It's not the nicest part of the city.

However, Worcester is, by and large, a safe city, not a clean city, but a safe city.

So in comparison to the other cities that I’ve lived in, would you consider it similar?

Hard for me go determine, since I've never lived in/ even been to Malden or Salem (outside of driving through the Malden), so I cannot really gauge.

I'll put it this way, Vernon Hills is far from the nicest place in the City of Worcester, however, at the same time, it's certainly not the worst either. If you've lived in not particularly wealthy areas of New England (with triple deckers and the like), you will probably be in your element.

My disclaimer is that I've only lived in North Worcester, and I don't have any friends and family from Vernon Hill. The closest thing to that is that my great-grandparents lived there and my grandfather grew up there, but he was born in 1927, and she died in the 80s, and the neighborhood has changed since then.

I think you'll be fine, so long as you take the normal living-in-the-city precautions.

There are several cities in Mass that have more crime than Worcester, but the ones that you mentioned aren’t among them. Here’s a link to a page that ranks Massachusetts cities by level of crime. http://www.usa.com/rank/massachusetts-state--crime-index--city-rank.htm

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Well Jesus thanks I guess

Once I was driving in Vernon Hill to pick up my friend and it was raining. On the street to get to hers there was a shirtless man having a yelling argument with someone in a 3 decker as they threw (presumably) his things out of a window. I sat there for a minute waiting for him to move and then politely yelled at him to please move. He gave me a wave and moved to the sidewalk while continuing his argument.

Other than that no issues and I’ve had a few friends live in the area.

Vernon Hill is not great. It’s not Main South or the area off Belmont St, or the Projects. But that being said it’s not ideal for your circumstances. I love Worcester and there are lots of good areas, so don’t give up on the city!

Vernon Hill resident of 4 years or so here, also a woman. You'll be fine. The worst to be said of Vernon Hill is it can be noisy sometimes because of the population density, but I've never felt unsafe and I walk around a fair amount. Also, there are lots of non-white people, which some people find scary.

Yeah I’m not a racist, white people scare me if anything.

No. It isn't safe and hasn't been since the late 1980's.

id try to get out of the lease if you still have the chance

It’s here or homeless so lmao

I live a quarter mile from Seymour St. Been here like 7 years. You’ll be fine!

Don’t listen to this person. I live in a “rough” area of the worcester hills. There have been occasions where there were gunshots outside of my apartment and I still feel perfectly safe. Neighbor across the street and to the side is into some shady business and their house was shot at a couple of times, but nobody was hurt or anything. I still feel perfectly safe coming and going at all times of the day. Just don’t get involved in any drama, keep your wits about and be wary of anyone you don’t know who approaches you and you’ll be fine. Despite living in a rough part, my neighbors in my building and some adjacent houses are amazing people whom I’d even call friends.

Source: lived in Salem, Dorchester, Somerville, East Boston, Brookline, etc. & have spent plenty of time in Malden. I’ve lived in “The Hood” and in upper class areas. There are creeps and bad people even in the good neighborhoods. Just be safe and smart. People in Worcester can be pearl clutchers. Safety isn’t guaranteed anywhere.

Your comment is being removed for uncivil behavior. Our community maintains a respect level of civility in discussion regardless of the views being presented, and posts such as yours that engage in this type of discussion are not welcome here.

Please refresh yourself on our rules before continuing to participate, and show other posters the respect that all other people are owed.

If you cannot provide that, you are not welcome here.

Worcester is a lot bigger than Salem or Malden with a lot more people, and a bit less wealthy. If you’re comfortable in lower income areas then you’ll probably be comfortable in Worcester. I lived near Vernon hill for a year in 2019 as a young woman (18). I also mostly walked and took the bus until I got a car. Nothing bad happened, just the quirky stuff you’ll see in low income areas. People generally have much better things to do than bother you. Ignore the alarmists in the comments. Most people believe it’s violent because it’s low income and has more people of color. It’s not the projects, it’s not main south, and it’s not any street known for violence (even those areas have a worse rap than they deserve).

Yes it is.
Live and let live.

Don’t waste your time reading this persons posts. He’s a Worcester hater and needs to get a life.

