Thinking of relocating to Jackson TN (Martin: violent crime, house, neighborhoods)

[Annette99]

I am thinking of relocating to Jackson and have seen a lot of negativity on the crime. Is it really that bad? Most of the threads I've read are older ones. Thanks.

[B-2]

According to the Morgan Quitno Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities of 2006, the city was ranked as the number 10 most dangerous city in the United States. In 2007 it was not on this list. 1993 was one of the most violent years with over 20 homicides; 2005 Jackson was in the top 5 for violent crime.
According to a CNN story on November 18, 2007 many experts have criticized the Morgan Quitno Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities of 2006. "You're not comparing apples and oranges; you're comparing watermelons and grapes," said Rob Casey, who heads the FBI section that puts out the Uniform Crime Report that provides the data for the Quitno report. The FBI posted a statement on its Web site criticizing such use of its statistics. "These rough rankings provide no insight into the numerous variables that mold crime in a particular town, city, county, state, or region," the FBI said. "Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents." [5]

[Annette99]

Thanks, I'll try to feel a little bit less apprehensive.

[Marcie Lanz]

Originally Posted by Annette99

Thanks, I'll try to feel a little bit less apprehensive.

Have you thought of moving anywhere else in Tennessee?

[strumpeace]

Crime in Jackson is largely localized -- meaning if the area looks bad, it's probably bad, and you shouldn't go there. Jackson has several good neighborhoods and shopping areas with very little crime.

Visit the area and use the good sense God gave you when picking a place to live.

[beachmouse]

When we lived in Martin, we'd be in Jackson at least once a week for shopping and a taste of civilization. Can't say I ever felt unsafe in any of the areas around the north side commercial areas.

[Annette99]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

When we lived in Martin, we'd be in Jackson at least once a week for shopping and a taste of civilization. Can't say I ever felt unsafe in any of the areas around the north side commercial areas.

Thanks, we've already bought the tickets so we will be checking out a house and the neighborhood over Easter.

[kaygirl05]

Originally Posted by Annette99

I am thinking of relocating to Jackson and have seen a lot of negativity on the crime. Is it really that bad? Most of the threads I've read are older ones. Thanks.

yea Jackson's suppose to be pretty bad as far as crime goes. I've been there a bit considering it's got one of the closest, decent malls near me (it being an hour and a half away) but we usually drive the hour and a half to Paducah, KY's mall. They're crime apparently isn't that much different, but we prefer it over Jackson. Jackson has more population so you have to worry about traffic jams at certain times of the day, and people tend to drive faster there. Paducah's got less population and I've never experienced a traffic jam. In neither of these cities when I've been there I haven't felt in danger, and haven't witnessed anything dangerous. Then again when I'm in Jackson we're always around their mall area, and also around the Wal-Mart on Vann Drive, so I know that area atleast doesn't seem to have crime. Personally though, unless you have some job that'd be making you move here, I'd just move somewhere else. This part of Tennessee gets boring pretty fast, believe me, I've lived here all my life, and am looking forward to moving away.

[Mike in TN]

General rule of thumb is to stay north of I-40.

Really though, most of the crimes in Jackson are not random, just like anywhere else. Don't do drugs and associate with riff-raff and you'll be fine.

I lived with my parents in one of the worst parts of Jackson for about 7 years and it's not like we were victims of crime constantly.

I did get jumped once and our house was broken into once, but from what you read on hear you'd think that would be an every month occurrence.

[Annette99]

Mike, is east main north of I 40. Don't do drugs, real home body and into gardening.