The best neighborhood to rent in Melbourne, Florida, depends on what makes your everyday life easier: a manageable commute, nearby groceries, places to spend time outdoors, an apartment that fits your budget, and a setting you feel comfortable coming home to.
Start by comparing Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road, Eau Gallie, West Melbourne, Downtown Melbourne, and south Melbourne. Each gives you a different starting point for your apartment search.
If safety is a priority, research the specific address using official information and visit the property yourself. Neighborhood names and broad “safest area” lists do not tell you everything about an individual apartment or its surroundings.
This guide focuses on practical places to compare in Melbourne and nearby West Melbourne, including the Lake Washington Road area where Summerset Apartments is located.
Key takeaways
- Five areas to compare: Lake Washington and Wickham Road, Eau Gallie, West Melbourne, Downtown Melbourne, and south Melbourne.
- Judge the area, the property, and the apartment separately. A great neighborhood can’t fix the wrong apartment.
- Research safety by address with official crime maps and a visit, not a “safest neighborhoods” list.
- Compare the full housing cost of similar apartments rather than assuming one area is cheaper.
What makes a neighborhood a good place to rent?
A useful neighborhood comparison starts with the things you will use most often.
Look at the full monthly housing cost, your route to work, grocery shopping, parking, walking routes, recreation, and the condition of the apartment community. Consider noise at the times you will be home, including evenings and weekends. It helps to separate three decisions:
- The area: Does it put the places you use within a reasonable trip?
- The property: Is it maintained, and are the policies clear?
- The apartment: Does its layout, condition, and price suit you?
An appealing neighborhood cannot make up for an apartment that does not meet your needs. A good apartment also needs to work for your daily trips.
Melbourne rental areas at a glance
These are areas to explore, not a safety ranking or a measured price comparison. Some are districts or road corridors rather than neighborhoods with fixed boundaries.
| Area | Why compare it | What to check before renting |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road | A mainland location to compare for errands, parks, and routes around Melbourne | Your actual grocery and work trips, street noise, and the specific property |
| Eau Gallie and the Arts District | Access to galleries, restaurants, local shops, and cultural destinations | Distance to the district, sidewalks, crossings, and evening activity |
| West Melbourne | A suburban alternative with its own city services and residential areas | Exact city boundaries, driving routes, and property location |
| Downtown Melbourne and nearby streets | Access to downtown dining, shops, and events | Parking, sound levels, and whether destinations are genuinely walkable |
| South Melbourne near Florida Tech and Holmes Regional | A location to compare if those destinations are part of your routine | The exact route, apartment condition, and surrounding streets |
1. Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road for everyday convenience
The Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road area belongs on your shortlist if you want a mainland Melbourne home base and prefer to compare apartments around your normal errands.
Use Lake Washington Square Plaza as one local shopping reference point, then check the stores and services you actually use. A listing that says “near shopping” is more meaningful when you know the route from the apartment entrance.
For outdoor time, include Wickham Park in your comparison. The county park at 2500 Parkway Drive offers walking and biking routes, trails, picnic areas, and a dog park. Check its current notices before planning to use a particular facility.
When touring apartments in this area, ask:
- How convenient is the trip to groceries and a pharmacy?
- Does the apartment face a main road or a quieter part of the property?
- What walking routes are available from the community?
- How does parking work when you arrive home?
- Is your work route practical during your normal hours?
Summerset Apartments is near Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road. Compare its specific address against your routine rather than relying on a general claim about the whole area.
Sources: Summerset neighborhood overview and Brevard County: Wickham Park.
2. Eau Gallie for arts, restaurants, and a distinct local setting
Eau Gallie is a historic area within Melbourne. Its Arts District, often called EGAD, includes galleries, shops, restaurants, public spaces, and cultural destinations.
It is worth comparing if you want those places to be part of your regular week. But an apartment described as “in Eau Gallie” is not necessarily within walking distance of the district.
Check the actual route to Highland Avenue or the destinations you want nearby. Look at sidewalks, crossings, lighting, and where you would park if you drive.
Visit during both an ordinary weekday and a busier evening. That can help you decide whether the immediate setting suits your preferences for activity and noise.
Source: Visit Space Coast: Eau Gallie Arts District.
3. West Melbourne for a suburban alternative
West Melbourne is a separate city, not simply a name for the western side of Melbourne. If you are comparing rentals around Minton Road, New Haven Avenue, or nearby streets, verify the exact address and city boundaries.
The city’s transportation planning describes its established development pattern as largely oriented around driving. For an apartment search, that makes the convenience of your actual routes especially useful to check.
Look at where you would shop, how you would reach work, and whether you can enter and leave the property easily during busy periods. Two apartments near the same road may offer different experiences depending on their entrances and surroundings.
West Melbourne publishes a city maps page with resources covering city limits, residential developments, and other location information. Use it to confirm what a listing’s location description means.
Source: City of West Melbourne, Multi-Modal Transportation element.
4. Downtown Melbourne for dining, shops, and events
Downtown Melbourne is a different destination from the Eau Gallie Arts District. Include it in your search if you want to spend time around its restaurants, shops, and entertainment.
The rental question is whether a particular address gives you the access you want at a cost and sound level you can accept. Before choosing an apartment in or near downtown:
- Walk the route to the places you expect to visit.
- Confirm resident and guest parking.
- Visit when nearby businesses are active.
- Ask which direction the apartment faces.
- Check your route to groceries as well as restaurants.
Being close to an active district can be convenient. Your apartment’s windows, position, and surroundings will help determine how much of that activity you hear at home.
Source: Visit Space Coast: Downtown Melbourne.
