Is Savannah a safe place to live

I was thinking of moving there but have heard very scary stories and as an older single woman I am having second thoughts. I would have to rent and would like some thoughts on the safest areas to look.

buy a revolver...there easier to operate and they dont jam up.
point and pull trigger..

http://www.topix.com/album/detail/savannah-ga...
some very proud savannians...

Are you being funny or are you telling me it's unsafe and I shouldn't move there? Crime is everywhere but is it more dangerous to live in Savannah than most places. I really need a job but I don't need to live in fear all the time so be honest - what would you tell your Mom to do - tread water a little longer and keep looking for employment elsewhere or go ahead and move to Savannah but use common sense when considering safety?

I'm a born and raised New Yorker-Brooklynite to be exact, and after leaving NYC for NJ and upstate NY in an attempt to find a gentler-kinder place, I found it when I moved to Savannah early in 2002. Savannah has its problems, but overall its a great place to live, and I have no plans to leave. For safety's sake, I'd suggest moving to areas like the Ardsley Park or Georgetown sections of town if you want to stay in town, or another option is choosing "The Islands" (Wilmington Island, Skidaway Island, etc), or the neighboring cities of Pooler or Richmond Hill-which are far enough away from the action to be safer than in town, but are all close enough to make a nice 20 minute commute to Savannah comfortable.

I live in midtown, slap in the center of Savannah in a very nice neighborhood near Ardsley Park and I enjoy it very much. I am raising my family here and they are enjoying it as well. One thing I find is that a good number of the violent crimes in Savannah are committed against people also involved in criminal activity or their families, such as in drug dealing. If you are not involved in or around such activities, seldom are you even close to being involved.

Overall, I'd say there's something-and somewhere for everyone in Savannah and its metro.

Thanks for the info. It seems you're happy and if you feel safe enough to have your family there then that's a good enough endorsement for me!

A little Concerned wrote:

Thanks for the info. It seems you're happy and if you feel safe enough to have your family there then that's a good enough endorsement for me!

I agree with the previouse poster. I live in Midway, Ga. which is about a 40 minute drive for me to Savannah. I work in Savannah. I love it here. It has all the convience's of a city but the comfort of a small town. I moved here from Jacksonville about 7 years ago, at first I complained about it being so slow, the people drive slow like every day is a sunday drive, they talk slow, the even party slow...lol- It annoyed me at first, but I conformed, and now I am truley an "Ogeechee girl".

I recently tried to transfer back to Jax with my job. I thought I could make more money there and maybe I needed a change. After just 3 months of working there and living with my girl friend, I decided the grass was greener on the side that I left. I ran back "home'. The people here are nicer, the food taste better....every one seems to have that laid back, on the river, going crabbin, takin it easy "low country" way about them.

It's easy to get use too, and my 3 months in Jax- I was ready to come back to my "slow" people and my "slow" lifestyle, and now I truly appreciate the city and all the people in it.

I would suggest moving outside of Savannah and communting. Only because certain areas are infested with gang bangers.

If you like to go out and have a drink and party with friends- you can't beat River St.

Good luck with if you come here.....I think most people really do fall in love with Savannah.

Be careful. You'll be moving to the deep south... things are a lot different than anywhere up north, and by north I mean AK or TN... down here there is a lot of racial tension. Also a lot of class tension; lots of rich, twice as many poor.

I'd go with a gun. Especially because you're a single woman. Savannah is a beautiful town, and we like living here. I've grown up here and I don't have any plans on leaving, but part of its just in my blood.

There are lots of great things about living here - the local shops and bars, coffee shops and the beach... the river.. the culture in general...

But be cautious.

PS - this website lies about your location!
i have never heard of Riceboro, Georgia.
i live in Savannah. to be clear.

Savannah,...has not been a safe place to live for several decades now.

I have lived in Savannah,
I have been robbed in Savannah,
I loved living in Savannah,
I want to move back.

When you live in Savannah you know someone who has been robber, or you have been robbed yourself...plIn and simple. It is an amazing place to live. Just use common sense. I lived on Whitmarsh Island, right next to Forsyth and in the Historic district. They all have great qualities. If you want to feel really safe and dont mind a drive, live further out in a gated community. If you want to live close to things, live downtown. Use common sense nad you will be fine. I did not use common sense and I got robbed by 2 black kids, one with a pistol, another with a rifle...they got $7 out of me, I hope it was worth their time...

