West Chester Downtown Safety Concerns (Philadelphia, Media: violent crime, homes, buying)

[novavax]

Hi,

I am moving to West Chester downtown. On my visits there, I didn't notice anything sketchy, even at 9 PM, aside from a few homeless people.

But when I came back and checked the crime stats online, I noticed several shootings this year (July, August and November) at West Chester Police Department's website. There was also a near-fatal stabbing not long ago.

How safe/dangerous is West Chester, especially the downtown area? Is it safe to walk around at night, say at 11 PM?

Crime stats indicate that West Chester is more dangerous than 79% of the cities and towns in the US. Yet many people say it's safe (on niche.com). A forum member TLC1957 repeatedly raves about West Chester in the Philadelphia forum. He posts the same long reply every time. Is his experience typical?

I'm moving from East Village in NYC. Is West Chester safer or more dangerous than EV?

What are my chances of getting mugged in West Chester?

Many thanks in advance.

[Mayvenne]

Well I answered to the other thread but...
OBviously if this happened, it cannot be denied but truly I think you are totally fine walking around at 11 pm. I can't imagine that the east village is safer than WC.

I will be curious to see more answers from others

[novavax]

Originally Posted by Mayvenne

Well I answered to the other thread but...
OBviously if this happened, it cannot be denied but truly I think you are totally fine walking around at 11 pm. I can't imagine that the east village is safer than WC.

I will be curious to see more answers from others

Could you post link to your answer to the other thread?

[Redddog]

I mean... there's not many urban areas that are more safe than anywhere in the village.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Redddog

I mean... there's not many urban areas that are more safe than anywhere in the village.

are you really suggesting that the East Village is safer than West Chester? lol. Let's hope not for the sake of sanity.


Just a quick google search brings up the fact that West Chester Borough 'crime rate' is multiple times lower than the East Village.

[TLC1957]

Originally Posted by novavax

Hi,

I am moving to West Chester downtown. On my visits there, I didn't notice anything sketchy, even at 9 PM, aside from a few homeless people.

But when I came back and checked the crime stats online, I noticed several shootings this year (July, August and November) at West Chester Police Department's website. There was also a near-fatal stabbing not long ago.

How safe/dangerous is West Chester, especially the downtown area? Is it safe to walk around at night, say at 11 PM?

Crime stats indicate that West Chester is more dangerous than 79% of the cities and towns in the US. Yet many people say it's safe (on niche.com). A forum member TLC1957 repeatedly raves about West Chester in the Philadelphia forum. He posts the same long reply every time. Is his experience typical?

I'm moving from East Village in NYC. Is West Chester safer or more dangerous than EV?

What are my chances of getting mugged in West Chester?

Many thanks in advance.

Regarding West Chester being unsafe….stuff does happen. I am sure just like anyplace with 13K University students of young students who have been home for the past 18 months. BUT we have NEVER felt unsafe walking around West Chester during the day or night. We have never witnessed any violence or heard anything from our neighbors and friends apart from what we read in the media. I think the police do a great job in West Chester. IF others felt unsafe they would not be buying homes with many selling in a few days above asking price.

[Duderino]

1. I'd very much caution against calling homeless people "sketchy." They are simply human beings without a home; that's a tragedy, not a criminal activity. Let's have a little compassion.

2. I generally find this post to be over-the-top. Coming from a city of over 8 million people to a town of under 20K, the thought of criminal activity wouldn't even cross my mind. You do realize that NYC has had quite a bit of a rash of violent crime itself lately, too, right? No place on earth is immune from criminal activity. That's just a fact of life.

3. Bottom line, like anywhere else--be aware of your surroundings during evening hours (especially if you're female), and you're far less likely to have a run-in with trouble.

[cpomp]

I'm sorry, I can't with this one...

Are these thread for real? If this is a weird troll thread, okay. But are people that clueless in life?

1. West Chester is a quaint walk-able suburban town, yes it's safe, safe as a town can be in the USA...

2. Moving from the East Village and concerned with crime and homeless? Two eyerolls for that comment.

And this is the same poster that considered moving to Rittenhouse Square but was turned off by the crime, called Media overrated, and is now an active poster in the crime thread (see other Philly threads)... All I can do is chuckle, lol.

[TLC1957]

FYI
Regarding homeless people West Chester has a shelter @ 20 N Matlack St, West Chester, PA 19380. The location is a few blocks from where novovax plans to move to if this is a concern.

www.safeharborofgwc.org

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I'm sorry, I can't with this one...

Are these thread for real? If this is a weird troll thread, okay. But are people that clueless in life?

1. West Chester is a quaint walk-able suburban town, yes it's safe, safe as a town can be in the USA...

2. Moving from the East Village and concerned with crime and homeless? Two eyerolls for that comment.

And this is the same poster that considered moving to Rittenhouse Square but was turned off by the crime, called Media overrated, and is now an active poster in the crime thread (see other Philly threads)... All I can do is chuckle, lol.

What's frustrating, is it basically is every single sub-forum on this website too. So few people actually use this site anymore, some of us come off as major homers for even pointing out the most basic and common sense opinions.