Crime rate (Birmingham, Hoover, Bessemer: low crime, homes, neighborhood)

[plantdna]

According to city-data.com website Birmingham's crime rate is about three times of US average. Could you please comment on this? How safe do you feel near the UAB area, Birmingham in general especially at night? If I can afford to buy a upscale house, is there a small town nearby with less crime rate? Thanks.

[cpg35223]

Having lived inside Birmingham's city limits, I can tell you that crime in the city is really rampant in very specific parts of town, particularly with drug dealers shooting one another or robbing the local convenience store. I would offer that a crime map of the city will tell you what areas to avoid. UAB, however, is what I would call a safe part of town, as is most of Southside, Highland Avenue, Clairmont Avenue, Forest Park, South Avondale and Crestwood.

That being said, crime has dropped 12% this year.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Having lived inside Birmingham's city limits, I can tell you that crime in the city is really rampant in very specific parts of town, particularly with drug dealers shooting one another or robbing the local convenience store. I would offer that a crime map of the city will tell you what areas to avoid. UAB, however, is what I would call a safe part of town, as is most of Southside, Highland Avenue, Clairmont Avenue, Forest Park, South Avondale and Crestwood.

That being said, crime has dropped 12% this year.

Most of the surrounding suburban towns have very low crime rates.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Most of the surrounding suburban towns have very low crime rates.

True. However, for sheer enjoyability of life, I would put Southside/Forest Park above any other place in the city. Here's the thing. We lived on Southside for 13 years and never had the least problem. And my neighborhood was a lot safer than some suburban areas, e.g., the Galleria parking deck.

[bosshawk]

Birmingham's crime is skewed by a few very crime-ridden areas. As stated, Forest Park/Highland Ave. areas are unequaled in terms of quality of life and areas like Crestwood are perfectly fine. Avoid anything west and north of downtown and you are generally fine.

[plantdna]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Most of the surrounding suburban towns have very low crime rates.

Any particular town nearby you think better? Thanks a lot.

[cpg35223]

Pretty much anything south of town will be safe. Trussville, too.

[jakabedy]

Birmingham is like any city. The core of the city has become poor and has crime issues. There is an area of historic homes full of well-heeled folks that is nice (Forest Park, Highland Park, Redmont) and there is another historic area that is funky (Southside, Five Points) and another where the med students live (Crestwood). Beyond that, anything inside the city limits and the small cities contiguous to western Birmingham (Midfield, Fairfield, Lipscomb, Brighton) are not recommended by many.

So you check the first-tier suburbs: Homewood, Vestavia, Mtn. Brook (if you have more money); Irondale, Fultondale, Trussville (if you have medium money) and Hoover (something for every budget there). Then the second-ring suburbs: Leeds, Moody, Gardendale, Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, McCalla area. I would steer clear of the areas out Highway 78 (Forestdale, Adamsville) and of the Bessemer city limits -- although there are some nice historic homes in the latter if that is your thing.

[simple girl]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

And my neighborhood was a lot safer than some suburban areas, e.g., the Galleria parking deck.

Could you elaborate on what happpenned at the Galleria parking deck? I'm assuming robbery, but would like to know if it is something worse.

[bosshawk]

In most cases it is robbery. There have been some more serious crimes such as attempted rape, but considering there are thousands of people there everyday, don't let a couple of incidents scare you.