Thanks all! Your comments and suggestions have been very helpful! I'm leaving a small rural community in the North Ga mountains and will miss my small town but I'm sure I'll find something similar, maybe not right in Savannah, but maybe the surrounding areas as some of you have suggested. I'm already seeing some of the neighboring friendliness and help from ya'll!

who wrote:

I have lived in Savannah,
I have been robbed in Savannah,
I loved living in Savannah,
I want to move back.
When you live in Savannah you know someone who has been robber, or you have been robbed yourself...plIn and simple. It is an amazing place to live. Just use common sense. I lived on Whitmarsh Island, right next to Forsyth and in the Historic district. They all have great qualities. If you want to feel really safe and dont mind a drive, live further out in a gated community. If you want to live close to things, live downtown. Use common sense nad you will be fine. I did not use common sense and I got robbed by 2 black kids, one with a pistol, another with a rifle...they got $7 out of me, I hope it was worth their time...

Whitmarsh Island, is NOT right next to Forsyth Park nor the Historic Dsitrict...so, caught you there...
I do not live in Savannah all the time anymore...it has gotten too dangerous...but I was born there,( Telfair)...raised there....my family has been there since 1733...and owned 2 of the largest plantations in the area ....and I have a house at Tybee I go to every summer for several weeks, and when I am there, I never leave the Island except when I am on my way back to I-95...I know Savannah, I have it in my veins.

crime wrote:

<quoted text>
Whitmarsh Island, is NOT right next to Forsyth Park nor the Historic Dsitrict...so, caught you there...
I do not live in Savannah all the time anymore...it has gotten too dangerous...but I was born there,( Telfair)...raised there....my family has been there since 1733...and owned 2 of the largest plantations in the area ....and I have a house at Tybee I go to every summer for several weeks, and when I am there, I never leave the Island except when I am on my way back to I-95...I know Savannah, I have it in my veins.

I was saying that I have lived in THREE locations in the Savannah Area...Whitmarsh Island...Next to Forsyth (Gastons st)...and in the Historic district (Liberty St)...thats why the commas are seperating them.

I own in the DeRenne Place/Plaza, and I can not wait to move back! Tybee is great, its not a blue water beach, but you can have your beer and enjoy the sun. I like to head to North Beach Grill to chill out!

Savannah's a great place to live

How's the cost of living? Tybee sounds wonderful, but I bet I'd never be able to afford a place to live. I can't buy anything, so it'd have to be rental property and from what I've seen so far, most studio apartments start at $600 or $700. A one or two bedroom would take my whole months salary! Guess I'll have to commute quite a ways unless someone has suggestions for safe and affordable areas closer by. My first consideration is safety! I am excited about the possible move but from what some people are telling me, I am also a little anxious.

Savannah is no different from any other city. There are parts that you don't need to be at 1am without a firearm. Educate yourself on what areas to stay away from. Cost of living is a little high but the real-estate market is slow. My neighbor just let his house go for $199,000 that he listed for $260,000 to begin with. The school system is awful.

A little Concerned wrote:

How's the cost of living? Tybee sounds wonderful, but I bet I'd never be able to afford a place to live. I can't buy anything, so it'd have to be rental property and from what I've seen so far, most studio apartments start at $600 or $700. A one or two bedroom would take my whole months salary! Guess I'll have to commute quite a ways unless someone has suggestions for safe and affordable areas closer by. My first consideration is safety! I am excited about the possible move but from what some people are telling me, I am also a little anxious.

2BR Whitemarsh Apt was $977 a month. You can find duplexes on the islands for a litle cheaper. Tybee.......is really high.

A little Concerned wrote:

How's the cost of living? Tybee sounds wonderful, but I bet I'd never be able to afford a place to live. I can't buy anything, so it'd have to be rental property and from what I've seen so far, most studio apartments start at $600 or $700. A one or two bedroom would take my whole months salary! Guess I'll have to commute quite a ways unless someone has suggestions for safe and affordable areas closer by. My first consideration is safety! I am excited about the possible move but from what some people are telling me, I am also a little anxious.

I was born and raised in Savannah and I miss it. It is a great place to live.

The Shooter wrote:

<quoted text>
2BR Whitemarsh Apt was $977 a month. You can find duplexes on the islands for a litle cheaper. Tybee.......is really high.

yea that seems like what mine was when I first moved there...The Hammocks at Whitmarsh. Although I think it has changed names or parent companies... Probably has not changed much. its a good place safe place to live if you dont mind the drive into downtown and back... Also if you have a dog taking them in the marsh is fun, dogs love it.