Why is crime so high in New Bern and Wilmington?? (Greensboro: crime rates, house)

[vq1]

Hello macdebbie: Saw what you are looking for in retirement and I would like to recommend where we have retired to: Lenoir, NC. The county is Caldwell County and it extends from a moderate climate at the eastern foothills part up to the mountains at the southern part of Grandfather Mountain. Go to Realtor.com and search under zip code 28645. In today's market, you can buy a lot of house for much less than $400k.

Lenoir was the "Furniture Capital of the World" until that went overseas. The job market is tight, but you talked about retirement. It is near Boone, 80 miles to Charlotte, Winston-Salem or Asheville. I doubt you would ever shovel snow more than five times a year. Don't tell anyone, but our house is never locked and the keys are in the ignition in all the cars.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

[kilgame]

I'm a single, young female and I've lived all over Wilmington NC, moved about 5 times I think. I started living close to the campus off of market st. Some apartment complexes are nicer and more geared to college students (these have their own problems, not necessarily crime, just noise!) and some are seedy and shady. You'll be able to tell by prices pretty much.
I lived downtown in a veryyyyyyy high crime rate area off of castle street where rent was cheap for a reason. There were drug dealers walking my street, offereing drugs and harrassing you constantly. The downtown area at night is a bad situation if you're walking home after drinking or getting into the outskirts of the bar areas. I've been held up at gunpoint once with two big guys with me, and I know several guys I wouldn't think would be messed with that have been robbed at gunpoint in the downtown area. ESPECIALLY on holidays. The areas between 17th st and 5th st, I agree, are the highest crime rate areas. There is a housing complex on 3rd and greenfield, 13th and greenfield, and one is coming in near C.Beach road and Southern blvd. The whole of N. 30th Street and Princess St from 23rd North toward Kerr ave is bad as well. These are obviously areas of concern.
Although there are lots of robberies late at night after people leave bars on the outskirts of the main Front St. drag, it's common sense not to park very far away, in a darker less populated area, walking perhaps intoxicated, looking like you might have money to take. This is pretty dumb in any metro area.

[ncisgreat]

macdebbie, stats can be misleading. Much of the crime in any city on NC is not random violence but rather crime concentrated in "bad" areas and property crime. You are looking to go retire in a waterfront community and those are NOT high crime areas. Take precautions just as we all should anywhere but PLEASE don't let those stats scare you away.

I live in Charlotte and if I went by stats alone, no one would live here-- or any major US city!!

[Nunyabiz86]

Originally Posted by macdebbie

We both really want a place with lower costs and a milder climate.

Before moving to NC, you might want to think ahead 10 or 20 years. Quite a lot of people are moving to north carolina for the mild weather and "lower costs". Once the mortgage industry hiccup passes, housing prices will continue to soar, along with insurance and taxes. NC is a nice place, but the lower costs won't always be low. Just something to think about before uprooting yourselves.

[feddymike]

Wilmington is stuck right now between small-town values and big-city growth. It's a city in transition with neither the infrastructure nor the government in place to handle the change. The high crime rate can be directly related to drugs. The small town charm that graced our community is giving way to unfettered growth. There are beautiful neighborhoods mostly located in the 09 and 11 zips. And of course the beach communities are wonderful, though you better have big bucks. You may want to check Brunswick County, which is just across the Cape Fear river from ILM and stretches to the S.C. border. More affordable and lined with beach communities. Personally we're leaving the area come summer 08 so my opinions should be read as just that...opinions.

[carolinatruth]

There are a huge amount of uneducated entitlement people in this area.
Certain areas of Wilmington, ( front street at night ) , New Bern ( outside after dark ), Jacksonville ( the mall ) and any brightly lit place will attract them.
The vast majority of the folks are very decent, conservative, law abiding people.
Ever been to DC, poor parts of Atlanta, or Detroit ? Micro versions exist here.

Forgot to include;
Wilmington has the highest tax rate in the southeast. Want a $100 water bill ? Move here.

[O2BinNC]

You might want to consider South Port NC, or Sunset Beach NC, or Calabash NC. Brunswick County. Smaller coastal towns with many of the ammenities that you requested, without the higher crime rate. Just a thought.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by feddymike

Wilmington is stuck right now between small-town values and big-city growth. It's a city in transition with neither the infrastructure nor the government in place to handle the change. The high crime rate can be directly related to drugs. The small town charm that graced our community is giving way to unfettered growth. There are beautiful neighborhoods mostly located in the 09 and 11 zips. And of course the beach communities are wonderful, though you better have big bucks. You may want to check Brunswick County, which is just across the Cape Fear river from ILM and stretches to the S.C. border. More affordable and lined with beach communities. Personally we're leaving the area come summer 08 so my opinions should be read as just that...opinions.

This seems to be a very common opinion. I've met quite a few Wilmingtonians who have told me the same thing.

[pa2nc]

What about a couple in their early 50s with independent businesses, looking to relocate. Fairfield sounds too much like a retirement community. We need to be hear an airport, and hubby would like to be close to the water for boating, I would like to be in a vibrant area with arts, culture, and a good business community. I'd also like to have access to Raleigh, not for daily commuting, but ready access. Thoughts?

[Oyster07]

Wilmington would be a better choice for you as far as easy access to Raleigh (straight shot up I-40...2 hours to Raleigh). Also, the airport in Wilmington is a good one...very easy to fly in and out.