Which is safer? Neighborhood or stand alone home?

[rufio]

My husband and I are moving to a new town and are looking for a new rental home. We're moving from a large neighborhood with other people just a few feet away. The new place I'm looking at is a stand alone home on a very large (23-acre wooded) lot with no visible neighbors. I can be paranoid when it comes to safety and I'm automatically assuming that it's not as safe to live in a stand alone home. I mean, those are the people who always die in the movies, right? So what's your opinion from a safety point of view?

 

[RandomPrincess]

Look up the crime stats for the area you are moving to.

 

[stevehousse]

Lol your post totally made me think of the first Scream with Drew Barrymore at the beginning! So far from the neighbors! I love that scene! It was so crazy seeing that happen the first time!

 

[rufio]

Look up the crime stats for the area you are moving to.

But that won't take into account neighborhood vs stand-alone, which is my main concern.

 

[luv]

Well, it is certainly secluded. But criminals really like an easy get-away.

Hard to know! Good luck with that decision!

 

[PUSH]

I live in a stand-alone home, and we've never had issues. Of course we are in a low crime rate area, but still. My friend lives in an apartment, and he says a bike or something gets stolen every so often.

I don't think it really matters, to be honest. Maybe I've been spoiled by living in a small, well rounded (for the most part) city.

Good luck with the decision!

 

[Pooh Lover]

After living in a "neighborhood" for 27 years, my DH and I would love to be in a home on 23 acres. We have our share of petty crime in our subdivision (don't leave your garage door open or your car will be ransacked and tools stolen) and we live in a good area. My DH lived in a home on over 40 acres growing up and we all loved it. I think if you can get past your fear, you would probably come to enjoy the peace and solitude and be happy with your decision.

 

[Sans Souci]

Would you like the house if feeling isolated wasn't an issue?

 

[PUSH]

Wow, I must live in a sheltered town! Here if you leave your garage door open, chances are nothing will be stolen. I know people who never lock their doors to both their house and cars. They will leave their windows wide open when nobody is home, and nothing happens. I'd never try this with all the crazies out there, but it's definitely not on my worry list!

 

[rufio]

Would you like the house if feeling isolated wasn't an issue?

Well, we're actually going to look at it Thursday. It's a great deal, plenty of space, close to school, and there's plenty of room for my puppies!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I prefer isolated. If someone who doesn't belong in my home comes in there will only be 2 people who knows what happened and 1 of them won't be able to argue when I tell the story to the police. Seriously, I value my privacy. I'd rather not have to listen to other people coming & going. I don't want other people knowing what I'm up to.

 

[rsoxguy]

You never really stand alone.

 

[NYwdwfan]

You could build a moat like Tom Brady.

There can be crime anywhere and there's really no telling what will motivate a criminal in any situation. If you love the house, you can always get a security system (or a personal security system like rsoxguy!) to help put your mind at ease.

Personally I would worry more about creatures in the woods than criminals.

 

[Minthorne]

The reason we prosper as a species is societies. We are stronger as a community.
In the event of some medical emergency or accident, a close neighbor can be the difference of life and death.

In the woods (as in space) no one can hear you scream. Except the fallen tree (which made no noise?)

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Wow, I must live in a sheltered town! Here if you leave your garage door open, chances are nothing will be stolen. I know people who never lock their doors to both their house and cars. They will leave their windows wide open when nobody is home, and nothing happens. I'd never try this with all the crazies out there, but it's definitely not on my worry list!

I love Mayberry.

I grew up on a 13 acre farm surrounded by hayfields and pastures and loved it. I liked the bonfires, being as loud as we wanted, riding four-wheelers to get our mail and just sitting on the porch in a nightgown and not having to worry about it. The most crime we had was a mailbox pushed over a few times or hunters that had strayed too far onto our property. I married a city boy and moved to the big town. After a year the novelty wore off. I couldn't get used to the cars with a loud bass and I swear The Ropers from Three's Company were our neighbors. (Looking through curtain, "Helen, come here and look at this.") I can't tell you how many times I locked myself out. I never had to constantly lock the door. Someday I'll get back there.

My grandfather always said "A man should be able to take a leak of the porch" lol. As for wild animals, they are more scared of you unless you give them reason not to be or do something to attract them. As for security, if you are that worried a loud dog and Smith and Wesson are your best friends. If you're just renting why don't you give it a trial run with a short lease?

 

[Sans Souci]

Well, we're actually going to look at it Thursday. It's a great deal, plenty of space, close to school, and there's plenty of room for my puppies!

So, what did you think of the house?

 

[DisneyJoe]

But that won't take into account neighborhood vs stand-alone, which is my main concern.

Crime stats cane be extremely detailed, even down to neighborhoods, so yes, it can take that into account.

 

[rufio]

So, what did you think of the house?

Well... It's not "the one," unfortunately. It's back about a mile off the road in the middle of the trees. It's a converted barn and you have to take three flights of stares to enter. The landlord lives in a house about five feet away and he's a beekeeper, so there are bees everywhere. There are also chickens all over the place. So... it's not for me. But it was beautiful on the inside!

 

[acishere]

You are probably safer in the middle of nowhere realistically. But, I don't think I could live in the middle of nowhere. I like having everything I could need within 5 minutes of where I live. In exchange I'll live with having to close my garage and hearing cars drive by.

When the summer tourism is in full swing though I'll probably change my mind.

Well... It's not "the one," unfortunately. It's back about a mile off the road in the middle of the trees. It's a converted barn and you have to take three flights of stares to enter. The landlord lives in a house about five feet away and he's a beekeeper, so there are bees everywhere. There are also chickens all over the place. So... it's not for me. But it was beautiful on the inside!

Yeah, I'd never go outside if I lived next to a beekeeper.

 

[Tater48]

I prefer isolated. If someone who doesn't belong in my home comes in there will only be 2 people who knows what happened and 1 of them won't be able to argue when I tell the story to the police. Seriously, I value my privacy. I'd rather not have to listen to other people coming & going. I don't want other people knowing what I'm up to.

I sense that LEO philosophy coming out.