Is South Bronx Safe? Bronx Livability, Crime & Rent
South Bronx scores 6.3 median (5.9–6.7 range): practical infrastructure and green space offset real safety and noise headwinds in a high-activity, working neighborhood.
South Bronx at a glance
- Borough
- Bronx
- Livability score
- 6.3/10
- Borough rank
- #8 of 23
- Median listing
- $0
- Subway stations
- 2 (Burnside Av, 176 St)
- Active listings
- 283
- Data updated
- 2026-04-05
Is South Bronx Safe?
South Bronx, Bronx scores 6.3/10 for overall livability, ranking #8 of 23 Bronx neighborhoods. South Bronx scores 6.3 median (5.9–6.7 range): practical infrastructure and green space offset real safety and noise headwinds in a high-activity, working neighborhood.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific South Bronx address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
You'll find a mid-rise dominated neighborhood (73% of 283 tracked buildings) with serious tree cover—104 trees average within 200 meters and a canopy density of 9.5/10 that creates pockets of green throughout blocks. Cedar Playground, Sedgwick Playground, and Galileo Playground sit within roughly 5-10 minute walks, giving you regular access to outdoor space. The 4 train at Burnside Avenue and the 4 at 176 Street anchor transit connectivity. Street-level, you're moving through a dense, working neighborhood with waterfront development reshaping edges and an active arts presence, but also contending with very high noise complaints (6,498 over 12 months) and crime activity that's worsening—the reality of a high-activity zone (63rd percentile in the borough) with 2,830 total crimes recorded.
Analysis based on 283 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
104 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Cedar Playground
Avg 328m away | Score: 2.9/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
10/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
We compute an ART score for every block by combining four signals: access to restorative zones (parks, museums, libraries), sensory load (nightlife and tourist density), street vitality (Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street”), and third places (Oldenburg’s informal community spaces).
In line with the Bronx median — typical city stimulus with typical restorative access.
What drives the score
- +Restorative zones. Museums, libraries, community gardens, and parks within walking distance. “Soft fascination” stimuli (clouds, tree branches, water) let directed attention recover without effort — the Kaplans’ core mechanism.
- −Sensory load. Bar and nightclub density (5+ within 150m), firehouse siren corridors, tourist chokepoints, and very high foot traffic push the score down by up to 8 points.
- +Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets, and community festivals over the past 12 months — a proxy for “eyes on the street” and the informal surveillance that makes blocks feel safe and maintained.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Cafés, public plazas (POPS), community centers — the “anchors of community life” that buffer against social isolation. Loneliness has been linked to 29% higher incident coronary heart disease risk (Valtorta et al., 2016).
Health mechanism. Directed-attention fatigue (DAF) is linked to impaired decision-making, irritability, and elevated cortisol. A meta-analysis of 60+ studies (Ohly et al., 2016) found restorative environment exposure significantly improves attention-task performance (Hedges’ g ≈ 0.32) and reduces negative affect.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
5/10
Borough median: 5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
104
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Cedar Playground
- Sedgwick Playground
- University Malls
- Galileo Playground
- Half-Nelson Playground
Avg distance: 328m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who South Bronx Is For
Transit-dependent commuters
Two subway lines (4 train at two stops) deliver commute access on par with borough median (score: 5), suitable for working professionals routing to central job hubs
Artists and cultural workers
ART/Livability score of 4.8 exceeds borough median (4.5), and existing arts scene plus waterfront development create space for creative communities despite below-average financial score
Urban nature enthusiasts with noise tolerance
Outstanding tree canopy (9.5/10) and five parks within walking distance, but Outdoor score of 5.8 paired with very high noise complaints means you need to be comfortable with urban intensity
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Exceptional tree canopy coverage
9.5/10 canopy density and 104 trees within 200m—well above baseline for dense urban blocks
Strong park access
Five parks (Cedar, Sedgwick, University Malls, Galileo, Half-Nelson) averaging 328m away, walkable for daily recreation
Practical services score highest on DwellScore
Practical score of 9/10 (borough median: 4) means strong baseline access to essential utilities, services, and daily infrastructure
Dual subway access
4 train stops at both Burnside Avenue and 176 Street provide redundancy and coverage
Growing creative economy
ART/Livability score of 4.8 outperforms borough median of 4.5, with documented arts scene and waterfront development underway
Trade-offs
Deteriorating safety trend
Crime increased 231% over the measured period; 2,830 total crimes in 12 months reflects persistent public safety challenges
Severe noise pollution
6,498 noise complaints (Very High) in 12 months indicates chronic street-level noise from traffic, construction, or activity
Below-borough-median financial conditions
Financial score of 5.0 versus borough median of 6.5 reflects economic pressure across the neighborhood
Moderate investment activity
Investment score of 5.0 matches borough median—no acceleration in capital deployment or development momentum
Score Any Address in South Bronx
Get detailed livability scores based on building health, transit access, safety, noise levels, and 15+ NYC data sources.
