Crime rate in Cleveland, TN (Chattanooga: live in, law, dangerous)

[nmooney1]

My husband and I are moving out of IL in the next few year. Our pick right now is TN. He is a business owner so I have so much to look at not just as far as us and 3 kiddos.....but the business side as well. I have been looking at places all over TN (not focusing on one specific area, but maybe more Chattanooga). I thought Cleveland was looking good. Lots of parks, gyms, fitness centers, a library, a Target. Then I just looked up the crime rate and WOW!!! I feel like I need to cross it off of my list right away. Anyone from Cleveland? Can you give me some input?

[rlesgal]

I'll follow this because we also are looking into that area!

[anspama]

Grew up in Cleveland. All of my family lives in Cleveland. It is as safe as they come. I live in the Atlanta area now but am back often enough.

If I had to guess, all of the crime is largely in a pocket to the south and east of downtown. Lots of poverty, but other than that area, it really is a great place to raise a family.

I never really think of crime when I think of Cleveland. Business is very solid there. There is a large amount of manufacturing in Cleveland for its size which allows it to have a solid economy. It does not rely on Chattanooga for that, meaning its not a suburb or bedroom community.

Job growth and development will be especially increasing near exit 20 as they have recently prepped that area's infrastructure for suppliers of the VW plant in Chattanooga by creating in industrial park right off of the interstate and the city bypass.

Let me know if you have more specific questions.

[cfdigregorio]

Hello! We're (my husband and I) are also looking at smaller towns/suburbs near Chattanooga to retire. The crime stats for Chattanooga, Cleveland, etc. are alarming!

Here's what I read today: "With a crime rate of 65 per one thousand residents, Cleveland has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 15." That was from Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site, and I don't know where they get their stats. However, this type of data about the Chattanooga area isn't unusual based on my research.


This seems crazy high to me...and, we live in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri - one of the deadliest cities in the U.S. How is it possible that a town with a population of under 45k has so much crime? Are there not enough law enforcement resources? Is it safe to walk around downtown at night? Everything else about the area fits our needs and wants...but I'm not going to move from one dangerous place to another - especially in retirement. Any insight would be helpful. Thank you in advance!