Orlando Crime (Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood: relocating, apartments, vacation)

[dst828]

I have been reading the threads for awhile now and I have a huge concern.

I am relocating to the Orlando area from Seattle in 2 weeks! It seems that everyone is worried about the economy and the crime, is it really that bad.

I am a single gal in her 40's and the last thing I need to worry about is being hurt/bothered while I am in my home or during a walk!

I have family in Southern part of Orlando which is why I am relocating to that area but I am also thinking of looking in the Tampa area for employment and rentals. My first choice would be to live in the Fort Lauderdale area but I am under the impression that the area is less safe and offers even less employment.

Can anyone offer some advice, opinions etc. I am now panicking that I have made the wrong decision in moving to Florida.....

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by dst828

My first choice would be to live in the Fort Lauderdale area but I am under the impression that the area is less safe and offers even less employment.

I have lived in both. That is a misconception, go to Ft. Lauderdale if you can, it has a similar crime rate to Seattle. It's the safest "big city" in the state, so is the surrounding area. Another plus is that it actually has defined boundaries that are easy to learn and stay out of. Same thing with the employment, it is actually better than the others.

That being said, many parts of South Orlando are fine. Look into Dr. Phillips. You will feel very safe and probably enjoy it. The thing is, many parts are not fine, and they all run into each other. Dr. Phillips/Windermere however is a pretty solid and would be my second choice in Orange County to Winter Park. Or, you could live up in Seminole County, which has below average crime and check out areas like Lake Mary or Altamonte Springs.

Tampa is the same way as Orlando in that a lot of the good areas kind of run into the bad areas, but the good areas (keep in mind I have never actually lived there) seemed to be Westchase, New Tampa, South Tampa, Brandon, and north Pinellas County.

If you decide to go for Ft. Lauderdale, it's pretty simple, just live west of University Dr, which gives you Parkland, Coral Springs (17th safest city in the US), Tamarac, Sunrise (one of the 100 safest in the US), Plantation (one of the 100 safest in the US), Davie (one of the 100 safest in the US), Weston (according to this website, 16th safest in the US), Cooper City, Pembroke Pines (one of the 100 safest in the US), Miramar (one of the 100 safest in the US), and also east of University there are a few cities that are safe (but kind of lame), like Coconut Creek, Margate. Then by the beach, you have Deerfield, Pompano and Ft. Lauderdale as long as you are east of Dixie Hwy for residence. It's not that you will get robbed if you drive on the other side, it's just more ideal to live in. South of there, there are some nice spots in Hollywood, especially east of US1. Then, you also have Boca Raton.

[dst828]

Compelled: Can you tell me how far it is from Orlando to FLL? I would use my sisters as a base until I could get a job then an apartment immediately.

Could I arrange an interview and be in FLL from Orlando or would that be foolish thinking.

Thanks so much for your answer, I love the FLL area, always have. I have only been there on vacations never lived there so I often wondered....

[compelled to reply]

Well, it can be pretty smoke and mirrors, but if you don't come with the "vacationland" attitude, you should enjoy it if you pick the right neighborhood.

Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, all depending on how bad the traffic is in Orlando or how fast you drive. So, that would be relatively foolish.

I edited my post and gave you a nice list of areas to look.

[Wilshire81182]

It takes about 2 hours to drive one way to FLL. I agree with a lot of what has been said so far as far as crime and I am originally from Washington State in the Portland area.
The crime does seem higher here but I have never really had a problem in Conway where I live in Orange County and I know other places are even safer than where I am.

[compelled to reply]

I forgot about Conway, a lot of it is decent and it's reasonably priced. I don't recommend Metrowest, Waterford Lakes or Avalon Park, smoke and mirrors!

[Wilshire81182]

I worry about Conway though because a lot of the apartments between Curry Ford and Michigan are borderline and are starting to get desperate for tenants recently. I worry that already borderline complexes will get worse and affect the area. Because I am in a good place right now and can afford better, I may not live there forever. If you are closer to or south of Gatlin the neighborhoods do get nicer and more established. It is still a good area all in all, but I think a lot of the areas closer to downtown are nicer in the general vicinity like Lake Como, Delaney Park and Belle Isle.
I feel the same way about Waterford/Avalon. It had great potential but it just has some problems right now with the economy and crime. Oviedo and Winter Springs/Tuskawilla are much better options on the eastside IMO. I am somewhat leary of Lake Nona too since it is too new and could very well become the next smoke and mirrors neighborhood; too close to WalMart and Goldenrod areas!
I think the nicest areas that are more guaranteed to stay nice are SW Orlando (DR Phillips/Winter Garden/Windermere), Hunters Creek, Winter Park, College Park, Colonialtown/Baldwin Park, Seminole County areas close to Lake Mary/Altamonte or Oviedo/Winter Springs, etc. They have all either withstood the test of time or are newer but further away from worse off areas with better schools. I look for those ingredients as to where you can live and ensure that it will stay nice.

[dst828]

Compelled: Thanks so much for you honest reply. I would only drive from Orlando to FLL to do an interview, once I secured a job I would get a rental right away

I am going to add FLL to my list of places to send my resume!

Also thanks for the places in the Orlando area, that helps a lot. I was starting to worry as so many seem negative on the boards, I am realistic that I am moving to the area and vacations are totally different, but I am also a positive person and want to like and feel safe where I live.

I guess on the positive side, I have three places I can live/work - Orlando, Tampa & Fort Lauderdale

[dst828]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

It takes about 2 hours to drive one way to FLL. I agree with a lot of what has been said so far as far as crime and I am originally from Washington State in the Portland area.
The crime does seem higher here but I have never really had a problem in Conway where I live in Orange County and I know other places are even safer than where I am.

How long have you been in the Florida area, do you regret your decision? In one minute I am very excited for the move the next I am wondering if I am making a huge mistake (I guess that is normal when moving 3200 miles)

So am I to assume that Orange County is a relatively safe and nice area to look at?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by dst828

How long have you been in the Florida area, do you regret your decision? In one minute I am very excited for the move the next I am wondering if I am making a huge mistake (I guess that is normal when moving 3200 miles)

So am I to assume that Orange County is a relatively safe and nice area to look at?

Okay, let's make it easy on you and just give the statistics .

From most to least dangerous...

Orange County (Orlando)- 6,397.9 crimes per 100,000 people
Pinellas County (Tampa area)- 4,942.1 crimes per 100,000
Hillsborough County (Tampa)- 4,915.7 crimes per 100,000
State average- 4,694.7
Broward County (Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas)- 4,521.2 crimes per 100,000
Seminole County (very suburban county north of Orlando)- 3,031.0 crimes per 100,000
Total Index Crime by County, 2007
If your number one concern is crime, and you end up in Orlando, pick Seminole County.