What is Roxbury like?

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by adambos

there seems to be this trend among certain residents of Boston who loveto tlak about areas such as Roxbury and dorchester "not being that bad, and victims of misconceptions." or my favorite, "actually quite nice now." Look, Bostonians, dont look at these areas favorably. They are BAD areas. I know certain pockets are better than others, but they are still unsafe. Gang activity is up, homicide is up, crime is up. these areas have made Boston's crime rate worse than NYC this year per capita. Dorchester is worse, however Roxbury is not a good scene. Stay out.

Just to emphasize what a few others have said. This guy's post is full of fail.

[rranger]

Originally Posted by eslteacher

What is Roxbury like? Is it safe? I am looking into some jobs there, but I don't know much about the neighborhood. What part of New York might it be similar to?

I don't think you've ever told your "helpers" where you'll be working. That would make a big difference in regards to your question. For example, if you're working in Elm Hill, you're going to have a very different experience from working in Grove Hall (which is on the border of Roxbury and Dorchester). The same can be said for Dudley versus Eggleston Square (which is on the border with Jamaica Plain).

In any case, speaking from experience, you'd be just fine working in any of these places during the day. At night, some of them can be dicey (particularly Grove Hall and Dudley). But, there's not a lot of reason to be in those places at night anyway.

FWIW, I live in Roxbury and I don't have huge issues with it. But then, I don't spend a lot of time cruising between Dudley Street and Grove Hall on Blue Hill Avenue at any time of the day. In fact, in terms of overall crime rate and the general sense of disrepair, much of it pales in comparison to many parts of Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park.

As one of the other reasonable posters pointed out, Roxbury is the best positioned neighborhood in the city for gentrification. Some has already happened, and property values reflect that.

And, nothing in Boston reminds me of NYC (having lived there too). But then, it's a lot to expect a city with 600,000 people to reflect one with over 8,000,000. But, I'm sure Boston appreciates the compliment from you

[anita2498]

When it comes to violent crimes, Roxbury has taken alot of its blows from the media. A shooting can occur deep in Dorchester, and the news would report "Shooting in Roxbury...details @ 11. It is the media who wants the rest of Massachusetts to fear Roxbury when the truth is the majority of people living there are hard-working, honest and law abiding. One would never know it from the stigma associated with the word Roxbury.

[msantos1116]

Glocksbury is the most unsafe place in Boston.

Stay away from Deadly Square and Glocksbury Crossing.

[polkadotheart33]

Roxbury is not that bad as long as you don't bother anyone. I live there and all the crime is basicly in Mattapan and Dorchester. I'm not saying Roxbury is the safest place in the world but its so not the worst.

[DobermanBoston]

Most of Roxbury's gang activity happens in the ****ty residential areas closer to Franklin Park (and Dorchester and Mattapan), as does most of the Roxbury crime you read about. Unless you're a home health aid or a cabbie you probably won't be working in these areas.

You'd likely be working in Mission Hill or Roxbury Crossing, which are like Bed Stuy, or Dudley Square, which is like Harlem above 130th.

[rranger]

Originally Posted by DobermanBoston

You'd likely be working in Mission Hill or Roxbury Crossing, which are like Bed Stuy, or Dudley Square, which is like Harlem above 130th.

Now I've heard everything! Roxbury Crossing = Bedford Stuyvesant. These kinds of posts are the reason I would NEVER come to City-Data for more than amusement. You're killing me