<p>BP,</p>
<p>Not sure what you are waiting for. I’ll let you figure out the meaning of “multicultural urban environment”. If the term means something to you, think about it. If not, ignore it. Do keep in mind that the perception of risk is not the same as actual risk, since some folks feel safe in areas that are not and vice versa. But the perception does affect one’s sense of well being.</p>
<p>Regarding crime stats, there are several kinds to think about, including those stats collected and reported by the colleges themselves, and those collected by city governments. Unfortunately, the quality of either varies so much that the stats are of little value in comparing two colleges or two cities. And deciding what area is relevant is tough too. Consider U. Chicago: should its crime stats report only crimes on U property, or include nearby areas too? (same issue at Penn and Columbia).</p>
<p>The city of Chicago does have a nice interactive website that allows you to look up crime data block by block, if that is any help. It has been several years since I’ve had a need for it, though, so I can’t give you a link.</p>