5. South Melbourne for access to Florida Tech and Holmes Regional
Include south Melbourne if Florida Tech, Holmes Regional Medical Center, or nearby destinations are part of your routine.
Florida Tech lists its main campus address as 150 West University Boulevard. Holmes Regional Medical Center is at 1350 Hickory Street. Those addresses give you concrete points to use when comparing rentals.
Check apartment condition, parking, storage, noise, and the route to your destination. An apartment advertised as “near campus” or “near the hospital” still needs to work for your budget and daily needs. If you are moving for a job, our guide to where to live when moving to Melbourne for work covers employer locations and commute testing.
Sources: Florida Tech directions and parking and Health First.
How to research safety around a Melbourne rental
Research the specific property and surrounding streets instead of treating a whole neighborhood as uniformly safe or unsafe.
The Melbourne Police Department provides a community crime map showing reported incidents by area and incident type. The department states that the map is updated daily and displays general locations rather than exact incident addresses.
For an address in West Melbourne, consult the city’s crime statistics page and check the dates of the available reports. When reviewing information:
- Use the same time period and incident categories when comparing locations.
- Confirm that the data covers the property’s jurisdiction.
- Distinguish different types of reported incidents.
- Check how recent the information is.
- Avoid treating raw incident totals as a complete safety score.
A busier commercial area and a smaller residential area may have different amounts of activity and different numbers of people passing through. Reports provide context; they do not guarantee future conditions or replace a property visit.
What to check at the apartment community itself
On your tour, look beyond the model apartment.
Check lighting along the route from parking to the apartment, the condition of doors and locks, visibility around entrances, and the upkeep of shared areas. Ask how residents report a broken light, damaged lock, or other maintenance concern.
Find out how package delivery works and whether any advertised access system covers the area you will actually use. A gate, camera, or controlled entrance is one property feature, not proof of overall safety.
If possible, revisit when you would normally arrive home. That helps you assess parking, noise, and the route to your door under familiar conditions.
Convenience means more than being close on a map
An apartment can be near a destination without making the trip easy.
For walking, look at sidewalk continuity, crossings, traffic, shade, and your own comfort with the route. For driving, check entrances, turning movements, parking, and traffic at the times you travel.
Your weekly trip test
- Your usual grocery trip.
- The trip to work or another regular destination.
- A pharmacy or medical appointment.
- A park, gym, or place you use for recreation.
- The return trip home in the evening.
Do this for each finalist in Lake Washington, Eau Gallie, West Melbourne, downtown, or south Melbourne. It gives you a more personal comparison than a general “best neighborhoods” list.
Compare value using the full housing cost
Do not assume one entire area is cheaper than another. Compare current apartments with similar size, condition, and features.
Request the rent, recurring fees, deposit, utility responsibilities, pet charges, and optional equipment costs. Ask how any concession affects your actual payment schedule. Our list of questions to ask before renting in Melbourne can help. For current rent averages, see how much an apartment costs in Melbourne.
Also compare what you receive: usable space, bathrooms, storage, outdoor space, appliances, and maintenance arrangements.
A renovated apartment and an older apartment in the same neighborhood can serve different budgets. Decide which features matter to you before paying more for upgrades you may not need.
Check storm planning and school assignment by address
Use Brevard County’s Storm Center to check evacuation information for the exact address. Evacuation zones are not limited to the beaches, so a mainland location alone does not settle the question.
Ask the property how it shares storm updates and what residents must do with terrace furniture or other belongings.
If school assignment affects your move, verify the current assignment with Brevard Public Schools for the exact address. Do not assume the closest school is the assigned school.
A rental option in the Lake Washington Road area
Summerset Apartments is located at 2414 Summerset Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935, near Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road.
Our two-bedroom, two-bath apartments offer 1,065 square feet and a private terrace. Choose a Classic apartment for value or a newly renovated Signature apartment with new kitchens and baths, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a built-in microwave.
If this area is on your shortlist, tour Summerset and compare the apartment, property, and routes to your regular destinations.
Explore our apartments or view current availability. Call (321) 372-9008 or email leasing@summersetmelbourne.com to ask questions or arrange a tour.
Is Lake Washington on your shortlist?
Tour Summerset and test the routes to your own destinations. Get a $50 move-in credit with your inquiry.
Frequently asked questions about Melbourne neighborhoods for renters
What are the best neighborhoods in Melbourne, Florida, for renters?
Start by comparing Lake Washington Road and Wickham Road, Eau Gallie, Downtown Melbourne, and south Melbourne, along with nearby West Melbourne. The best fit depends on your budget, daily destinations, preferred setting, and the specific apartment.
Is the Lake Washington Road area worth considering for an apartment?
Yes, include it when comparing mainland Melbourne locations for everyday errands, recreation, and work routes. Check the individual property and the trips you make most often before deciding.
Is Eau Gallie the same as Downtown Melbourne?
No. The Eau Gallie Arts District and Downtown Melbourne are separate destinations within Melbourne. Compare the actual address if you want access to one particular district.
How can I find a safe apartment in Melbourne?
Use official local crime information, visit the property, and check lighting, locks, parking, maintenance, and the route to your door. No neighborhood label or crime map can guarantee safety.
Is West Melbourne part of the City of Melbourne?
No. West Melbourne is a separate city. Check the city limits and exact property location when a listing uses “west Melbourne” informally.
Which Melbourne neighborhood has the cheapest apartments?
There is no reliable answer without comparing current listings. Rent varies with size, condition, features, fees, and available specials. Compare the full cost of similar apartments rather than assuming a whole area is cheapest.