Odd subreddit to be on if you hate Worcester lmao

Seymour Street and the surrounding area is a typical working class hood in Worcester. You'll be more annoyed by the driving and parking than the people imo. I have lived in several parts of Worcester including Vernon Hill and it's all kind of the same.

Not the worst neighborhood, working class and most people seem to keep their head down. There was a random uptick of guns being fired in the summertime near the Worcester Academy fields, which was unnerving; one of the people even ran across my front yard to get away from the area. My biggest complaint is that people drive like fucking morons and will fly through the cut streets like Upsala, people park all over the place and leave their cars in the middle of the road sometimes, and the kids can be stupid walking home from school (but this probably happens anywhere) as I was shot by some of those gel gun things when getting out of my car back in the summer time. I walk around just fine.

The worst part of Vernon Hill seems to be on Vernon St close to 295, but I don't know this, its just a feeling.

I'd say it's similar to grafton Hill, the biggest issue in the area is someone goes into your unlocked vehicle and steals whatever is of value. Area is safe unless you look for trouble, be it involving drugs or dumb gang shit. Resident for 30 yrs

As long as you keep to yourself and just be aware of your surroundings at night you’ll be fine. If it’ll make you feel a bit safer you could carry a pocket pepper spray on your keychain (I have one and never had to use it). Give it a month and you’ll get used to the area and get a feel of how the neighborhood is.

There are many posts in this sub on where to find certain foods, nightlife, etc. that I think you’d find useful. Good luck and welcome to Worcester!

nope - Worcester is night and day from salem or malden

Um you have a lot of identifying information about yourself. Any creep could come on here and literally figure out exactly where you are living. Your street, when you’re moving in, your work schedule, and identifying which floor which 1st floor is easiest targets for breaking in. Please be safe and consider changing your post or deleting it. Worcester is sketch and a lot of people in Worcester are weird af and you never know.

Vernon Hill is a good working-class neighborhood. It can be loud at times, loud cars, dirt bikes, subwoofers, etc. That's as bad as it gets. Anyone saying that Vernon Hill is a bad neighborhood has either never lived in a bad neighborhood or is firmly stuck in the 90's.

My family is currently living in Vernon Hill with a baby (<1yr old). It's definitely working class and as previously said it can get a little loud due to the density of people. Also, parking can be a pain, especially during a parking ban if you don't have a driveway. We've never felt unsafe or had any reason for concern. We're also a younger family so we don't go out at night and pretty much keep to ourselves. We're also new to MA in general so we really only have our hometown (FL) to compare to. The comments keep saying that Worcester is a big city but my family's first impression was the opposite when we first got here.

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Seymour Street is a dump -- it's between Vernon Hill and Millbury Street. Lots of crackheads around there, and it's up the street from the city's wildest bar scene in the summer time. Get used to the sound of dirtbikes.

You know what's up. It's actually one of the worst areas in the Worcester, especially in the summer time.

I've lived in Malden too. I consider Malden a postage stamp sized version of Worcester, very similar cities, IMHO

I can't speak to living on Vernon Hill, but I enjoy living in Worcester.

As someone who only sleeps during the day, fuck my future sleep.

God, I miss East Boston. Reminded a lot of Worcester but more condensed and Mexican. Truly one of my most favorite places.

Overall for its size and population, Worcester is one of the safest cities. But also overall Vernon Hill is one of the unsafest neighborhoods in the city. Gang shootings etc..don't do drugs, don't sell drugs, and you'll be ok. Lock your car at all times! Edit: Grew up in Vernon Hill, that part of the city has gone downhill in the last 15 years, badly.

The worst part of living there was Kelley Sq but the new rotary is better much better now. lol

When I was a kid, we were allowed to be at the playground in the park unsupervised. By the mid 90's, we couldn't take the youngest cousins to play on the swings without finding needles in the sand. I don't remember how old I was when I heard about the first shooting in the park. There have been several since.

I would stay away from that area if I could. Even though I grew up around there, I won't go back.

And at that, don't leave anything anything in your car, especially anything visible

Honestly, good advice for any location.

Depends on where exactly. In Worcester, you can turn a corner to a new block and be in another world. For a while there, every (rare) time there was a shooting in Worcester, it happened on or around Providence St. So there's that. But there are nice parts too.

