Crime statistics confusion (Richmond, Charlottesville, Fairfax: neighborhoods, live, zip codes)

[bastafidli]

I am quite confused about the available crime statistics for Charlottesville.

This report
http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010..._hightolow.pdf
shows Charlottesville at 305 our of ~350 metro areas in US with below average statistics.

Other reports quote the crime statistics far above average in VA and nationwide. Where does this discrepancy comes from? It is city vs. metro area? Is the city really so much more dangerous than the rest of the metro, the rest of Virginia and US?

[carshell]

Not sure, but have you tried contacting the police department directly in Charlottesville?

[emsman]

Perhaps the stats don't seperate the "city" from the "county" areas. They share the some of the same zip codes and postal area. If that is the case it makes sense because Albermarle is the largest county in Virginia. Also it may include UVA campus numbers which go through the local courts. The area has it's crime, but as mentioned it is centralized. Random crime is around and there are neighborhoods you don't go into after dark if you don't live there but you have that in every town. The city & county regulate light pollution so it is uneasy with "dimmer" lighting until you get used to it.

[TN Lily]

Pittsylvania County is the largest Virginia county based on size.
Fairfax County is the largest Virginia county based on population.

Like Carshell posted, you may want to look on the Charlottesville P.D. website or another government website.

This is a page on the City of Charlottesville website that addresses crime statistics:

Charlottesville : Crime Statistics

I suspect that a lot of what a list comparing one area with another shows depends on the underlying facts.

What's the saying??? Isn't it, there are three types of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics?

[proudestmonkey]

Are you looking at crime in the area because you're considering a move to Cville? Or are you already in Cville? If you're thinking about moving to Cville the last thing I would worry about is crime. Even if there are certain pockets in neighborhoods in the city that might be best to avoid, just avoid them, and you will most certainly not be affected. Maybe I've been in Boston too long, but it's kind of laughable to think that someone would avoid Charlottesville based on crime.

[ShadowBat]

In VA cities, such as Cville, are their own separate entities. They are essientally a politically separate county, even though they are surrounded by a county. So when factoring crime statistics, they do it on a city by city basis, or county by county. This gives the cities an unusually high percentage because they are only looking at a smaller compact area instead of the whole area.

But Cville does have some crime. Nothing comparable to DC or Richmond, but it is here. Mostly of the stupid wannabe thug type. And annoying property crimes. Car break ins are on the rise too in the area. But like anywhere, just be aware of your surroundings and don't make yourself a target. Don't be naieve either, just because it's not a big city does not mean crime is rare or non existant.