Do You Feel Safe In Ashland, Eugene, Bend, Corvallis, Salem, Medford, Portland? (West Linn: crime, neighborhood)

[CCCVDUR]

My dream community is a town of 100,000 persons or less, with a highly educated community engaged in public service. However, I don't know if I will live in Oregon, because of the recession and crime. I don't want any crime, period. If that means I live as a hermit, then I will. Absolutely no meth, and no assaults. No hypodermic needles, etc. in the parks. A place where you can walk outside, and look at the stars at night. A place where women can walk after dinner in the dark, and not get assaulted. I grew up in a metro that's now 5 million, and am tired of that. In my former hometown of Seattle, the recession has made all the University of Washington area unsafe, as students get knocked off their bikes at night and robbed. I've lived in Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Vegas, and all places were full of meth, and not safe to bike around at night. I'm tired of all this and am an outdoors person in search of solitude.

Now I read that there's been a stabbing at the Suncrest rest area in Talent. And, I drove through every town in western Oregon witnessing meth and tweakers just about everywhere, although it was not as bad in Ashland and Corvallis. I don't care about marijuana, however, it can be associated with meth.

Do you feel safe in your city? What's the safest place in Oregon? Ashland? Bend? Corvallis? The problem is, the higher the education level, the more liberal, and the less safe. Any suggestions? I hope this poll will help people writing City-Data Oregon, and asking about crime in this recession.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by CCCVDUR

............. I don't want any crime, period. If that means I live as a hermit, then I will. Absolutely no meth, and no assaults. No hypodermic needles, etc. in the parks. A place where you can walk outside, and look at the stars at night. A place where women can walk after dinner in the dark, and not get assaulted. ..............................

What's the safest place in Oregon?

I know the answer to your question but I won’t tell you because I’m afraid you might move here.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by CCCVDUR

The problem is, the higher the education level, the more liberal, and the less safe.

I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Most areas that are crime ridden have lower education levels and tend to be conservative.

[jrkliny]

Individual concerns, anecdotal information or opinion polls do not provide useful information. Crime statistics are readily available. The City Data profiles are a convenient source of information. Crime stats show that Ashland ranks well below the national average, Medford a little below and Portland is above.

If you want an area with absolutely no crime, it does not exist. Trying to protect yourself by living as a hermit in the middle of nowhere may not be an safer.

[Silverfall]

What you are looking for doesn't exist. No city of 100,000 is going to be crime free. I know Salem police department has their crime stats online with locations of crimes. Why not just call the local PD's for those cities and use that for your comparison.

[Deezus]

I've never really felt unsafe anywhere in Oregon, including the North Portland neighborhood I've lived in the past four years...Except for the threat of theft(which is easy to prevent if your careful for the most part), I've never walked through a neighborhood in Oregon that I felt I was at risk of being robbed or assaulted. I've had stuff stolen, car break-ins, got my locker broken into at a 24-hour Fitness in Portland--but I'm not losing any sleep about minor theft.

When I lived in Ashland back in the early part of the last decade, people wouldn't even lock their doors at home. Being in college at the time, the only threat I ever felt was from the over-zealous and bored police force cracking down on underage students for MIP tickets for "suspicion of being drunk" or minor traffic violations(no where else I've lived did the local cops have time to ticket drivers for "illegal lane changes"--ie, not using a turn signal for a lane change). Not say that Ashland is a crime free paradise, there is a high rate of bike theft there, but as far as places I've lived in, it's by far the safest feeling town I've resided in.

As far as a place with absolutely no crime in Oregon...as others have pointed out--that place doesn't exist. Some of the Portland suburbs like West Linn feel extremely safe, however even there you'll see the occasional minor property crime.

[Smiled]

Safe from what?

[Fiddlehead]

I am going to go with La Grande. But I don't know if they have some meth out that way. Everywhere else does. I have lived in both Corvallis and Ashland, and both are pretty safe, but there was an assault in Ashland a couple month ago that shook people up. Corvallis might be even better. Too wealthy and educated for a big meth scene, and all the engineers, scientists, etc. are too boring to get into trouble. Sheesh, now I cannot decide on La Grande or Corvallis. Baker City is also a nice E. Oregon town, that I suspect would be pretty darn safe, but perhaps too small and unsophisticated for you. A lovely spot that is refreshingly unhyped.

[jjpop]

There is meth in Corvallis. Drug bust snares more suspects

There is meth everywhere in the rural west.

[readers]

move to irvine california if you want safe. Another would be murrieta,ca. Potential for crime anywhere. Atleast in oregon you can carry a gun with a permit and take matters into your hands if problems arise. I never felt unsafe anywhere in oregon. If you want to feel safe go visit detroit. Then oregon will feel like disneyland in comparison.