best area out of.... (Miami, North Miami: affordable apartments, to rent, condos)

[Praying4anulife]

... the following that are under or near under 20 minutes to South Beach by car:

Model City: 14 mins.

Gladeview: 15 mins.

El Portal: 16-19 mins.

Brownsville, FL: 17 mins.

Miami Springs: 17 mins.

Virginia Gardens: 18 mins.

Biscayne Park: 18-23 mins.

Miami Airport: 18-21 mins.

Flagler: 19 mins.

Fountainbleau: 21 mins.

Douglas: 20-22 mins.

Granada: 22 mins.

North Miami: 22 mins.

Basically, I'm trying to pick an area to rent or own. I have no children, and don't want any for another 7-10 years. I'm single, I'm from a relatively big city, so I'm used to high cost of living, and no, I don't have a problem with speaking Spanish. Only thing I don't want is an area with a high incidence of shooting, rapes and robberies.

So, given all that, which of the above areas is the best place to pick an apartment/condo/townhome? And can you provide the zip code please? Also, please answer without starting yet another discussion about ghettos, or cubans or similar stuff. Thanks.

[tallrick]

Douglas or Granada. That is Coral Gables. Avoid Brownsville or any area north of the Miami River and west of downtown because it is the ghetto. Generally east of US-1 is "OK" or desirable.

[Praying4anulife]

Thank you tallrick.

[heydade]

Granada

[vpcats]

How 'bout the Brickell area and/or SoBe itself - or around West Avenue/Indian Creek?

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

If you are going to be working here, please consider moving closer to your job. Commuting during high traffic hours can be a living hell here. My recommendations on these areas:

Model City: No, high crime area
Gladeview: No. high crime area
El Portal: I'm not familiar w/ the Miami shores area & its surroundings.
Brownsville no, High crime area
Miami Spring Yes, but can be boring
Virginia Gardens:Yes, close to Miami springs, boring too
Biscayne Park: not familar, but probably some crime there
Miami Airport: Only consider the Blue Lagoon area, Pricey
Flagler: Older lower income hispanic, very boring
Fountainbleau: Boring, car burglaries are common
Douglas: Ok area
Granada: OK too
North Miami:Too far, some crime

[burgler09]

I prefer Brickell, but why not move to South Beach? If I had to name a lower priced place to live i'd choose kendall.

[gymbuff]

Originally Posted by ♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥

If you are going to be working here, please consider moving closer to your job. Commuting during high traffic hours can be a living hell here. My recommendations on these areas:

Model City: No, high crime area
Gladeview: No. high crime area
El Portal: I'm not familiar w/ the Miami shores area & its surroundings.
Brownsville no, High crime area
Miami Spring Yes, but can be boring
Virginia Gardens:Yes, close to Miami springs, boring too
Biscayne Park: not familar, but probably some crime there
Miami Airport: Only consider the Blue Lagoon area, Pricey
Flagler: Older lower income hispanic, very boring
Fountainbleau: Boring, car burglaries are common
Douglas: Ok area
Granada: OK too
North Miami:Too far, some crime

Virginia Gardens doesn't have a night life, but you do have local watering holes and plenty of restaurants within walking distance. It's not SOBE, but hey, it's nice to get a meal have a drink and leave the car at home.

[cjs08]

Originally Posted by ♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥

If you are going to be working here, please consider moving closer to your job. Commuting during high traffic hours can be a living hell here. My recommendations on these areas:

Model City: No, high crime area
Gladeview: No. high crime area
El Portal: I'm not familiar w/ the Miami shores area & its surroundings.
Brownsville no, High crime area
Miami Spring Yes, but can be boring
Virginia Gardens:Yes, close to Miami springs, boring too
Biscayne Park: not familar, but probably some crime there
Miami Airport: Only consider the Blue Lagoon area, Pricey
Flagler: Older lower income hispanic, very boring
Fountainbleau: Boring, car burglaries are common
Douglas: Ok area
Granada: OK too
North Miami:Too far, some crime

I agree with the above. As long as you're not looking for party central, Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens are generally friendly and safe. El Portal and Miami Shores are a crapshoot; some areas are pretty rough. The areas that are safe are very expensive.

Douglas and Granada areas are safe, although surrounding areas are heavily Hispanic; not a warning, just letting you know. Fountainbleau can be susceptible to petty crime, but generally is not unsafe.

I have to also say that if you're looking to be close to South Beach, try living IN South Beach. Lots of affordable apartments, although most of these types of buildings will be older, and no central A/C. The beach can be rough in terms of traffic and flooding also.

[compelled to reply]

Model City: Actually known by locals as Liberty City. Avoid.
Gladeview: Avoid.
El Portal: Not bad at all acutally. Good location, common sense keeps you safe.
Brownsville: Avoid.
Miami Springs: Nice but like princess said, boring, also pretty far west
Virginia Gardens:See above
Biscayne Park: Very, very safe and quiet, safest of all the options. Basically a small slice of suburbia, might be boring but good location.
Miami Airport: I wouldn't recommend living at the airport. Just kidding, but I also wouldn't recommend the surrounding areas except for Virginia Gardens/Miami Springs
Flagler: Safe, very ugly, mostly Hispanic
Fountainbleau: Way out west, property crime, basically a bunch of condos, mostly Hispanic
Douglas: Not bad
Granada: Not bad
North Miami: Be selective.

Basically echoing what others have said.