Best neighborhood for single person working in Worcester (Boston, Springfield: crime, colleges)

[rethcir]

Very easy and cheap to uber around Worcester, too. So distance from the action maybe less of a problem than it used to be.

[MMS02760]

If the OP is a woman as I suspect, I would not recommend living in downtown Worcester. Downtown is pretty much empty most nights and weekends. Not safe for a single woman to be walking about. Having to walk alone under the dark highway and railroad bridges (as would be need for the Canal District or Shrewsbury Street restaurants) would not be advised.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by MMS02760

If the OP is a woman as I suspect, I would not recommend living in downtown Worcester. Downtown is pretty much empty most nights and weekends. Not safe for a single woman to be walking about. Having to walk alone under the dark highway and railroad bridges (as would be need for the Canal District or Shrewsbury Street restaurants) would not be advised.

By this standard, no woman should live in any urban neighborhood. Worcester's downtown is heavily policed by non-uniformed officers and the 'bad actors' know this - it's relatively safe for a city of it's size. In terms of violent crime, Worcester fairs better than many New England cities and, I'd argue, safer than Prov or Boston when it comes to murder rate and gun/knife incidents - the latter is WAY lower.

It should be noted that Worcester PD considers domestic violence and any assault in which a gun or weapon was present (even if not used) to be a 'aggravated assault'. Other PDs in the region have narrower definitions. Variations in reporting dramatically skew violent crime numbers.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

By this standard, no woman should live in any urban neighborhood. Worcester's downtown is heavily policed by non-uniformed officers and the 'bad actors' know this - it's relatively safe for a city of it's size. In terms of violent crime, Worcester fairs better than many New England cities and, I'd argue, safer than Prov or Boston when it comes to murder rate and gun/knife incidents - the latter is WAY lower.

It should be noted that Worcester PD considers domestic violence and any assault in which a gun or weapon was present (even if not used) to be a 'aggravated assault'. Other PDs in the region have narrower definitions. Variations in reporting dramatically skew violent crime numbers.

Doesn't make it an attractive or comfortable place to live, nor would I suggest a single woman make a habit of walking around there after dark.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Doesn't make it an attractive or comfortable place to live, nor would I suggest a single woman make a habit of walking around there after dark.

As someone who actually knows woman who are ... gasp ... frequently out in Worcester after dark, I can say that they might disagree with your assessment. I suspect they don't go for mid-night jogs through main south, but neither do they hesitate to walk from Bocado to Shrewsbury st. on a Friday night. Perhaps young millenial woman have more grit than old white males? Not sure ...

I would hope someone considering Worcester doesn't expect it to be a tepid safe 'burb, as it is not. However, to fear monger like it's some lesser version of Baltimore or Youngstown is a bit absurd. In the context of dense urban U.S. cities, Worcester is quite safe.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

As someone who actually knows woman who are ... gasp ... frequently out in Worcester after dark, I can say that they might disagree with your assessment. I suspect they don't go for mid-night jogs through main south, but neither do they hesitate to walk from Bocado to Shrewsbury st. on a Friday night. Perhaps young millenial woman have more grit than old white males? Not sure ...
.

I swear, so many people feel women should cower in fear. If my friends did what these people suggest, they wouldn't travel internationally alone, wouldn't drive across country alone, and never mind walk home from a bar at 2am in the summer. Sure, bad stuff can happen, but not at all as much as people like to project. The country is pretty darn safe.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

As someone who actually knows woman who are ... gasp ... frequently out in Worcester after dark, I can say that they might disagree with your assessment. I suspect they don't go for mid-night jogs through main south, but neither do they hesitate to walk from Bocado to Shrewsbury st. on a Friday night. Perhaps young millenial woman have more grit than old white males? Not sure ...

I would hope someone considering Worcester doesn't expect it to be a tepid safe 'burb, as it is not. However, to fear monger like it's some lesser version of Baltimore or Youngstown is a bit absurd. In the context of dense urban U.S. cities, Worcester is quite safe.

I know quite a few women from Worcester, and I think ALL of them would look at me as though I had two heads if I suggested they take a solo walk through DT Worcester at 1am.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I know quite a few women from Worcester, and I think ALL of them would look at me as though I had two heads if I suggested they take a solo walk through DT Worcester at 1am.

What percentage of those women are likely to be up at 1am, never mind wanted to be out at 1am?

Regardless, if someone doesn't wish to walk they can easily take a Lyft/Uber. But to not live in DT Worcester on the premise that you are bound to be a victim? That's cul-de-sac talk.

These days, the most dangerous place for a woman to be in Worcester is likely a HC or WPI frat house.

[rethcir]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

These days, the most dangerous place for a woman to be in Worcester is likely a HC or WPI frat house.

A woman at a WPI party? Don’t worry, that would never happen

[TresChic314]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

What percentage of those women are likely to be up at 1am, never mind wanted to be out at 1am?

Regardless, if someone doesn't wish to walk they can easily take a Lyft/Uber. But to not live in DT Worcester on the premise that you are bound to be a victim? That's cul-de-sac talk.

These days, the most dangerous place for a woman to be in Worcester is likely a HC or WPI frat house.

1 am I understand but it gets dark now at 5. Is it the kind of place where I need to be worried about walking alone around 8 or 10?