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You can be on East Capitol St a few blocks from the Capitol building and be surrounded by historic multi-million dollar homes... and you're in SE. Then you can be in the middle of a some of the worst ghettos in America and still be in SE. It's a quadrant that contains way too much variety to treat as one area.
That being said, I lived in SE for years and was never nervous... but I lived on the Hill. If I lived many places east of the Anacostia it would be a different story. But east of the river also includes a big chunk of NE, so looking at it as SE isn't really useful.
Please realize SE DC is quadrant that includes the incredibly wealth and mostly safe Capital Hill, and east of the river DC and Ward 7 and 8 which are fairly dangerous. When many people talk about the problem areas in DC, they are usually talking about east of the Anacostia river. Saying SE DC is pretty meaningless because of the quadrent is fairly large and encompasses the very rich, and the very poor. It's like saying NW DC, which includes the immigrant neighborhoods in northern Petworth and Brightwood Park, and the hyper wealthy Chevy Chase.
If you are meaning to say east of the anacostia river, say east of the anacostia river. That area is dangerous in many parts, and I would not recommend it to somebody who is unfamiliar.
You can be on East Capitol St a few blocks from the Capitol building and be surrounded by historic multi-million dollar homes... and you're in SE. Then you can be in the middle of a some of the worst ghettos in America and still be in SE. It's a quadrant that contains way too much variety to treat as one area.
That being said, I lived in SE for years and was never nervous... but I lived on the Hill. If I lived many places east of the Anacostia it would be a different story. But east of the river also includes a big chunk of NE, so looking at it as SE isn't really useful.
Plus you also have a decent number of SE neighborhoods east of the Anacostia that aren't "ghettos" in the slightest. Even that part of Southeast can't be entirely generalized.
Do you know how many white and non black people are in southeast daily. Drive down Minnesota ave from SE to Deanwood. You are liable to see many non blacks minding their business.
I used to live in SE, I was never nervous. I lived at one place on 14th St near Safeway and another place on Massachusetts not too far away. If you are talking about West of the River, it is not 100% crime free. I moved off the Hill in 2013 and I remember that year I was living at the Car Barn and there were about 2 or 3 murders around the holidays in a relatively short amount of time, including somebody that had literally just rented a place and was sitting in his car. I don't even think he was moved in yet.
I used to look at the crime map and see all sorts of crime taking place around me even near the Potomac Ave station yet I was never really aware of any of it.
I've never lived East of the River but have been over that way more than most people who don't live there and you know I've never been or felt threatened. I don't think very much violent crime is bystander crime. Property crime happens where there is something to steal, but I think most shootings and stabbings and such are related to something whether it be a domestic dispute or drugs or theft or whatever. Just mind your own business and be neighborly and I think you'll be fine.
I would feel safe (I'm white) living in certain parts of SE DC. I mind my own business and also have dogs. I'd just want to know who my neighbors were before moving in. Hillcrest and Fort Dupont Park areas are very nice areas in my opinion where I would be/am interested in buying. There are other areas I might consider.
I'm originally from east of the river NE. That part of the city (Wards 7 and 8) feel so different from the rest of the city, it's almost feels like a different state.
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