IIT is in a reasonable and improving urban neighborhood where normal city street smarts are needed. The biggest trouble with the surrounding area is the lack of stores and restaurants within an easy walk. Insteaad they are a stop or two away on the train. My daughter has not had difficulties though, and when my husband and I visited we did not feel unsafe or have more than a reasonable level of concern with leaving our kid on campus.
My daughter loves the diversity and has made friends from all over the world as well as from all over the U.S.