<p>I'm from a rural suburb of a fairly major city. I've been to big cities, just never lived in one. What's it like? Is the crime in places like charlotte as bad as people make it seem? It's been on my mind because I'm a sophomore and thinking about college often. I know that where ever I choose to go needs to have a lot of diversity and the best place to find that is in the city. I'm a little scared though because of what I hear about crime and shootings in cities.</p>
<p>Look into potential schools’ neighborhoods, look at crime maps and crime rates, read campus papers, and most important of all ask campus area cops what areas to avoid living in.</p>
<p>Definitely research the area you’re looking at first. If you take some basic precautions, you should be all right.</p>
<p>I go to school in Rock Hill, SC (Winthrop University) - which is about 20 minutes from Charlotte. I can’t speak for other major cities, but Charlotte is a fairly safe area. Like most large cities you have to have some basic street smarts, but crime is not a significant problem in the city or surrounding areas. I’m actually comfortable walking around at night in Charlotte (not by myself, of course. That would be idiotic.)</p>
<p>You’ll be living on campus at first and colleges have their own security. If you move off campus you will likely live in areas where there are other students.
In most cities people navigate safely by following safety measures like not walking around alone at night, avoiding high crime areas, and so on.
Don’t let your fears limit you from looking at colleges you might be interested in.</p>
<p>Living anywhere is dangerous if you’re not cautious. Research the neighborhood, lock your doors with multiple kinds of locks, don’t leave windows open unless you’re 10+ stories above ground, don’t go anywhere alone at night, etc.</p>
<p>In the words of Mad Eye Moody, “constant vigilance”.</p>
<p>Dangerous in a city? You mean with the greatest amount of police compared to suburbs?</p>
<p>As a person that had 7 attempts on their life over a period of the past 8 years, I can tell you that it doesn’t matter where you are, there are always going to be things that can come up which you can’t prepare for. Hell your best friend could have a psychotic and unexpected break and try to throttle you. So there’s things… considering the danger is useless unless you’re thinking of Flint or Detroit in MI and a few other of the worst cities in the world.</p>
<p>Anywhere can be dangerous. I live in a major city, and very close to its inner downtown core to boot. I never feel unsafe here. </p>
<p>It does depend on the city and neighborhood you live in, yes, but big cities certainly are not automatically dangerous. I actually feel more weird being in small towns that are totally dark and dead at night. You know, no streetlights or people out. Pitch black! Freaks me out a bit at first because the city is always bright and noisy. I swear it would easier to abduct someone from a tiny town by night than in a major city. Too many people around! But that’s also not a fact or anything… just a feeling. :)</p>
<p>There was a home invasion and double-homicide two blocks from my son’s apartment while he was in school. There was also an armed mugging on the street next to his apartment. There were also fights on the street and lots of partying. The fights usually wound up with police and sometimes ambulances showing up. Son never had any problems though. The bad stuff usually happened early in the morning. So yes, there can be lots more crime - but it doesn’t have to affect you. Cities depend on college students for the money that they bring in and a city can’t risk that by not protecting college students. There were a lot of students at son’s school that were mugged on a particular bridge. In that case the city didn’t do anything about it because of budget issues. The students had a free shuttle to get them from one campus to another without crossing the bridge but there were lots of students that walked anyways. Walking in small groups didn’t necessarily prevent muggings. The school finally put in much better lighting, police cameras and call boxes on the bridge. They had to work with the city because the city owned the bridge. The mugging problem was solved. But students could have avoided getting mugged by just taking the shuttle.</p>
<p>So you need to pick up some street smarts.</p>
<p>Yeah, poverty and refusal to tax the rich (proper lighting/security) is now such that there are no safe places anymore, except maybe really isolated areas. You’re liable to get shanked anywhere if careless.</p>
<p>Crimes are going down rapidly except in a few select areas (Flint, MI for example, which, even after living in Detroit for a while, I refuse to set foot in out of fear). </p>
<p>As long as you take common sense precautions, are you are pretty safe in a big city. Most crimes, no matter where you are, are crimes of opportunity (leaving a bar drunk and unable to defend yourself, leaving your car or apartment unlocked, etc). </p>
<p>Don’t let the horror stories scare you.</p>
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<p>Well, this is in Taxachusetts where they aren’t afraid to tax the rich.</p>
<p>In MA, cities and towns get their funding from local property taxes. Some cities and towns have permission to add surtaxes for restaurants. Cities get state aid but that usually goes for schools. Income taxes and sales taxes go to the state.</p>
<p>The median household income in this city is $38,000 so you don’t have a lot of rich people to tax. Those that can afford it typically live in one of the wealthier suburbs.</p>
<p>Actually a study from a few years ago demonstrated that suburbs are more dangerous. YOu are more likely to die in a car accident in the 'burbs than from the combination of crime and low speed city accidents.</p>
<p>Something will get you sooner or later. Might as well experience the excitement, art, and diversity of a city.</p>
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<p>Do you have a reference for the study?</p>
<p>For most places theft (particularly bike theft) is your biggest worry.</p>
<p>[Mortality</a> Risk Associated With Leaving Home: Recognizing the Relevance of the Built Environment](<a href=“http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448011/]Mortality”>Mortality Risk Associated With Leaving Home: Recognizing the Relevance of the Built Environment - PMC)</p>
<p>Here’s the study on urban vs. outer suburb violence</p>
<p>It depends more on the smaller area than the larger area. For example, NYC has some really dangerous neighborhoods, but for the most part, it’s a pretty safe city. Charlotte is the same way. My dad grew up there and when I tell people where he lived (across the street from the Eastland Mall), they look at me like I’m crazy. The area within Charlotte was extremely “dangerous”, but his actual street was a pretty quiet street with a lot of families. He never had any issues.</p>
<p>I’m from a small city (in comparison to NY or LA), and it’s considered to be in the “Top 10” Most Dangerous cities in the country. I live in one of the more “dangerous” areas and I’ve literally never had a problem.</p>
<p>Any college that you go to, will more than likely be a pretty safe place. That being said, I know crime is really bad around my college (USC in Columbia). I’ve never once had a problem, but I don’t walk around campus at night by myself. I get someone (preferably a really big guy) to walk me back. I’m also highly aware that crime is lurking.</p>
<p>As long as you’re smart, then you should be fine.</p>
<p>Don’t have to read what’s been said. To answer the question in the thread title: no it is not.</p>
<p>Detroit, Philly, Chicago, Cleveland–avoid
Seattle, Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Indianapolis…much much safer</p>
<p>Hey^ . I live in Chicago and like anywhere, there’s nothing to worry about if you’re being smart. Ie.) Don’t walk around a bad area at 2 a.m. with a bag full of money.</p>