Janesville's Fourth Ward?, what is a good neighborhood? (Beloit: renters, mortgages)

[JLuvsTay]

I am looking to move to Janesville from Beloit. I recently sent a list of homes I wanted to see to my Realtor. He called me back and told me to disregard all but two since the rest all resided in the Fourth Ward. He had said that I was actually better off living where I was in Beloit then move to this area of Janesville. Now, I do not really feel safe where I live right now so I'm thinking this must be pretty bad. I am an admittedly protective mother of a two and a half year old boy. So safety is a big issue for me. I was looking in Beloit but the only way to get in a good neighborhood is to spend at least 150 grand. It really isn't on the high end i know but I am staying at home right now to take care of my son so all we can afford is about 100,000. I'm worried I won't be able to find anything in a safe neighborhood with a good school. Can anyone tell me about the different areas in the city and what is family friendly and in a good school system? Also what is the story on the Fourth Ward?

[Megan1967]

The Fourth Ward is bad. Mostly rental property, mostly run down. Lots of drug dealers/crack houses. My mom insists on going to St.Patricks for mass and I really worry about her going into that area.

[LML]

4th Ward is Janesville's "hood."

[N Rock]

I live in the fourth ward now. I moved to Janesville in 2006, not knowing much about it. I am fortunate to live on a block with homeowners. The blocks around me have many home owners too. I wouldn't move near the park. I am from a big city so I have seen much worse, not that I ever lived in worse. I purchased my first home, it's a duplex and I have renters. My renters are good, my neighbors are good. It's the area with lower end rents and mortgages so you have a lot of lower income families. I think the biggest problem I see are drunks. I have no problems feeling safe. I don't hear guns shots and don't see drug dealers, but that doesn't mean that they aren't 3 blocks down. I asked a police officer about my area before I moved in. He said the only police call he could track within the last year to my block was a parking problem.

Also you can't judge an area because of the race of people living there. I thought the minorities were going to cause the most problems in my area, but I was wrong. It's the drunk white people.

I don't plan on being here longer than 3 more years. Fortunately for me, this was just a starter home. Besides I am not from the area and miss the big city where the real danger is

Any questions, ask the cops. They get the calls.

[CTORRES5785]

my mom is in the fourth ward and i dont think its bad at all .. the only promable there is. alor of drunk people and drug but were from chicago so we deal with alot worst so we like it out here and cops always on top of things....

[luebda92]

Stay where you are until you can save up enough to move to one of Beloit's nicer historic neighborhoods (great deals by Beloit College!) I know that you will be much happier sending your kids to schools where they'll gain experience they need for the real world. Beloit is a safe community that is becoming better all the time.