[alanandlaci]

Hello everyone. My husband and I and our little boy have recently moved to Tuscaloosa for grad school. We are renting a house to the east of the university, pretty close to DCH. Is this a safe area? There was a break in close by a few days ago and I have been very paranoid lately and thought I would ask the opinion of people who have lived here longer and know the area better. We have an alarm system but if this is not a safe area, I was thinking about getting a big dog. Thank you so much.

[bhamoutlook]

I have never lived in Tuscaloosa but have visited plenty of times and have had several bad experiences. However, I don't necessarily think it's a dangerous city. It's just not the peaceful college town that many may perceive.

[Tourian]

It is a small city, not a college town, and it has its good and bad areas.

[alanandlaci]

bhamoutlook- Do you mind relating a little more about the experiences you had?

Tourian- Do you mind telling me what the bad areas or areas to avoid are?

Thank you both very much for your replies

[Southlander]

Tuscaloosa is no different from any other small city, but complicated by a very big university. You might want to get away a bit from the university campus. Those areas tend to be filled with students, and students get rowdy and are transient.

Northport is a good area - lots of shopping, very good public schools, housing in a range of prices. Moundville is another quiet suburb, a good bit more rural. There are subdivisions east of the city, around Cottondale.

Tuscaloosa's kind of funny - slummy areas, with high-priced housing just a few streets away, followed by mid-range housing in another street or two. Schools in Tuscaloosa (city) vary a great deal in quality, which is why there are several private alternatives.
You'll just need to get out and look.

[cpg35223]

Typically, the eyeball test is best. See if you can find a crime map of Tuscaloosa, too.

[BishopRidge]

A large part of the bad areas were blown away a few years ago. I have never lived in Tuscaloosa but I have in the past worked there and was in town on a daily basis. Been in all parts of town. The bad areas are very obvious and are few.

[alanandlaci]

Thank you for these other replies. I feel a little better now. I have been keeping an eye on crimereports and it looks like the area further east of us is where most of the crime is.

[leon_foonman]

Don't it have a lot of, you-know-whats livin there? I hear there's a buncha *******s aslo.