Beaufort crime, reduced population? (Columbia, Charleston: crime rate, houses, live)

[JerseyGirl3624]

Hello everyone,
Read on one of the internet relocation pages that Beaufort the crime rate is high and that the population is diminishing. Did not recommend for relocation.
Will be visiting in a couple weeks; is this true? What type of crime is being committed?
Would appreciate your opinions. Will be visiting Charleston before I travel to Beaufort; should I change my plans and avoid Beaufort? I've been warned to be careful in Charleston too but it's a bigger city so that's understandable.
Thank you all for your help!

[Columbiadata]

Did they mean the town's population is diminishing or the county's (metro's)? I was unaware of a crime situation, but I'm surprised if the population down there is shrinking in general.

[JerseyGirl3624]

They were reporting on Beaufort. Found it hard to believe myself but haven't been there in quite a few years. Kinda strange as they reported Columbia as a good place to move; would think that there would be more crime as it's a bigger city.

[Sparkle Eyes]

I know Beaufort well. I don't think the city's crime problem has spiked. It is a typical southern town with rich people and poor people. I would just use common sense when going places like you would anywhere. There are plenty of scary places in Charleston, however.

The south is funny. There are very nice parts of town with grand houses within walking distance of small ramshackle shacks that more likely contain troublemakers. These parts of the towns have lived side by side relatively peacefully for years.