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
- Everglades City
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Myers
- Fort Pierce
- Fort Walton Beach
- Gainesville
- Hialeah
- 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
Coral Springs, Florida, is a breath of fresh air in the busy Miami metro area.
You want to call it a bedroom community, but then you see all the things you can do there.
It’s a vibrant community filled with neighbors who accept no less than plenty of attractions that don’t require going to the beach.
It’s a city filled with parks, golf courses, and as a friend of mine who lived in the area said “…every food franchise known to man on its main drag, University Avenue.”
Six decades ago, this land was nothing more than a cattle field, and now it has grown so fast the community is considered fully built.
There’s no more room to go, but there’s room to enhance, and the city does that with its activities and safety programs.
Warnings & Dangers in Coral Springs
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low overall risk here. This community is about as safe as you can find in the Miami metro area. It has amenities with a big crime risk.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
There's a community bus to get around Coral Springs, and Broward County has a bus system. You can call for a taxi or get rideshare if you want as well. While I'd recommend having a car if you want to see the greater Miami area while you stay here, just to save on the fees, there's a low risk no matter what transportation you use.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk here. You have a one in 95 chance of being a theft victim. Only two of those reported thefts were pickpocketing.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Hurricanes can happen in the Miami area during hurricane season, June through November. August, September, and October are the busiest months for the tropics. Summer thunderstorms can also be brief but intense. We'll call that a medium risk.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The robbery rate is 60% lower than the national average. However, almost half of the robberies that did happen were highway robberies - which means a crime against a stranger. We're going to give this a medium risk out of an overabundance of caution.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
The Miami metro area will also be considered a medium risk as a possible terror target due to its popularity and big sporting events, plus the port of Miami.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
The scams in Coral Springs are generally targeted at locals, claiming a bill is unpaid and the power is going to be shut off, or a scammer saying they are with Microsoft and need to get into the person's computer. There is a low risk a tourist will be targeted.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk for women traveling, and the city offers a program to teach women how to protect themselves from an attacker. That risk is going to go up if you visit other areas of Miami alone or at night, but in Coral Springs, you can feel pretty safe.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The head of the Coral Springs Public Works Department says, "Coral Springs Water is as safe as you can get." He even goes as far as to say that tap water is better than bottled water because of the minerals in it. The water does meet or exceed all state and national requirements.
Safest Places to Visit in Coral Springs
The Coral Springs Museum of Art is a great escape from the summer heat.
Here you can celebrate the diversity and artistic flair of the community.
The Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital sound like a veterinarian’s location, but when you look closer you see a great stop on your visit to Coral Springs, Florida.
You can see the animals in rehabilitation and learn about their lives in the wild.
It’s open every day of the week except for Monday, and admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Tall Cypress Natural Area is right in the center of town, but it feels like you’re in the middle of a jungle.
There’s a great story behind this preserve.
In the 1980s, this area was set to be another residential development.
Students at a local high school decided they wanted to “Save What’s Left” and started a rally.
The city and county got together and purchased the 66-acre plot and turned it into a hiking and wildlife viewing destination.
The closest beach is Pompano Beach, about 20 minutes east.
South Beach is about an hour south.
Places to Avoid in Coral Springs
Coral Springs is a pretty safe area, and even the “bad parts” are still better than the best parts of some local communities.
Crime maps show the central part of the city has the highest crime rates, bordered by Sample Road on the north, Riverside Drive on the east, Royal Palm on the south, and Coral Springs Drive on the west.
Going south into Tamarac or North Lauderdale could get you into some sketchy neighborhoods, and there are parts of Pompano Beach you want to avoid before you arrive at the beach.
Overall, you don’t need to avoid any area other than following the golden travel rule — if you don’t have a reason to be in a part of town, don’t go there.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Coral Springs
- There aren’t a lot of hotels in Coral Springs. By my count, there are only three options in the actual city of Coral Springs. There are other options in the nearby communities. There aren’t a lot of Airbnb options either. Book early if you need to stay in Coral Springs.
- Coral Springs is bordered on the west by the Everglades, which means there’s even more of a chance of seeing an alligator. Any freshwater source you see, you must assume there is an alligator in it. Alligators aren’t aggressive toward humans, but just give them their personal space and never go swimming in freshwater.
