Rate my Neighborhood (violent crime, safe area, live)

[citygawker]

Hi,

I'm from out of town and just rented a place on Duke Street a few blocks from Dulaney. The other day I walked to Whole Foods and on the way back I saw a homeless guy just sitting on the side walk. I also took the metro and saw a few sketchy looking folks. How safe is this area?

Thanks

[HokieFan]

It's relatively safe. I'm not sure where you moved from, but homeless people and sketchy folks aren't out of the oridnary. They typically aren't bothersome. Just be aware of your surroundings, act confident and don't engage with them if they try to draw you in to a conversation. If you feel uncomfortable, duck into a store/restaurant or walk close to another group of non-threatening looking people.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

It's relatively safe. I'm not sure where you moved from, but homeless people and sketchy folks aren't out of the oridnary. They typically aren't bothersome. Just be aware of your surroundings, act confident and don't engage with them if they try to draw you in to a conversation. If you feel uncomfortable, duck into a store/restaurant or walk close to another group of non-threatening looking people.

This area after Vietnam saw a lot of veterans stay and become a very large homeless population. A lot of these folks are long time homeless. For the most part we don't see a lot of crime out of the homeless population in NoVA or DC interestingly enough. A lot of the crime come from people who have means, sadly, and are either gang or drug related.

The homeless for the most part are just trying to survive, often have personal struggles with drinking or drugs, but for the most part keep to themselves aside from pan handling.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by citygawker

Hi,

I'm from out of town and just rented a place on Duke Street a few blocks from Dulaney. The other day I walked to Whole Foods and on the way back I saw a homeless guy just sitting on the side walk. I also took the metro and saw a few sketchy looking folks. How safe is this area?

Thanks

It's actually pretty safe. The biggest danger is probably getting panhandled out of a few dollars, but the street people in that area are actually pretty passive (unlike DC, where you can really get harassed). If you live there long enough, you'll start to recognize the homeless, as then tend to be the same ones every day and have been there a long time. It's sad still, but feels safer in a way.

[pcity]

This is a very safe area. No problems walking alone at night or otherwise.

[FindingZen]

You're basically in "the city" albeit a smallish one. There are the occasional homeless/panhandling regulars even on tony King Street. You'll even get more of a cross-section at the King Street and Van Dorn Metro stations as all walks of life connect to the buses and trains there. I agree with the others that your neighborhood is fine. Just use mild street wisdom in the evening.

[Mahatma X]

Safety rating: 9/10. When violent crimes do happen its mostly either domestic or a once in a blue moon type of thing.