry about mugging or robbery is at 49/100, and both violent and property crime are seen as significant local problems. The perception of safety when walking alone at night is particularly low (29/100), suggesting that caution is advised after dark, especially in less populated or poorly lit areas. While there are no active natural disaster alerts, extreme heat is a factor in July.
Recent reports highlight specific concerns. In November 2025, News4JAX reported on Jacksonville having the nation's highest rate of legal homicides, though local law enforcement contested the findings. March 2026 saw a DOJ indictment of a Jacksonville man for a child sex crime. Additionally, a June 2026 ACLU report mentioned a Florida man suing over a wrongful arrest due to facial recognition technology, a potential scam or misidentification risk. Protests, including those against military actions and ICE policies, have also occurred in Jacksonville, which travelers should be aware of to avoid potential disruptions.
To ensure a safe visit, travelers should adhere to the standard advice of exercising normal security precautions. This includes being vigilant about personal belongings, avoiding displaying wealth, and being particularly cautious when walking alone at night. Travelers should also be mindful of potential airline overcharging, as noted in a May 2026 report concerning American Airlines. Staying informed about local events and potential demonstrations can help travelers navigate the city safely. Given the CDC's global health notices for Polio, Dengue, and Measles, travelers should ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Jacksonville districts for visitors: 3 safer, 4 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Jacksonville safety map.
NorthsideavoidHigher crime rates reported; avoid unless necessary and exercise extreme caution.
DowntowncautionHigher risk of petty crime and homelessness; exercise vigilance, especially at night.
SouthbankcautionCan be busy with nightlife; be mindful of personal belongings and avoid isolated areas after dark.
WestsidecautionCrime rates can be higher in certain areas; stay alert and avoid poorly lit or deserted locations.
ArlingtoncautionMixed safety; some areas are residential and safe, others may experience higher crime. Exercise caution.
RiversidesaferGenerally safe with a pleasant atmosphere, but remain aware of surroundings.
AvondalesaferConsidered a safe and historic neighborhood, good for walking.
San MarcosaferUpscale and generally safe, but standard precautions apply.
07 · After Dark
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Worry about mugging or robbery is moderate, with violent crime perceived as a significant local problem.
After dark, be most careful around Northside, Downtown, Southbank, Westside. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Jacksonville's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Jacksonville is a moderately safe city for travelers, requiring awareness of common urban risks. While official advisories are low-level, local crime perception and statistics indicate a need for caution, particularly regarding violent and property crime. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take standard precautions. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Field research flags Northside as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Jacksonville ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 69/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 11+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: jacksonville.json (CC BY 4.0).
