Safest Metro Areas In Wisconsin/US (to move, kids, visit)

[FormerCaliforniaGirl]

Originally Posted by ekg56

I travel with a GPS. I think I went down Silver Spring which some of the neighborhoods aren't the best. Then when I was leaving I went up 43 and crossed back. So that worked out OK.
I don't know where you live but there is also a Trader Joe's in Madison.

I'm closer to Milwaukee than Madison.

I'm hoping Trader Joe's will open up a store in Appleton sometime in the future.

[Milwaukee City]

The truth is even in Milwaukee and Chicago that unless your there at night you don't have much to worry about, I travel these rough areas in Milwaukee and Chicago for years and still haven't had any problems. At night is a different story once the concealment of dark is available then as they say the freaks come out at night. I go to housing project during the day for work and play and it like night and day when you go there at night.

[BacktoNE]

I can vouch for #3 (Bangor, ME), #5 Appleton, and #23 Portland, ME. All 3 are very safe, even at night. We considered FDL when we first moved here but after spending a few days down there, really didn't like the "feel" of the town so we went back up to Appleton.

[mrkool]

The demographics of these cities are the key. If the demographics were to change substantially, and start resembling those of Chicago, Detroit, or Miami, then I think the crime stats would be *considerably* higher.
Almost without exception, you can predict the violent crime rates of a city by their population demographics. Enough said. And no, it is not all about poverty, otherwise poor white areas would have high rates of violent crime. But they don't.
The only parts of Wisconsin that have alot of crime are the most "diverse" areas (Milwaukee and Racine in particular). Isn't that amazing?

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by mrkool

The demographics of these cities are the key. If the demographics were to change substantially, and start resembling those of Chicago, Detroit, or Miami, then I think the crime stats would be *considerably* higher.
Almost without exception, you can predict the violent crime rates of a city by their population demographics. Enough said. And no, it is not all about poverty, otherwise poor white areas would have high rates of violent crime. But they don't.
The only parts of Wisconsin that have alot of crime are the most "diverse" areas (Milwaukee and Racine in particular). Isn't that amazing?

That's very true. Maine is still 97% white. Portland is the largest city and is the same size as Appleton. Hard to make a true comparison that way.

[susancruzs]

Normally I would argue that point but I left Waukegan, Illinois because of gun shots near my place on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Waukegan demographics changed drastically in the last 10 yrs. and I did not feel safe outside at night so I left.

[wigirl920]

Originally Posted by JeffMurdoch

City Crime Rankings by Population Group

Seven areas in the top twelve! Anyone here live in any of the areas listed that can personally vouch for the results? Wisconsonians should be proud.
I wish I could say the same for Ga and Ala.

Interesting, thanks for the info. I have never actually lived in the areas that were listed, but am fairly-to-very familiar with them. I'd say it's pretty accurate.

Never heard the term "Wisconsonians" before. lol Usually we're referred to as Wisconsinites...but I like your term too.

[Drover]

At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, you'll notice what nearly all of the cities on "safest" list have in common: they're relatively small, and they have very small minority populations. Having virtually no entrenched underclass in your city will do wonders for your crime statistics.

[susancruzs]

Drover, correct or not you are simply stating facts, which to me is really too bad but can be debated (and is in other areas on this forum) until we're all "blue in the face".

I loved Waukegan when I moved there in my 20s, couldn't afford to live in the Mundelein/Libertyville area even then so I got a studio in a complex with a pool for 100.00 in 1970!

Almost 40 years later, living alone, I need to live where I don't feel uneasy or threatened. The Two Rivers/Manitowoc area fit the bill.

[Drover]

Nobody can blame you for looking out for your own safety. Right now I'm young and dumb enough that I can tolerate living in an area with higher crime (though still quite reasonable by urban standards) to be closer to all the city has to offer. When kids come, it may be time to beat a path back to the suburbs.