Keep in mind that fatal car accidents still far outweigh homicides and that sexual assault - whether you are in suburbs or the cities - are far more likely to be perpetrated by acquaintances than strangers lurking in alleys.
Fair enough. The point I was really going for was that affordable housing in high-density cores typically mean that you're in a "gentrifying" if not outright hostile neighborhood. When I had a child I quickly decided I wanted to let him play outside - and I can't teach a toddler the difference between a junkie and a postman.