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Nobody wants to move into a high-crime area, especially when you're making a significant financial investment in a home. There are two kinds of crime you need to be aware of: violent crimes (murder, assault, rape, and robbery with threat of force) and property crimes (burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson). Call or visit the local police station or check out its website to review crime statistics. Read the local paper - you can subscribe or read it on the Internet - to see what kinds of crimes are reported and in which areas.
The website Sperling's Best Places breaks down a neighborhood's demographics, including a quick, by-the-numbers glimpse of its crime rate. Go to www.bestplaces.net and type a city, town, or zip code into the search box. Click Search, and then click the Crime link. The page that opens compares local incidences of violent crimes and property crimes with regional and national averages.
