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Location: Unlike most on CD, I'm not afraid to give my location: Milwaukee, WI.
1,789 posts, read 4,154,552 times
Reputation: 4092
To N.A.H.
You are concerned about crime, and I don't blame you at all. But I see now that you are considering Knoxville. Don't do it. I repeat, don't even bother looking there, and don't listen to anyone from there who is biased and trying to paint a rosy picture. Last night I looked up some stats in a book I have that is probably more accurate and detailed than City Data's stats. The crime and demographics for Knoxville are not what you are looking for.
I guarantee those cheap, nice looking houses you found are on the "wrong side of town" or just in need of lots of repair.
I'd recommend Scranton over Knoxville. That said, Tennessee does have low taxes and a nice climate. Johnson City would be my choice for the things you're looking for.
I wouldn't do Cedar Rapids either, mainly due to climate, and a nice house won't be as cheap as some of the other places. I've lived in and visited alot of places. If you're adaptable like me, even Oil City won't be as bad as some here make it out to be.
You are concerned about crime, and I don't blame you at all. But I see now that you are considering Knoxville. Don't do it. I repeat, don't even bother looking there, and don't listen to anyone from there who is biased and trying to paint a rosy picture. Last night I looked up some stats in a book I have that is probably more accurate and detailed than City Data's stats. The crime and demographics for Knoxville are not what you are looking for.
I guarantee those cheap, nice looking houses you found are on the "wrong side of town" or just in need of lots of repair.
I'd recommend Scranton over Knoxville. That said, Tennessee does have low taxes and a nice climate. Johnson City would be my choice for the things you're looking for.
I wouldn't do Cedar Rapids either, mainly due to climate, and a nice house won't be as cheap as some of the other places. I've lived in and visited alot of places. If you're adaptable like me, even Oil City won't be as bad as some here make it out to be.
Wow, this picture looks dreadful. Do you live in Knoxville?
You are concerned about crime, and I don't blame you at all. But I see now that you are considering Knoxville. Don't do it. I repeat, don't even bother looking there, and don't listen to anyone from there who is biased and trying to paint a rosy picture. Last night I looked up some stats in a book I have that is probably more accurate and detailed than City Data's stats. The crime and demographics for Knoxville are not what you are looking for.
I guarantee those cheap, nice looking houses you found are on the "wrong side of town" or just in need of lots of repair.
I'd recommend Scranton over Knoxville. That said, Tennessee does have low taxes and a nice climate. Johnson City would be my choice for the things you're looking for.
I wouldn't do Cedar Rapids either, mainly due to climate, and a nice house won't be as cheap as some of the other places. I've lived in and visited alot of places. If you're adaptable like me, even Oil City won't be as bad as some here make it out to be.
Thanks for the warning. Ive removed Knoxville from my list of cities to consider. Whats wrong with Cedar Rapids? The price isnt bad!
Cedar Rapids costs twice as much as Oil city. I already know a large house for around $50k is going to need some TLC. Ill do the repairs myself and save thousands! You get a good deal on a TLC house because the seller doesnt feel like doing the repairs. Alternatively, I could get a small 2 bedroom house in move in condition for around $50k like that one:
The crime index for Cedar Rapids is "average" so I should be allright with common sense and dont end in the wrong place at the wrong time and dont make anyone mad. Cedar Rapids is my second choice from Oil city. Are those houses pictured above a good deal?
NAH - Affordability is relative. In my research, I've found that you can live in an area that is relatively cheap (200k - 250k) and make a decent living. You can move to very cheap areas (100k - 150k), but your pay may go down. Consider that, even if you are self employed.
Personally, crime does not scare me unless I'm in the most depressed areas, like the Hub in the Bronx or north of 124th in Manhattan. I have some street smarts growing up in a poor area, and attribute that to my ability to avoid crime (not always possible no matter where you live).
I'd rather move to a nice warmer climate than stay in the Northeast though.
Also, city-data can't tell you some of the other factors. People that live in towns like Oil City will give you a better idea. Have you visited the area? You should, you may hate it.
I am definitely concerned about crime where I live, and it seems to be just getting worse and worse; therefore, I am leaving and going back to a place so nice that I used to say "I love Florida" all the time. Little did I know . . . I didn't love FLORIDA; I just loved SAINT PETERSBURG and surrounding areas.
Fort Myers crime rate index for 2004 (City Data is a bit behind) was 933.2, and that was with an estimated population of less than 60,000. There are so many places with twice our population and half the crime rate. Fort Myers . . . one of Florida's dirty little secrets.
Yeah, same here. You can't spend your life worrying what might what happen. Just like you MIGHT die in your sleep, you MIGHT get struck by crime.
Now obviously, avoid the seedy areas of any place, but just because a city has a crime rate above 100 doesn't mean you should avoid it. It limits you to depressed, dull areas.
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To N.A.H.
