Grand Island living, how bad is bad? (Kearney, York: apartment, to rent)

[BrooklynJoe]

I am currently living in New York City, mostly my entire life. I'm looking to make a fresh start, my girlfriend currently lives in Gibbon, until her aunt is better able to take care of herself (was sick for a while, better now, thank God).

I visited Nebraska and didn't really have a chance to look around GI too much. I know Kearney is where the University is, and is more of a safer town. Me, personally, I'm used to living in a neighborhood where you don't feel like you need to lock your doors, only to turn the corner and have housing projects and shootings almost on a nightly basis. General rule of thumb was, if you mind your own, you'll be fine.

People who live in smaller towns in Nebraska who tell me how dangerous certain neighborhoods of GI are, I wonder if I should just take it with a grain of salt because they only travel there once in a blue moon, or is there and validity to what they say?. If there are any neighborhoods I wouldn't wanna live in, where are they?

I'm used to taking buses and subways to work an hour or more each way, and paying 800/month for the privilege of living in a jail cell sized apartment, so to speak, so...any place to rent a 1br for 500/month, or a mobile home for the same price, I'm not concerned with that, or with driving an hour or so to go to work (no particular field, just something that'll allow me to go to classes, either day or night). I'm going back to college to be a teacher, starting at CCC, and transferring to Kearney in a couple years, so...I guess GI would be convenient for now.

Guess I'm just wondering where, if anywhere, should I avoid, hopefully coming from GI residents or frequent visitors? I'd appreciate any and all info. Thanks! =)

[JustMe_T3K]

Bad is only as bad as your point of view of what is bad.

[summersolstice]

I live in Kearney but travel frequently to Grand Island and I never feel unsafe there.

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Originally Posted by JustMe_T3K

Bad is only as bad as your point of view of what is bad.

This.

People from "real" cities would laugh at other peoples' perception of how "bad" GI is. It isn't like there is random violent crime targeted toward the general populous. Most violent crimes are domestic and/or gang related--like in most places.

Property crime is obviously spread out more, so I wouldn't recommend leaving your doors open or valuables in unlocked cars. But I wouldn't recommend that anywhere you live. Even in the Sandhills.

[BrooklynJoe]

I never leave anything of value visible in my car or anything. I was just wondering....yeah, you may have just answered my question. Thanks a million.

[GSL-NE]

Just stay out of the East 10th and/or Near South neighborhoods at night; you'll be fine. Grand Island is a great place to live.

[Wyomama2]

I wouldn't live in a trailer in tornado alley for all the money in the world, just sayin. If you rent an apartment either get a basement one or be sure you have access to one in a hurry. It's just better be safe than sorry imo. Google tornado's in GI 1980.....

[JustMe_T3K]

Originally Posted by Wyomama2

I wouldn't live in a trailer in tornado alley for all the money in the world, just sayin. If you rent an apartment either get a basement one or be sure you have access to one in a hurry. It's just better be safe than sorry imo. Google tornado's in GI 1980.....

You can live anywhere you want. You just have to use good Nebraska common sense.
1. Be aware of weather conditions.
2. Have a safe place to go if you don't have your own.

My last house had no basement, relatives 5 blocks away did.
Also had permission to go in the neighbors basement (even if they weren't home) in case of sudden emergency.


I mean really, do you only live in a house with a basement and only sleep in the basement in case a storm comes while your asleep.
In the extreme case a basement will not save you anyway. Therefore you must have a custom built safe room. LOL

Or you can buy a weather alert radio like most of us have.

[GSL-NE]

Tornadoes are something you think about, maybe, once a year you hear about one nearby. Tornadoes are NOT part of everyday life in Grand Island. The night of the twisters in 1980 is talked up to be more than it actually was. Yes, people died and houses got destroyed, but the movie and the way people talk about tornadoes are ridiculous. Would 130,000 people live in the tri-city area if they got claubbered with tornadoes every night? No. Life in Grand Island is good and tornadoes (despite what you'll hear) are rare occurance.

[Happygolucky]

If your from NYC Grand Isand will be like Romper-room.
I know I lived in NYC. There are parts of GI that I would not want to live in, but all in all it is a pretty good town. Try to find a farm house to rent out in the sticks, you'll love it. Rent for those houses are cheap.