Coralville more dangerous than I realize? (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: middle-class, crime, neighborhood)

[pitt82marino]

My wife and I moved to Iowa at the end of July. After tons of research and looking at different towns (namely Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids), we chose Coralville and have been relatively pleased with our choice. There was a well-publicized murder last night and few details have been released. Three were shot, one died, and police say everyone knew each other.

On social media, a lot of people are saying that area (Boston Way) is known for being shady and bad for drugs. To my surprise, tons of people are commenting and saying how Coralville is really bad now, not like it used to be, is a "little Chicago", etc.

While the murder is obviously concerning, it's basically the first thing like that that's been on the news during the relatively brief time we've been up here--it's certainly not been a weekly occurrence or anything. Some of the comments I was seeing on social media almost seemed like veiled racial comments--that some people aren't happy that the area is more diverse than it probably once was. But I haven't really seen much in terms of crime either in person, on the news, or in older news articles. Am I missing something? Am I naive and Coralville is now a dangerous city and I just don't realize it? Can someone please fill me in and if you think it's super dangerous, please cite some references and stats rather than just giving an opinion.

We moved from a town of about 150,000 in Missouri that used to be super safe, but it's gotten to the point where you hear of several murders each week, there. I certainly haven't seen anything like that or read of crime being that consistently bad up here in Coralville or in the Iowa City metro area. But I realize I'm new here and am curious about what the long-time residents have to say.

[Drewjdeg]

Never pay attention to Facebook comments on crime stories, those people are crazy.

[princesspiggies]

I've lived in the area about five years. Overall, it's very safe, but there are areas many prefer to avoid. In Coralville, it's the area around the mall. In Iowa City, it's east side/south of Route 6. It has gotten worse since I've lived here, but it's still light years better than most places.

[Mighty Joe Young]

I’ve never associated anywhere in Iowa as having serious, dangerous crime..

Ever...

[rayman29]

“They all knew each other.” That should be all you need to know. Not that it isn’t sad, but it was not an indication of a general problem, just an isolated incident.

[Gunluvver2]

i wonder if this was a facebook argument or drugs or both?

[smpliving]

I've noticed an increase in shootings in both the Iowa City area and Cedar Rapids. This latest shooting is hitting too close to home, right across from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. This is a nice middle-class neighborhood too.


https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/hous...everal-bullets

[rerod]

Iowa City used to be a Mayberry.. Not anymore.

Go drive around south of highway 6 for a hour if you dare. I was driving down pepper drive and two young individuals were walking down the middle of the street. When I came up behind them, they turned around and stood their ground staring me down. I turned around. Other things have happened on the south side, and I'm done.. I bought a acre I'm breaking ground on and I'm out.


Parts of coralville are just as bad, beware..

[Chicago60614]

That area by Boston way is shady for Iowa City. Iowa City and Coralville are very safe overall, as a random citizen you hardly have anything to worry about.

[Plainswalker]

Lived many years in the Coralville and Iowa City area. Boston Way sure has gone downhill, but it was never great. The landlord was cruddy and misused our deposit when we lived there then, I can't imagine what they do now.

Anywho, Johnson County overall is super safe. Can't even compare it to Chicago. Cedar Rapids has far more frequent neighborhood gunshots from what I hear, but I hate CR and don't live there anymore and can't confirm that!