Crime statistics

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I are looking to move, and have found at least one place that we really like, but we're a little unsure about the neighborhood. It's not in the Davis area, but I was wondering if anyone on this community might know the best way to get detailed crime statistics for a neighborhood in Somerville. The police web page didn't have any obvious way of doing that. Should I just call the police department directly? Or is this a records office thing? Is this even something I could easily get? I have two years of general crime statistics as broken down by ward, but I'd like to get a more detailed focus on a specific area if possible.

Comments

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Your boyfriend is honestly worried about a neighborhood in Somerville?

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Well, after the rather big drug raid around the corner from his Somerville apartment a couple years ago, I don't blame him for thinking that not all of Somerville is lovely and quiet.

If a property is perceived to be in a "bad neighborhood", it can drive market prices down. We don't want to buy a place that will never appreciate in value even when the general market recovers.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Yes, call the police department and I'm sure they'll be happy to provide you with the information you desire.

Considering our general crime statistics, though, I really can't see what it'd pretty provide you with. Somerville is not very high-crime, comparatively.

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

An easier way to get a sense of what a neighborhood is like is to ask someone FROM that neighborhood =)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Good point. I don't know anyone in that neighborhood, though, and since it's not Davis Square, I didn't want to go looking for neighborhood-specific info about another neighborhood on this community. Is there a general Somerville community on LJ?

Somerville community

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Yes:

http://community.livejournal.com/somervillemass/

Re: Somerville community

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Sweet. Will join. Thanks!

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

What neighborhood is it? I actually grew up here and will probably be able to give you some info(such as what it was like in the 80s, 90s and currently).

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I posted on somervillemass for the neighborhood specifics, if you want to comment on that post. Or you can send me a message via LJ, if you can't comment there. It's not f-locked.

Somerville Voices

[barry-rafkind.livejournal.com]

Hello, I would invite you to post your question to another city-wide blog I'm involved with called www.SomervilleVoices.org "An independent, open forum for reports and opinions about life in our city." - Barry

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

"The police web page didn't have any obvious way of doing that"
Except for those crime (http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/REP123106.pdf) map (http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/CrimeReportMap120805.pdf) links on the police department main page.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Why, yes, that would be the "two years of general crime statistics broken down by ward" that I mentioned in my post.

I want to see if I can get information on the specific neighborhood.

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

ah, I stopped reading at "The police web page didn't have any obvious way of doing that" because I knew it did.

Follow the recommendations others gave you if it will make you feel safer, but these wards really aren't that big. Even hardened criminals have sufficient work ethic to walk 3 or 4 blocks to mug you.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm really less concerned about security, personally, than I am about selling one day and having people think, "Oh, this is a bad neighborhood, I'm not going to buy that place." Hell, I've said the same thing looking at some Somerville listings. I'm just trying to do as much research as possible.

[ron_newman]

If the Green Line comes to Somerville as it's supposed to, I expect it will raise the value of all neighborhoods, including any currently perceived as 'bad'.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Seems like a big if, these days. :)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

It did finally get a few hundred million of funding allocated.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Might build a stop. :-)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but at least it's something tangible, which distinguishes it from prior news. I mean, I don't put it *past* the T to build a fraction of a line and just give up, but hey, funding is more credible than no funding.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Well, in theory, they HAVE to build it. The problem was, when the Conservation Law Foundation went in to twist some arms, they couldn't twist hard enough to guarantee either funding or a completion date, just getting the state to commit to doing it.

Yeah, that didn't work out so hot, in terms of getting shit done.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Wow, ok, sounds like it's actually a go. Now, let's see how long it takes them to get down to business.

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

Maybe. But there are plenty of neighborhoods with low property values next to certain T stations.

[reverend-jim.livejournal.com]

~grumble~

[ron_newman]

Telling us which neighborhood (even if it isn't near Davis) would help.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I just did that on the somervillemass community.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

hey there,

I am looking for tenants for my place starting Sept 1. It's on a lovely street in Teele. I'm a friend of Pir's (and nepenthe) and have met you on a couple of occasions at his place.

You can get my email address from one of them (definitely pir) and I can tell you more if you think you'd be interested.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer! If our search for a place to buy falls through, I'll keep it in mind and find out if you're still looking at that time. Right now, though, we're hoping to get a condo or a small single family.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

ah. well, I'm also considering selling. let me know what you're looking for. would be nice to not have a realtor to deal with!

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

We're hoping to get a 2 bedroom place with over 1000 square feet, a deeded parking space, walkable, and public transit accessible, and we're looking to pay less than $300K. Not the easiest thing in the world to find, I know, but I'm finding some decent options out there.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

If you find that mythical Camelot, let me know. I gave up years ago.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

It's not as impossible as it sounds. I've seen quite a few options in that category, though most have had layouts that I didn't like.

[nungnung.livejournal.com]

Camelot is coming back! I'm starting to see lots of things under $300K for the very first time since I started casually looking 3 years ago. If you go as far out as Malden, I'm seeing things closer to $200K. Hell frozen, pigs flying, etc., etc. :)

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Malden is the first to take the major economic downturn, housing values-wise, according to a few realtors with whom I have spoken - which is why there are a number of Malden places that have dropped $50K+ in the last five months.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we've looked at Malden too, and might look more. You definitely get more house for your money there than in Somerville, though prices in Malden tend to fall faster than in Somerville and rise more slowly when the market recovers.

[nungnung.livejournal.com]

All of those things are totally true. Somerville has proven itself to be a solid market even during this slump, so property there might be a better investment, especially if you'll be re-selling in a few years.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Police reports are fairly innacurate, as many people choose not to report criminal activity for a variety of reasons (police being annoying to deal with, too much trouble for very little reward, threats of retaliation, not really caring/depression, etc.)

A good way to assess an area is to check out how many people take care of their front yards and/or hang out in them. The more people are outside their houses, in their yards puttering or sitting on the porch, the safer an area will be, and the more community spirit there is likely to be. Also, studies have shown that the less car traffic there is, the healthier the neighborhood is, since people are more likely to wander around and get to know their neighbors casually if the street moves at a more pedestrian speed.