Know your new Phoenix neighborhood: a movers’ guide

Selecting your next apartment can be as simple as finding the lowest lease price, equipped with your standard of features and amenities, in a location most convenient to you; it is, if that’s all you’re worried about.  Even if you think you know a neighborhood like the back of your hand, you may be surprised to discover what you don’t know if you look hard enough. Cities, Federal entities such as the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as insurance companies keep meticulous records on area demographics, high crime areas, car thefts, violent crime & property crime hot spots, as well as a boatload of information you may find surprising they would even want to know. Spend a few minutes doing a bit of research on your prospective new neighborhood and then decide whether or not that deal of a lease is really worth your safety.

First, check out the HomeFair.com website to learn about the general population in your specific zip code.  For example, I just discovered that the median age of those in my zip code is 37.9, which is higher than the national average. The majority of residents in my zip code have a Bachelor’s Degree, and the total crime risk is significantly lower than the cities’ average. Hmmm. I think I did pretty well in my last move!

From there, choosing to move into a complex in a high crime area may mean you’ll have lower rent (hopefully!) but it will almost certainly mean that you’ll be paying extra on your car and renter’s insurance premiums.  Insurance companies know the risks and so should you.  The Insurance Information Institute released a list of the ten most frequently stolen cars in Arizona:

1. Honda Accord
2. Dodge Ram
3. Honda Civic
4. Chevy Full Size Pickup
5. Ford F150
6. Ford F250
7. Nissan Altima
8. Nissan Centra
9. Ford F350
10. Toyota Camry

Arizona is ranked as the #8 city in the U.S. for the highest rate of stolen cars.  Of those cars stolen, only 66.5% were actually recovered.  There are four distinct hotspots in the city of Phoenix you reconsider avoid living or at least parking your car:

• I-17, between Camelback rd. and Indian School rd.
• I-17 & Dunlap
• Indian School & 51^st Ave.
• Indian School & 67^th Ave.

The most frequent area of the valley for Phoenix P.D. to receive a complaint for a Violent Crime is in the neighborhood of I-17 and Indian School.  As for Property Crimes, The P.D. is most often called to 19^th Avenue and Bethany Home.  Check out the City of Phoenix Website to view hot spots for other types of crimes.

Remember that the best way to protect your belongings from being snatched up by criminals is to have a good line of defense.  Lock your doors at all times, even when you’re home during the day.  Lock your car doors and keep all windows sealed, even though it does get pretty toasty in there without a little ventilation during the summer.  It’s better to have a hot car than no car at all!

Your car insurance does not cover the theft or damage of the personal items you happen to have in your car at the time of theft or vandalism, so don’t leave anything you want to keep in there.  Hiding it in your trunk or under a seat may make your car less appealing to criminals, but if they do, you can kiss those items goodbye and have to replace them at your own cost.

For more detailed information about your neighborhood, visit a private site, Neighborhood Scout for really specific neighborhood information about crime rates, school information, and a ton of other information in your current or prospective area.