West Town Named "Most Dangerous Neighborhood" By Finance Website

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 4, 2010 8:30PM

WalletPop, a consumer finance website I never heard of until today, got my attention with a list of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods with the highest predicted rates of violent crime in America. Topping the list: the West Town area bordered by Lake Street, Damen, Western Avenue and Kinzie.

The list, compiled for WalletPop by the analysts at relocation resource websiste Neighborhoodscout.com, collated FBI data from local law enforcement agencies to produce the list. Living in Chicago, we know that there are much more dangerous neighborhoods than this stretch. But with WalletPop's focus on finance and Neighborhoodscout.com's specializing in relocation, it's easy to see why they would pick a neighborhood with a anxious blend of mixed income housing and people moving into new townhomes to be close to downtown, the burgeoning nightlife along Randolph Street and near the United Center that stick out like a sore thumb.

Another area of the city that made the list is a small stretch of Bronzeville running along the 4000 block of South Federal. Again, budding real estate market, new influx of residents living alongside existing, poorer residents.