Good Neighborhoods vs Bad Neighborhoods: 13 Things to Look out For

Everyone defines neighborhood safety in different ways. Some people may not think twice about walking down an empty street after dark, while others may be more cautious. Because everyone’s level of personal safety is different, the same can be said about what they consider safe or dangerous neighborhoods. 

Perceived neighborhood safety often starts at the surface level of poverty and affluence, when in reality, many factors determine a neighborhood’s safety.

We’ll review a few things you can look out for when moving to a new neighborhood to help you determine the safety level. 

Crime statistics

Property crimes refer to stolen or destroyed property or items taken from a person without using force or threat. These types of crimes can include anything from vandalism or arson to burglary.

• A property crime happened once every 4.4 seconds in 2018, according to the FBI [1]. 
• 2019 saw around 1.4 million home break-ins [2].
• The average loss per burglary is $2,661 [3]. 
• Cash and valuables like jewelry are the two most sought-after items [4]. 
• About 2/3 of burglars in one study admitted that they never attempted to get information about the home or person before breaking in [4]. 
• Nearly 40% of break-ins involve unlawful entry into the home, including walking into a residence through the front door or pushing open an unlocked window [3].

About 60% of burglars in one study admitted they would try to find a different home if there was a security alarm [4].

What to look for when moving to a new neighborhood

So, you’re researching a potential neighborhood to figure out if you want to move there and don’t know where to start? 

What are some things to consider before moving to a new community?

Crime rate

It’s a good idea to check a local crime map and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting data for your new neighborhood. Using these tools together can help give you a more complete picture of current and past crimes and the most common types of crime in that community. 

You can also check out the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender list, which allows you to search for offenders in every state, the U.S. Territories and Washington, D.C.

Local schools and education system

A good local school can drive people to a neighborhood, which in turn can boost the local economy and help build a stronger sense of community among neighbors. Good local schools are often one of the most sought-after things in a move. 

• Niche has several lists and searchable options that allow you to read community-reviewed schools and neighborhoods to see how the people who actually live in them rank them.

• U.S. News makes it easy to search for schools through grade level, districts, state and rankings.   

• GreatSchools is a nonprofit website that allows you to browse parenting resources and search for schools to see a snapshot of test scores, school equity and more.

The public transportation system

While this may not be important for everyone, a good public transportation system can get you across the city quickly and efficiently.  

Even if you have a car, it’s important to see if your new neighborhood is close to potential rideshare or grocery delivery services in case you ever need to use these services. 

Public transportation can even help you navigate a snowy city if inclement weather blocks off side streets in your neighborhood. 

The neighborhood

If possible, everyone should try to check out their prospective community before signing the paperwork, both during the day and at night. Try out public transportation, go to the local bar or café or see where the nearest park is located and if they allow dogs. While you’re out exploring your future home, you might want to consider speaking with the locals or workers in a café and ask them about the neighborhood.  

Most importantly, you should make sure it’s the kind of place you feel safe walking around. 

AreaVibes considers multiple factors from cost of living and crime rates to education and air quality, and scores neighborhoods on a 100-point scoring system.

Nextdoor lets you see what’s happening in your neighborhood and makes it easy for you to get involved with the local community.

Don’t forget to check out the neighborhood’s local website. You can often use it to see what kind of events or festivals happen every year, search for a neighborhood park or find out who the local elected officials are. 

What do the locals have to say? 

Do the people currently living there care about their neighborhood and feel safe? Are the locals jogging at night or walking their dogs? Is there a lot of trash in the streets, or are there broken liquor bottles on the sidewalk? You can tell a lot about a neighborhood by how the residents take care of it.  

Pro-tip: If you can’t visit your new neighborhood before you move, you can always check out Google Maps for an idea of what it looks like.

What makes a neighborhood bad?

While you’re checking out your new community, it’s a good idea to see what the local crime rate is like. Remember that most major cities and many urban areas around them tend to have a higher crime rate than isolated towns simply because more people are coming in and out of these areas. So, what other things should you look out for when exploring a new area?

Trash and graffiti are rampant

Many people consider graffiti a sign of potential gang activity in a community. Excessive graffiti can even drive down the housing market in a neighborhood. Additionally, the city is forced to use taxpayer dollars to clean up the graffiti.  

