Arlington Crime (Seattle, Smokey Point: crime rate, unemployment, income)

[jlabsher]

Hi all, been looking at moving to the Arlington area, but all the stats I can find show it has pretty high crime rates, especially property crime/theft. The numbers are triple the national average and double the Washington average.

Anybody have any insight into these stats? Is it meth heads, unemployment, limited to only part of town? Doesn't look very inviting to somebody wanting to retire there.

[CarlB328]

Like a lot of small towns in Washington there are plenty of people without many constructive things to do, or who don't have enough money because there's not many employers, so you get property crime.

[CrazyDonkey]

According to https://www.city-data.com/city/Arlington-Washington.html the overall crime rate for 2007-2009 (the most recent data they show) was lower than the national average.

[jlabsher]

I am getting my data from other sources, however I cannot tell how current it is:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
Arlington, WA Community Info - crime statistics, demographics, and census data - Trulia.com

The Arlington PD has a report too:
City of Arlington, WA : Crime Trend Comparisons

[CrazyDonkey]

Well, unless you can zero in on the kinds of crime being committed and where, it is pretty useless. In general, the poor and lower-income workers are being pushed north and south of Seattle. Poverty and crime is increasingly becoming a rural issue, rather than just an urban one.

The first link you posted shows that violent crime in Arlington is well below both the state and national average. You really need to distinguish between violent and property crime. You also need to distinguish between petty and more serious property crime.

If you want to be completely safe, move to Laurelhurst - good luck affording it, however.

[xboxmas]

The Smokey Point area is part of Arlington and that area has some crime. That may contribute to the high crime rate in Arlington.

We have had our cars broken into(windows smashed and things taken). I have also seen tweakers and druggies around along with other sketchy people. I always see homeless people holding up signs every time I go there. I know not all homeless people are bad, but know people who have specifically asked what the person will be spending money on and they said drugs would be one.