is haverhill that bad?

[Statistics art]

Haverhill isn't really bad. Some sections are much less to be desired than others. I would consider Bradford or Wardhill. It could just be me but I've noticed the closer you get to the downtown, the more run-down(for lack of a better phrase) it seems. The fact that Lawrence is next door could be having a nasty effect on the town. I wouldn't recommend the school system either, considering it is uncredited. But it is an overall decent town to live in.

[lrfox]

Haverhill isn't that bad. The city center area has actually seen a decent amount of revitalization in recent years as it has a commuter rail stop and Amtrak (Downeaster service to Boston and Portland, ME) stop right there. There are a good number of newer shops and restaurants as well as residences there. Some of the other residential neighborhoods are nice too.

As far as crime goes, Haverhill really isn't bad for a city of nearly 60,000. If you look at city data's crime statistics, Haverhill is actually quite a bit better than the average national crime rate. It's not a dangerous town. Certainly, there are spots to avoid, but it's not a bad place. Certainly a lot cleaner than it's neighbor Lawrence.

One of the issues many people have with Haverhill is that it's old and the the industry that built the city is no longer there. As a result, it's not the prettiest city on earth (though there are some wonderful architectural gems). It has a good number of ugly old mills, triple deckers (the prototypical urban New England home), and other semi-blighted buildings. The uglyness of certain spots leads many passersby to believe that it's a "bad" section of town. Relative beauty and crime don't go hand in hand always and Haverhill is a perfect example of that.

Haverhill (particularly downtown) provides a great alternative urban environment for someone who wants the city at less than Boston pricing. You can find a nice loft or condo downtown for reasonable prices and have easy access to restaurants, bars, shops, etc as well as the commuter rail to Boston (and train to Maine). As with any urban area, common sense is key to survival, but Haverhill is by no means a terrible place. I've always enjoyed visiting.