Moving and Need Opinions: East Capitol Hill / Stadium Armory RFK (Washington: crime, townhouse)

[Philbea]

I am moving to Washington D.C with my husband in a couple of months and we are looking for a 2 br townhouse costing under 400,000 dollars, and have been looking in the East Capitol Hill area near stadium armory metro stop.

In particular we have been looking along 17th street SE, south of A street to Independence avenue SE. Since we have read it can be somewhat block by block around here does anyone know this block?

We have also been looking at the bottom of Massachusetts Avenue between 18th and 19th street. Does anyone know this block?

We were superficilly impressed by the state of the houses in this area, quality of cars with no damage, and the lack of litter and graffitti. We definitely need a deeper knowledge though.

The houses seem to be well maintained and reasonably expensive. If there is any where is the crime coming from?

Where is the best area in the central corridor of Capitol Hill East to the east of Lincoln Park ending at RFK Stadium?

What about the stadium? Does it attract crime?

What about the prison in the area?

Are there many projects or S 8 public housing in East Capitol Hill? Where is it?

The crime stats on DC police website seem reasonable for a city but stats don't say everything.

My biggest concern is safety, walking home from the subway alone at night around 7-9pm, year round. In particular I am afraid of assault or sexual assault. We are also afraid of burglary of a dwelling while occupied. I will be using the blue line to get to work.

We are looking for a reasonable diverse neighborhood that is safe, not necessarily yet gentrified or ritzy with commerce and restaurants.

I would really appreciate your views on the safety of this area around East Capitol Hill.