Job Offer in Plantation, fort lauderdale (Miami, Hollywood: apartment complex, property, violent crime)

[shaff]

Hi Friends, I recently got a job offer to work in company in plantation, presently I am working in Cayman Islands, I not able to make decision specially after reading some comments about crime situation etc., I am married with three young kids under ages of five years. I would appreciate if some one can advice on pay levels for accountant, crime situation, kid’s education and cost of living.

Thanks

[Wild Style]

Plantation is nice, you will be fine. Just make sure if you decide to live in Plantation that you are west of the florida turnpike.

[compelled to reply]

The crime "Situation" is the same as any other area and anyone who will tell you otherwise is pretty delusional. That's not to say there is no crime, because like I said, it's like anywhere else, and you need to stay out of a few neighborhoods, but just stay west of the Turnpike and you will be fine. Even in some of the worst areas you have to dig pretty deep before you find an area that you feel unsafe in during broad daylight. The character of the worst neighborhoods here change significantly at night, however, and the cities you need to avoid are Oakland Park, the west part of Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, the "Deepside" area of Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, and most of Hollywood south of Hollywood Blvd and west of Dixie. Plantation is actually relatively safe, but there are bad sections east of the Turnpike. The neighborhood are fine west of the Turnpike, but I would live west of University Drive just to be a comfortable distance from the crap. It also helps that the elementary schools are better that way too (zero in on Central Park Elem. district great reputation), but there is a dropoff in the quality of the middle and high schools, which I always hear inconsistent things about. Davie to the south of Plantation is a little bit safer and has more reputable middle and high schools, although Plantation is generally prettier looking.

Anyway, you will be fine, just don't leave valuables in clear sight by your windows in your car (car burglary is the number one crime here, like any other place), car burglars have particularly enjoyed portable GPS systems lately, and stay out of bad neighborhoods at night, which you have no reason to be in in the first place. Broward County actually reports a below average crime rate in every category with the exception of larceny and robbery, and the Ft. Lauderdale area does not even rank in the top 100 most dangerous places. Homicide as of late has been increasing, including the occasional robbery related incident (almost always behind the counter, just about never "walking down the street" type incidents), but most of these homicides are domestic, by transients passing through, or drug related, and still occur at an around national average rate. Crimes such as burglary, larceny and auto theft have still been declining.

Table 6 - Crime in the United States 2006
Click "M" for Miami, and look up the Fort Lauderdale/Pompano division.
Table 16 - Crime in the United States 2006
And here are the national averages. When comparing the averages for cities, violent crime was similar to the national average around cities, and property crime was actually significantly below the "city" average. As you can see here, the crime situation, while real, is much, much exaggerated.

One more word of warning; stay out of MOST "managed" apartment complexes in Plantation. With exceptions, they suck.

[heydade]

Plantation is a very nice city. You will like it. Accept the offer !

[Momma_bear]

We lived in Plantation when we first came to FL. Plantation is a nice city.

[eaglecall]

Plantation is a very nice area. Like someone posted, make sure you're west of FL's Turnpike.

[kevinkagy]

Plantation is definitely a nice and safe area. I would recommend you take the offer, it's a nice city, in a nice area with good schools nearby.

[shaff]

Thank you very much all for your comments and suggestions, it will definitely would help me to make decision quickly and special thanks to compelled to reply for detailed advice and pin pointing related areas