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Generally speaking, Durham feels an incredibly safe city to me. Having lived in some truly sketch places (New Haven, CT), there is no comparison. My wife feels safe walking around Durham alone at night. I didn't feel safe walking around New Haven alone during the day. (I'm using that as an example, but I've certainly had similar experiences with other cities).
Truthfully, I think a lot depends on your situation and finances. If you are middle to upper-middle class or above, it's generally very easy to avoid crime most anywhere. If you are poor and need to live in a low-income area I(as sad as this is) it becomes much more difficult. This is largely true in Durham since it's pretty concentrated in East Durham, though I'd argue a bit easier to escape here just because COL is so low overall.
Basically, don't go buy crack at 2 AM and there is a good chance you'll never notice the crime outside of people who don't live in Durham or spend time there telling you how unsafe it is. Many high level professionals live here (Duke faculty, RTP scientists) and I promise they aren't all robbed on a daily basis.
Was pretty shocked at the crime rate for Durham in 2016.. Looks like the murder rate is almost on par with some other fairly violent metros, such as Memphis, Tennessee. Durham had a murder rate of like 17.0 / 100,000 compared to Memphis which was about 20.5/ 100,000.
I hear there is serious gang issue in Durham and most of the murders involve gang and drug warfare. Can anyone tell me which part of Durham is most plagued with this massive crime epidemic in the city? Does the crime in Durham spill over to Raleigh or surrounding areas?
I was considering living in Durham if I move to the Triangle, but after reading the crime statistics I think I will reconsider and look at Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill or one of the other cities in the Triangle, instead.
I should warn you that bringing up the crime statistics of Durham on this forum will result in
posters claiming they "feel" safe in Durham because they have never been a victim or how
other places are worse. EVERY SINGLE TIME.
From the article: Turf wars
Many of those involved have a gang background, Glenn said, but the driving factor seems to be drug sales and turf wars.
Michelle Young, project manager for Durham gang prevention and intervention program Project Build, linked some of the shootings and deaths to conflicts among several different groups and neighborhoods.
“Some of (the conflicts) go back decades and for whatever reason they just kind of popped up,” this year and last year, she said.
One violent act, she said, starts a retribution cycle.
CapitalBlvd can take comfort knowing that they are saving us a ton of money in court costs and Duke Power bills.
Problem is good people caught in the crossfire.
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