Florida : Safety by City
- Amelia Island
- Boca Raton
- Boynton Beach
- Bradenton
- Brandon
- Cape Coral
- Clearwater
- Cocoa Beach
- Coral Springs
- Daytona Beach
- Deerfield Beach
- Delray Beach
- Deltona
- Destin
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- Fort Myers
- Fort Pierce
- Fort Walton Beach
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- Homestead
- Jacksonville
- Jupiter
- Kendall
- Key Largo
- Key West
- Kissimmee
- Lake Buena Vista
- Lake City
- Lake Worth Beach
- Lakeland
- Lauderhill
- Marco Island
- Melbourne
- Miami
- Miami Beach
- Miami Gardens
- Miramar
- Mount Dora
- Naples
- New Smyrna Beach
- North Port
- Ocala
- Orlando
- Ormond Beach
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Palm Harbor
- Panama City Beach
- Pembroke Pines
- Pensacola
- Pompano Beach
- Port St. Lucie
- Punta Gorda
- Sarasota
- St. Augustine
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- Vero Beach
- West Palm Beach
- Winter Park
Boynton Beach, Florida, is the quintessential Florida community near the water except for one thing — it doesn’t have a beach.
It has a very small sliver of beach at Gulfstream Park, but the rest of the city is on the west side of the Intracoastal waterway.
That said, there’s still a plethora of water-related activities to enjoy.
This community blends tourism and neighborhoods, history with future growth plans, and amenities with crime risks.
Boyton Beach is on a part of the beautiful Florida coastline where it’s hard to tell where one city ends and another begins.
It’s an hour north of Boca Raton and less than a half-hour south of West Palm Beach.
This central location makes it great for trips to either end of the South Florida coastline.
Warnings & Dangers in Boynton Beach
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
There's medium overall risk. The city has some high crime rates that are concerning, but peeling back another layer, you'll find an impressive lowering of crime rates over the past few years. 2020 numbers were lower than the police department has seen in 20 years.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
There's low risk with several options. Cabs and rideshares are available. Both are regulated by Palm Beach County. There's the South Florida Regional Transit Authority's Tri-Rail system that runs from Palm Beach County through Broward and Dade counties and back. There is a bus system that goes through Palm Beach County. There isn't a bus service or shuttle just through Boynton Beach, an oddity from my experience researching Miami area cities.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
The theft rates are 5% higher than the national rate, yet there were no reports of pickpocketing or purse stealing. There's a low rate here, but you always want to keep a close eye on your purse or wallet.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Boyton Beach is subject to the same risk of hurricanes as other neighborhoods in South Florida. The season runs from June through November. Summer storms can be brief, yet fierce. Just because of the storm potential, we'll give it a medium risk.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The highest number of robberies happened in or around homes, but 25% of crimes were highway robberies. We'll call it a medium risk just because this and other violent crimes are a little high compared to national averages.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
The whole South Florida East Coast should be considered a medium risk for a terror attack, just because of the damage that could be done to a large swatch of population and critical ports. There's nothing in Boyton Beach that makes it a strong specific target.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of a scam against a tourist as most are targeting residents. There's one I do want you to know about. A scammer got hold of a couple's bank account information and set up a Venmo account using the account numbers. Each month the scammer took out $1500 until the account was drained. This is a good reminder, especially when traveling, to check your bank account daily, or every couple of days, to make sure no unauthorized charges go through.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
I found it interesting that in Boyton Beach there's a company that coordinates vacations between singles, whether it's a couple looking for love, or a girlfriend's weekend getaway. Anyway, rapes were the only crime category that wasn't above the national average. To err on the side of caution, I'm still going to call this a medium risk. There are some sketchy neighborhoods and you shouldn't be walking around this town alone at night.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
There's a low risk in tap water. It meets all state and federal requirements, and while there are some consumer complaints about the smell of the water, that can be from several things like flushing the lines with chlorine or it could even come from the pipes in the house.
Safest Places to Visit in Boynton Beach
Check out Gulf Stream Park.
Parking might be challenging if you get there mid-day, but a wooden walkway takes you right to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Marina Village at Boynton is the best place to get a charter boat, go on a fishing expedition, or sign up for a scuba trip.
There are also some restaurants there to enjoy some fresh-caught seafood.
Wildlife lovers will enjoy the Seacret Scrub Natural Area.
The small part protects the gopher tortoise and is home to the American redstart bird, the green anole reptile, and the eastern gray squirrel.
This is part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail.
For a bigger outdoor adventure in Boynton Beach, visit Green Cay Natura Center & Wetlands.
There’s an elevated boardwalk that takes you through 100 acres with a self-guided walking tour.
As you explore around town, there are public art displays in South Boynton, Downtown, Central Boynton, and North Boynton.
The art display project is always growing, so check #BoyntonArts for the latest installations.
On the west side of town, you’ll find Boynton Beach Mall.
It’s the standard American mall with shops and dining options indoors (you’ll be glad for the air conditioning at some point during your trip. )
Places to Avoid in Boynton Beach
The crime maps show, and social media forums back up, that you should avoid stopping in the I-95 corridor area.
It’s not the best neighborhood to get gas.
The farther west you go, the safer you will be.
