Where are the bad neighborhoods? (Seattle, Tacoma: appointed, apartment complex, rent)

[tada]

South Seattle is probably as close to ghetto as you'll get.

[Rooter48]

2007 crime data map from Seattle PD's web site

SeaStat Statistics

[Ira500]

Looking at the crime map, it says to me that some areas are perceived as high crime but in reality aren't. Look at how many posters tell folks to stay away from the south end, and then look at the crime stats. Most of the south end is no worse crime wise than Fremont, Wallingford, and Ballard, and some parts of the north end are higher crime areas than many areas of the south end.

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Looking at the crime map, it says to me that some areas are perceived as high crime but in reality aren't. Look at how many posters tell folks to stay away from the south end, and then look at the crime stats. Most of the south end is no worse crime wise than Fremont, Wallingford, and Ballard, and some parts of the north end are higher crime areas than many areas of the south end.

Interesting, but it'll still cause problems trying to resell a house. It's all about market perception, not market reality. Good to know if you were going to rent though.

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

In Seattle? South Seattle areas not good. Notice how cheap it is - very cheap for a reason. Rainier Drive area. Not good.

Ding, ding, ding... I'd let the market help tell you where the undesirable places are (crime, noise, traffic, commute, etc.)

You could start with looking at the price/square foot of a similarly sized home across two different areas of similar age and condition. If one is significantly cheaper than the other, it's probably because the location has some problems (although crime may or may not be one).

[Ira500]

Just can't agree with you on this one,obsidian. The market is fickle and constantly changing, as are neighborhoods. While you might be right that it may take longer to sell a house in the southend because of perceptions that it is more dangerous, the fact is that some north end neighborhoods that command very high prices also have lots of traffic and noise, as well as crime.
I just don't think you can assume that because a neighborhood is cheaper it necessarily has some problems. Capitol Hill is expensive, but it's noisy and crime ridden. Ballard can be a long commute, and also has a crime rate that is higher than many southend neighborhoods.
People's tastes, and trends shift. I think the reason that some areas cost less is more about perception than reality.
Would you suggest writing off an entire neighborhood, not knowing anything about it, simply because houses cost less?
Wouldn't it be wiser to actually visit the neighborhood a few times to see how it feels, dine at a neighborhood restaurant, walk in a neighborhood park?
And I think the converse is also true. Just because a neighborhood is expensive doesn't mean it's quiet, safe, and with no commute or traffic. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason.

[anthonyt353253]

Ghetto in seattle

skyway area by dimmit middle school
parts of burien
southend

tacoma

[Pygmonicus]

the ghetto areas are parts of aurora, white center, central district at certain parts of the year, and deep in the southend near skyway, but it isn't that bad really.

[Freebird2007]

Tacoma...is what a lot of people would call ghetto....north seattle around Aurora....is getting very ghetto. Burien and much of South Seattle ranks up there as well.

However, do not let the un-ghettoness of a particular neighborhood mislead you. Nice looking areas are prone to high criminal activity. Such as Belltown and its shootings/stabbings/drug dealings. Everetts gangs. Prostitution rings in Shoreline. Biker gangs in Renton. University District has its fair share of gangs or rather wannabe gangs.

[dricardi]

Originally Posted by Kenrick

big whoop. happens here. just cuz they were black doesn't mean much. so i personally feel like east coast ghetto's aren't what they are talked up to be...

I'm glad you didn't have a bad experience but Camden, NJ doesn't get called "bad" because of the color of the people who live there ... it has actually been, officially, the most dangerous city in the country. Thats based on crime statistics .... so its really not misperceptions but actual crime rates.

Just wanted to clear that up. I'm a Bostonian (who is actually considering Seattle) and the crime out there seems impressively less than what is here. There are definetly certain areas of Boston that I wouldn't be walking around at 1am - and those are areas with people of all races. Based somewhat on heresay and mostly on crime stats/news.

[Jake840]

There are areas of Lake City in North Seattle that are horrible. I stayed the night at a friends place one night, he lived in a newer apt building, and the area around it was HOOD. People were walking the streets (a side street) talking, yelling, and what ever else they were doing all night. I have lived in Tacoma all my life and have never seen anything like that here.

And really can you even call Tacoma ghetto now with all the crap going on in Seattle? And using the ghetto term for the whole city is just ignorant.. Stay on I-5!