Understanding Crime Data

[Michael Dobruskin]

Hey BiggerPockets forum!

I am an aspiring investor in the Philadelphia market. I am currently doing market research, particularly looking at crime data for different zipcodes. I am a bit stumped by how contradicting some of the data sources are. 

For instance, when I looked at Kensington/Fishtown, one website, crimegrade.org, assigns it a crime grade of F, while another, niche.com, gives it an A grade. Both claim to rely on publicly available crime data, which has left me scratching my head.

I can see how Kensington can be conflicting, seeing how parts of it are a literal warzone of the opioid crisis, while others are getting gentrified. Other neighborhoods however are even more puzzling. East Falls, which is an area I live close to, seems like a lovely suburban neighborhood, but crimegrade.org gave it an F grading for crime and safety.

Does anyone have any advice on how to reconcile data from conflicting sources, or maybe a preferable resource you use to determine safety/crime in a neighborhood you're researching? Any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,

Michael

[Carlos Ptriawan]

Quote from @Michael Dobruskin:

Hey BiggerPockets forum!

I am an aspiring investor in the Philadelphia market. I am currently doing market research, particularly looking at crime data for different zipcodes. I am a bit stumped by how contradicting some of the data sources are. 

For instance, when I looked at Kensington/Fishtown, one website, crimegrade.org, assigns it a crime grade of F, while another, niche.com, gives it an A grade. Both claim to rely on publicly available crime data, which has left me scratching my head.

I can see how Kensington can be conflicting, seeing how parts of it are a literal warzone of the opioid crisis, while others are getting gentrified. Other neighborhoods however are even more puzzling. East Falls, which is an area I live close to, seems like a lovely suburban neighborhood, but crimegrade.org gave it an F grading for crime and safety.

Does anyone have any advice on how to reconcile data from conflicting sources, or maybe a preferable resource you use to determine safety/crime in a neighborhood you're researching? Any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,

Michael

 There's one way easier to do this. 

You analyze "starbuck" location ; and indeed you focus to buy within 1-2 mile from starbuck location. It's more easier than just crime stats which is convulated.

Why ? Starbuck is investing using the same principle and usually indicating at very least a gentrifying location too.
You may also look at Redfin market insight, which I think is even more accurate, the more competitive area, the better it is and you don't need to check crime stats and all of that.