This isn’t a city with a lot of places to visit in the middle, and the bulk of the hotels are on the west side of town as well.
If you want to go to the beach, get out of Boyton Beach properly.
While every stretch of water is beautiful, there are beaches with more amenities either north or south.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Boynton Beach
- It might seem a little random and odd, but balloons are banned at Gulf Stream Park as they can be harmful to sea turtles that nest on the beach.
- Call for beach conditions before you go. The number is (561)629-8775. Even a storm way offshore can kick up nasty rip tides that are dangerous. The waves can bring in dangerous sea life. There are several warnings possible, so call ahead of time. If you’re going to have to fight for a parking spot, you want to make sure you can enjoy all the amenities beachside.
- If there’s a freshwater pond or lake in Boynton Beach, assume an alligator lives there and stay away. They are going to chase after you, but they might get startled if you get in the water. During the cooler months, you might see them sunning themselves on the shore.
- You need a saltwater fishing license if you are going out on a fishing or charter boat. You can easily get one through Florida Fish and Wildlife. There are separate licenses for saltwater and freshwater.
- There is a gang problem in Palm Beach County, and no doubt you’ll hear about or read about the deadly shooting at the Boynton Beach Mall on Christmas Eve in 2006. While it’s jarring, it’s also part of life in this area. Gangs usually don’t go looking for trouble with strangers, and if you see someone suspicious approaching you, or notice you’re in a neighborhood with a lot of graffiti, get out of there.
- Boynton Beach has red light cameras at busy or dangerous intersections. If you run a red light, you’ll get mailed a $158 ticket. They also send pictures and video proof of your crime, so it’s hard to argue with, aside from someone else being behind the wheel or the car being stolen.
- If you are involved in a minor traffic crash, you will report that online to state law enforcement, not local, unless the crash blocks an intersection or has a serious injury. That link can be found online at flhsmv.gov. Florida drivers are habitually bad at, well, driving. Keep your distance and don’t get aggressive with tailgaters or anyone who cuts you off.
- You don’t need a scuba license in Florida to go scuba diving, but some charters might require it. There are plenty of places to get your certificate. At a minimum, expect a crash course in how to scuba on the ride out in the boat.
- What’s that smell in the air? Some Florida communities use reclaimed water for things like landscaping and golf course watering. Reclaimed water is sewage water with all the solids taken out and then briefly treated. You don’t want to drink or bathe in this water. Avoid running through sprinklers. It’s safe for irrigation, but nothing else. You’ll know it’s reclaimed water from the rotten egg smell brought on by sulfur in the water. True story: When I first moved to Florida I found a place to live and I loved it, but the smell was awful. I finally spoke up to my realtor, who said it was only because the irrigation system in the community had just turned on and that was reclaimed water. I’m glad I asked. It was almost a deal break if it smelled like that all the time.
- If it has been rainy during your trip and you are near low-lying areas, be sure to check the tide schedule. From August through December, this area sees “King Tides”, which are the highest of the high tides. I once stood with a reporter as a high tide came in during a flood, and by the end of the morning newscast, we were surrounded by water and had to wait for the tide to lower.
So... How Safe Is Boynton Beach Really?
It’s a hit-or-miss kind of town.
The bad places can be pretty bad.
That’s near that I-95 corridor.
Crime maps show the center part of town is the most dangerous and everything gets safer the farther west you go.
None of the beachfront areas are in Boynton Beach, aside from Gulf Stream Park, and that’s just 600 feet long.
You’ll be in another city if you go to other beaches.
The crime rates are higher than the national average than any other city in the nation, but according to Boynton Beach Police, they are on a downward trend.
All crimes dropped a total of 14% from 2019 to 2020.
“This decrease speaks volumes to the focused efforts of all of our employees,” said Police Chief Michael G. Gregory.
“Our approach is all-hands-on-deck, using a multitude of tactics and crime-fighting strategies that are constantly evolving based on crime patterns.”
How Does Boynton Beach Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Boynton Beach | 74 |
| Atlanta | 58 |
| St. Louis | 58 |
| Los Angeles | 56 |
| Oakland | 57 |
| New Orleans | 57 |
| Baltimore | 56 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visas are taken care of at the port of entry or the airport of your arrival into the country. You will need a legal ID to drink alcohol or proof of age on boating trips.
Currency
You'll use the U.S. Dollar in Boynton Beach. A credit card is the best way to carry less stuff with you while still having strong identity theft protection. Let your card issuer know you are going on vacation and set a daily spending limit so you can get alerts if a purchase goes over.
Weather
Winter is mild with less rain. Expect highs near 80° and lows can get into the 50s. The spring heats up until the summer extreme heat and humidity. You're going to sweat a lot, so pack accordingly. Carry bottled water with you throughout the day and make sure to replace electrolytes. Sunscreen is a must with the intense Florida sun any time of year. Summers also get more rain, so bring rain gear.
Airports
The closest airports are the Palm Beach International Airport, about 20 minutes away, and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport about 45 minutes away.
Travel Insurance
There are too many weather variables to ever plan a trip to South Florida without travel insurance.
Boynton Beach Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
| Low °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 |
| High °F | 73 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 84 | 81 | 77 | 73 |
| Low °F | 63 | 64 | 68 | 70 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 75 | 72 | 66 |