I’d rather live anywhere in Salem or Malden than a first floor apartment on Vernon hill. Sorry, just being honest. Make sure you watch some home security tips. A common one I know of is replace the screws on the door locks and plates with longer ones. Maybe put up a motion alarm or security camera too. Definitely lock your car.

It’s gotten a lot better. 20 years ago I’d steer clear but Worcester as a whole, is becoming much safer. There further away from Kelly square the better I’d say.

I've lived on Vernon Hill for a year. We've had a number of shootings. None of them were random in the sense that it was not a random person being targeted. Which to me was reassuring. Seymor is a few streets away from mine.

I've never had a problem walking to or from the minimart at night or during the day.

Just be smart. And do normal things that you would normally do/not do when you live in a city. Lock your car doors. Maybe get a camera if you want the assurance. Don't walk around with large amounts of cash. Be friendly to your neighbors. Idk. Normal human shit.

Get out of the Worcester sub you townie loser

Malden is a good analogue of Vernon Hill, just flatter

I lived in the Vernon hill area back in the late 90s and even then it was not dangerous. Worcester is a very safe city. There is a bad drug problom but what city does not have that. Violence is very low compared to most cities. Your fine.

It’s safe for a big city. Although your kinda inviting yourself for danger by posting your exact street name and floor you’re on.

We didn’t need to know the street name Or the floor Or that you’re a woman.

If you’re gonna live in the city you’re gonna need some common sense and self awareness. Don’t be like those people unaware of surroundings that walk all alone at 2am with their phone out face buried in it and headphones drowning out all sound around you while you walk down past a few bars on a dark street. Then get robbed and kidnaped and get mad at the city for having bad people in it.

No personal offense. I work at a college and hear stories like this a lot. It’s sad lots of young people lack self awareness and basic safety measures

It's hard to answer broad "is X area safe" in Worcester cause it often varies street to street, but overall I'd say Vernon Hill is mostly pretty okay. It's loud, parking sucks if you don't have a driveway spot, and boy does it get windy...but I don't think I'd say it's 'unsafe.'

I lived in Dorchester,ma for 35 yrs Vernon hill is not a bad area just becareful on Main st. Chandler and Pleasant can get alittle crazy but other than that the rest of Worcester is good.I like Groove st and Park ave.Highland st. Area.If you do move there Watchout for Kelly sq dope addicts and go eat breakfast at the Broadway they have good food havent been there since i lived on Columbia st near vernon hill.

I lived in Salem and hated it. I lived in Arlington and loved it. I lived in Vernon Hill and loved it. Most active I would give is for anywhere, not just Vernon Hill. Luck your doors, stay aware of your surroundings, make friends.

Grew up on upsala. It's decent

I hated living there for 6 years on ames street. Loud people and drugs. Not as bad as main south. Don't go to the shady bars around there. Try to find another area.

🤷 most neighborhoods seem alright if you steer clear of shady people

I grew up on Lund in the 80s/90s and it was REAL rough. There was a three decker across the street that had no windows, doors or electricity but tons of people lived there.

Grew up on View Street. Growing up it was a bad neighborhood but it has definitely improved over the years. There are still a few parts that get rough, but that’s in every city anywhere. There’s a house on View that gets shot up at least once a year, but that’s gang related activity and not a random event.

Best advice I can give is always continue to stay vigilant, as you should anywhere you go.

I mean, if someone wants to get at your stuff, they’re gonna get at your stuff. I got my window smashed in despite my very long driveway in a nicer suburb just outside of Worcester. They rifled through every nook and cranny. Stole my ADHD meds (nearly a months worth), gum, change, a sweatshirt, a bag of candy, and my favorite pen. Left my purse and it’s contents though. It’s been about five years, and I’m still salty about it.

I actually have never had my car broken into in Worcester, but I did here in Germany during the second month being here.

Back home, I literally left nothing more than the CDs and paperwork in the car. Nothing would ever be visible from the window.

There's no hope in catching someone when they break into the car and there's no good footage to identify them.

They stole my GPS, and then stole my golf shoes. I was more angry about the golf shoes, because that felt personal.

I was wondering if Esther street near Vernon hill is safe

No

Worcester sucks. Why would anyone want to live there

The most dangerous thing about you moving to Worcester is this post.

I wouldn't ever consider living there especially as a single woman