On average, sure. In specific places, no. These days, if you can't afford more than a crappy apartment, you're going to be living in a place with drug dealers

On average, sure. In specific places, no. These days, if you can't afford more than a crappy apartment, you're going to be living in a place with drug dealers and occasional murders. And with the high rents, having a single income (and worse, having to support a family on that) means that the crappy apartments now cost what, 30+ years ago, a decent but modest home in a decent neighborhood cost. So maybe living in downtown areas isn't nearly as dangerous as it was back in the 70s-80s (when NYC's Times Square was full of prostitutes and muggings were common), but affording a place that doesn't have you surrounded by drug dealers and ex-cons is more out-of-reach and costly (and those once-seedy downtown areas are now completely unaffordable if you don't make $150k+).