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I'm currently working in Chicago-- in the Humbolt Park, Lawndale, Garfield Park, and Austin areas (basically the west and near south side). I just took a job in the South Bronx. Can anyone with familiarity with both cities give me a sense of how the two areas compare?
I know nothing of Chicago, or those neighborhoods in particular. But where in the "South Bronx" are you working? And I can tell you more about the area.
It depends on which part of the South Bronx but i'd say more like Humboldt Park and South Lawndale. North Lawndale, Austin, and both Garfield Parks are worse than the South Bronx, compare crime rates. I don't feel very uncomfortable in the South Bronx for the most part but always on the West Side of Chicago even though I spent a lot of time there when my grandmother was alive. Last night, my sister was driving through Austin and a van started shooting at another car right in front of her, crazy stuff.. I have properties all throughout Bronx and I was born and raised in Chicago and am still very familiar with it(family still lives there).
I'm from Chicago honestly and I feel safer in some areas of the Bronx than I do in some areas on the North Side. Chicago has an out of control gang problem now.
The West Side of Chicago is more unsafe than the South Bronx, even areas of the South Side are more dangerous. 20 or so years ago it would be the opposite. I'll often see NYPD walking the beat/ stationed at subway stations throughout the Bronx on my subway commute to/ from Manhattan which is a welcome sight for a former Chicago resident as I can't remember seeing CPD doing that on the West/ South Sides, only the North Side seemed sufficiently policed.
Also, the sheer number of people on the streets of NY all the time partially contributes to a sense of safety. Just like any city you do need to be street smart, know not to go through certain areas after certain times, etc..
48th precinct (West Farms, East Tremon) - 930 violent crimes (6th highest in the city)
So as you can see, you're entering the worst NYC has to offer. Now we just need crime rates for the Chicago hoods and there we go.
The baddest Chicago hoods have crime rates of over 3,000 violent crimes per 100,000 people.Some are 4,000 and over.Much,much worse than anything The South Bronx has to offer.I've seen neighborhoods in Chicago that really terrified me.Anything that is not green on this Chicago neighborhood map has a violent crime rate above 1,500 per 100,000. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_map_2006.png
The baddest Chicago hoods have crime rates of over 3,000 violent crimes per 100,000 people.Some are 4,000 and over.Much,much worse than anything The South Bronx has to offer.I've seen neighborhoods in Chicago that really terrified me.Anything that is not green on this Chicago neighborhood map has a violent crime rate above 1,500 per 100,000. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_map_2006.png
Wow, basically it's current worst neighborhoods are equivalent to the Bronx's worst in 1990.
In 1990 the Bronx had:
40th- 4,507 violent crimes per 100 k
41st -4,353 violent crimes per 100 k
42nd -3,811 violent crimes per 100 k
43rd- 2,127 violent crimes per 100 k
44th -3,339 violent crimes per 100 k
46th -3,574 violent crimes per 100 k
48th - 2,887 violent crimes per 100 k (3,014 if counting arson)
52nd -2,193 violent crimes pero 100 k
I won't do 45th, 47th, 49th or 50th just because I believe the crime rate would fall below 2,000.
Anyways, it's amazing that walking in Chicago's hoods today are like walking through all the bad neighborhoods of the Bronx back in 1990.
Amazing that NYC and Chicago had nearly the same crime rate back in 1990. It leads me to believe that Chicago's worst hoods stayed the same while other hoods improved a great deal. With NYC, the worst hoods have improved greatly as well as other hoods. Just compare some of the VCR in 1990 to the one's now. The worst in the BX today is HP at 1,330 and back in 1990 that would have probably been one of the safest hoods in the city. It's a big drop from 4,353 though.
Really appreciate the input, everyone. Sounds like South Bronx will be comparable, if not safer, than where I'm working now... which is a relief. Austin is about as bad as I can handle.
I'll be near "The Hub." Would love to hear your thoughts on the area!
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Much,much worse than anything The South Bronx has to offer.I've seen neighborhoods in Chicago that really terrified me.Anything that is not green on this Chicago neighborhood map has a violent crime rate above 1,500 per 100,000.