Search an Address in South BronxFrequently Asked Questions about South Bronx
1Is South Bronx safe?
South Bronx safety varies by block. DwellCheck provides detailed safety data including NYPD crime statistics, arrest data, and 311 complaints. Check the South Bronx safety page for full details.
2What is the average rent in South Bronx?
Rents in South Bronx, Bronx vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in South Bronx?
South Bronx has a commute score of 5/10. 2 subway stations serve the area: Burnside Av, 176 St.
4What are the best streets in South Bronx?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is South Bronx known for?
South Bronx sits in Bronx and ranks #8 of 23 Bronx neighborhoods on DwellCheck's livability score (6.3/10). It's served by 2 subway stations (Burnside Av, 176 St), with a median listing price of $0. South Bronx scores 6.3 median (5.9–6.7 range): practical infrastructure and green space offset real safety and noise headwinds in a high-activity, working neighborhood.
6What is it like to live in South Bronx?
Living in South Bronx, Bronx weights against six livability dimensions: practical (HPD-violation density), commute (subway proximity), arts/culture (venue density), outdoor (parks + trees), financial (price level), investment (price trend). South Bronx's composite is 6.3/10. South Bronx scores 6.3 median (5.9–6.7 range): practical infrastructure and green space offset real safety and noise headwinds in a high-activity, working neighborhood. For the block-by-block view, run any specific South Bronx address through DwellCheck.
7Is South Bronx expensive?
Median listing price in South Bronx, Bronx is $0 based on 283 active listings as of 2026-04-05. Whether that reads "expensive" depends on the comparison: it's lower than Manhattan averages and varies considerably by building. Rent-stabilized units in South Bronx can run 20-40% below the median; check DHCR rent history for any specific address to verify.
8What is the average DwellScore in South Bronx?
The median composite score is 6.3, with an interquartile range of 5.9 to 6.7. Practical services (9/10) drive the composite up; Financial (5.0) and ART/Livability (4.8) drag it down relative to borough averages.
9How safe is South Bronx?
Safety verdict is high-activity (63rd percentile in the borough). You'll find 2,830 recorded crimes over 12 months and a worsening trend (+231%), placing it in the active crime category. Rodent complaints are low (161), indicating basic sanitation control.
10What's the transit situation?
You have the 4 train at Burnside Avenue and 176 Street, delivering a commute score of 5/10 (borough median). Access is solid for cross-borough and downtown routing but not exceptional by citywide standards.
11Why is the Practical score so high compared to other categories?
The Practical score of 9/10 reflects strong baseline infrastructure: water, electrical, sewage, and essential services. This is a built neighborhood with existing systems; it scores low on financial metrics and safety perception, not on nuts-and-bolts service availability.
12Is there green space and outdoor access?
Yes. You'll find 104 trees within 200m on average with a 9.5/10 canopy density, plus five parks (Cedar, Sedgwick, University Malls, Galileo, Half-Nelson) within ~328m. The Outdoor score is 5.8 (above borough median 5.5), but noise activity (6,498 complaints) can diminish quality-of-life perception.
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