There are obvious signs of home or car vandalism

If you’re exploring a potential neighborhood, be on the lookout for signs of broken car windows, or slashed or stolen tires. Vandalism is a property crime and can point to other potential property crimes in the area. 

You get a bad feeling while you’re visiting the area

It’s always a good idea to physically check out a place before you move there. If the neighborhood seems fine, but you get a bad feeling about it, you should listen to your gut.  

What makes a neighborhood good?

A good neighborhood is in the eye of the beholder. But there are still things you can look out for when researching your next community.

Plants or trees are growing or there’s green space

Having a park or urban green space in your neighborhood is not only pleasant to look at but can also have an overall cooling effect in the summer.

Excessive concrete walkways and asphalt roads can capture and store heat, then release it as the days goes on. This can cause temperatures to rise and is often why many cities, such as New York, can feel so hot during the summer.

Low violent crime rates

Statistically, the larger the city, the more crime there is. A crime map can help you pull data to research your prospective neighborhood for different types of crime. 

The walkability of the neighborhood

While this may not be a huge concern to many car owners, it can still be a great perk of your new neighborhood. Walking a little every day is good for your health, so why not enjoy a nice walk to a nearby market, park or neighborhood bodega after work [5].

Access to a hospital or urgent care center isn’t too far away

You never know when illness or a fall may happen. A local hospital, clinic or ER nearby for quick access when a medical emergency happens can be a big plus in your continued health and safety.

And don’t forget about a nearby vet clinic for your furry friends

While a nearby hospital is something you should look out for when it comes to you and your family, you may also want to see if there are any nearby veterinarians for your pets.  

How to make your home less appealing to burglars

Some data suggests many burglaries are crimes of opportunity [6]. So, it’s important to take a few steps to make your property less appealing to burglars in the first place.

The average burglar is between 18-24 years old, male, and a repeat burglary offender with a previous arrest record [6].

• One study reported that about 50% of burglars engaged in a home burglary the previous year, while 1/3 of burglars engaged in a commercial burglary [4]. 
• 50% of burglars live within a couple miles of the house they rob [6].
• When a burglary is planned, almost half of the burglars do it within 24 hours [4]. 
• The average thief is in and out of the home within less than 12 minutes [6].  

The data suggests that most burglars go for homes that could be easy targets, where they can quickly grab valuables and leave. But you can do a few things to make your home less appealing.

• If you’re going on a trip, leaving a car in the driveway is a good idea instead of parking at the airport. Leaving a vehicle makes it look like your home is occupied and could make a thief think twice. 
• Always lock garage doors, windows, sheds and all doors—even if you’re stepping away for a few minutes.
• Deadbolts can make it harder for a thief to break into your home, so don’t forget to add one to your garage door and other access points into your home.
• If you have a sliding patio door, you should consider upgrading the glass to safety glass or adding a blocking bar to make it harder for a thief to force your door open. 
• Install a security system both indoors and outside to help you keep an eye on your property from virtually anywhere.
• Never leave your spare key under the doormat or above the door frame. You should probably avoid hiding a spare key on your property and give it to a neighbor instead. 

Pro-Tip: If leaving a car in the driveway isn’t an option, you can see if your neighbors want to park in your driveway or let their guests park there while you’re away, instead of the street.

4 tips to keep your home safe, according to the Boston Police Department 

1. If you have hollow-core wooden doors, you should consider upgrading them to sturdier solid wood or steel reinforced ones to make them harder to break down.

2. Don’t forget to lock your first-floor windows. 

3. Try to establish a relationship with your neighbors, even if it’s just on a first-name basis. Your neighbors can let you know if someone suspicious is at your home. You can also keep an eye on each other’s homes when you’re out of town. 

4. Sometimes would-be burglars use disguises, or they may pose as someone else to gain information about your work schedule or property. If an unscheduled maintenance worker tries to come by, don’t let them inside.  

[Source 7]

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[1] https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/topic-pages/crime-clock

[2] https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv19.pdf 

[3] https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/burglary

[4] https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.cammy.com/reports/burglar-survey-study-final-report.pdf 

[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261

[6] https://www.jsu.edu/police/docs/Schoolsafety.pdf 

[7] https://bpdnews.com/news/2022/3/15/bpd-community-advisory