- The actual entrance to the Everglades is almost an hour away, despite it looking so close to the city. There’s the Loxahatchee Everglades Airboat Tour just 8 miles north of Coral Springs to save some drive time.
- Florida has the third-highest number of traffic fatalities nationwide. If you haven’t driven in Florida, you need to know drivers are very aggressive and sometimes dangerous. The Coral Springs Police Department has a campaign of “Let’s Get Everyone Home.” Don’t engage with an aggressive driver and take your time. You’ll need a lot of patience in Florida traffic. I can’t tell you how many times I asked Jesus to take the wheel.
- The Coral Springs Police Department is very creative with getting messages out. You can follow them on Twitter @CoralSpringsPD. They have a slew of safety messages good for residents and tourists. For example, in one post an officer holds up a sign reading, “Thieves look for unlocked vehicles the way I looked for toilet paper in 2020.”
- Wear plenty of sunscreens when visiting Coral Springs. Even in the winter. Even on cloudy days. The Florida sun is a beast and you don’t want sunburn to ruin your vacation on Day One.
- This is a community with a lot of schools, actually some of the best in the nation, but you need to know the laws of driving around a school bus. Unless there is a divided roadway, you are required to stop in both directions when a school bus stops. Police patrol for violators and you can get a hefty ticket for breaking this law.
- There are no springs in Coral Springs. The name came from the name of the community developer. For what it’s worth, there are no gardens in Miami Gardens either.
- You’ll notice that the city has a certain aesthetic about it, and that’s by design. Strict building codes and sign ordinances keep structures from getting too tall. Fun Fact: This city even banned McDonald’s from putting up its Golden Arches as they violated the building code. It’s a fact so impressive it even made it into the game Trivial Pursuit.
- You’ll need to find a favorite weather app and check it often. Storms in Coral Springs can pop up quickly. Before you head to the beach or an outdoor adventure, check the weather outlook for the next 4 to 6 hours. If storms are possible, stay inside. Florida is known as the Lightning Capital of North America.
So... How Safe Is Coral Springs Really?
Not only are the crime rates low, but the city has an extensive number of programs to stop crime before it starts and engage the community in policing.
There’s a Citizens Police Academy, Community Assisted Patrols, training for convenience store workers, a CSI volunteer program, personal safety training for children and women, Safety Town training for all kindergartners — the list goes on!
Here are the crime rate chances in Coral Springs:
- Violent Crime: 1 in 819 (almost 4 times below the national average)
- Rape: 1 in 4199 (almost half the national average)
- Robbery: 1 in 3199 (almost 3 times less than the national average)
- Aggravated Assault: 1 in 1510 (almost 5 times less than the national average)
- Theft/Larceny: 1 in 95 (25% less than the national average)
There are the typical safety steps you should always take.
Lock the doors to the car and keep belongings out of plain sight.
When shopping, keep your purse or wallet close and don’t bring out large stashes of money for payment.
Always be careful walking at night and stay in well-lit areas.
How Does Coral Springs Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Coral Springs | 78 |
| St. Louis | 58 |
| Los Angeles | 56 |
| Oakland | 57 |
| New Orleans | 57 |
| Baltimore | 56 |
| Boston | 67 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
Useful Information
Visas
The Visa requirements will be addressed at the airport or port of entry. You'll just need a legal ID when visiting the Miami metro area for things like renting a car or buying alcohol.
Currency
The U.S. Dollar is the only currency used here. Credit cards are the best option for purchases and provide the best protection in case you become a victim of identity theft.
Weather
The weather is mild year-round, with winters in the 70s or 80s and dropping into the 50s at night. There is always a chance of a cold snap in Florida, so bring a jacket just in case. Summers are very hot and humid. Bring light clothing that easily absorbs sweat. Bring good walking shoes too, since there's a lot of hiking and exploring in Coral Springs.
Airports
There are several airport options. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 30 miles away. Palm Beach International Airport is 45 miles away. Miami International Airport is 48 miles away.
Travel Insurance
You'll need travel insurance for your trip to Coral Springs. Severe weather can quickly pop up and send flight patterns into chaos with cancellations and re-bookings.
Coral Springs Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 25 |
| Low °C | 14 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| High °F | 75 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 88 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 86 | 81 | 77 |
| Low °F | 57 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 66 | 61 |
