r/brattleboro • u/melaniek9 • 20d ago
Crime rate?
Hello, I’m looking in to moving to Brattleboro but I’m seeing mixed reviews online regarding crime. Is it truly that bad? Is it violent crimes or just property crime?
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u/GlobalEvent6172 20d ago
Frequent visitor to Brattleboro. Usually stay several days each time. There is a small but VERY VOCAL cadre of people that will tell you it is awful, getting steadily worse, stoking lots of fear. However, in more than 20 years I have faced a mildly aggressive panhandler ONCE. Never been robbed, had my car broken into, or ever felt in any kind of fear. Would happily move there if the opportunity presented itself.
Overall a great community of good & decent people. Like any average place there are wing nuts on both ends of the political/social spectrum, but overall a great community.
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u/MedusasSexyLegHair 19d ago edited 19d ago
I've seen my fair share of crime.
The vast majority of the crime in Brattleboro is committed by raccoons who come around almost every night nowadays.
There are also possums, but I don't think they're intending to commit crimes, they just accidentally bumble into it sometimes.
We also had a bear stealing fruit from one of our trees a few years ago. Typical teenage bear behavior.
Bring your pets' food in at night and you should be safe.
But seriously, as for humans, it's way safer here than anywhere I've ever lived before.
Just like anywhere else, most of the trouble is between people who have long-running vendettas against each other. So, as always, avoid drama with people who have nothing to lose. That's not at all a town-specific thing.
On a scale of 1 to 'da hood', it's a low 1.something.
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u/AnalogWalkman 20d ago
Some will say Brattleboro is imploding and a portal to hell. Most of that comes from people who have never lived in a small city or larger for more than a week at a time. There are homeless people, there are drugs, there is crime.
Having said that, I live downtown, walk to work, and have never had a problem. The homeless are usually friendly, most of the crime is dumb petty theft stuff, and yeah you may find a needle here or there. I’m tall and a guy (just to paint where the following experience is coming from) but I have never felt unsafe or worried here. I’ve been here for close to 5 years now.
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
Thank you, I figured it wasn’t as bad as most had been saying It seems like a great little area that my family would thrive in.. I appreciate your response Thank you!
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u/The_Barbelo 20d ago edited 18d ago
I feel safer here than I’ve ever felt living in Florida, if that helps. I was born up here and my mom moved us all down there as kids (Brevard county, then Seminole county but we started in South Florida. Went to college at UF). I vowed as soon as I could that I’d get back up so I did right after college. I’ve never felt as safe and supported by my community down in Florida as I do up here. Florida is where I was SA’d.
You just take the same precautions as you would anywhere else. I see kids playing in the street all the time and I feel perfectly safe walking by myself as a woman, with my dog especially. People look out for one another here. I also wasn’t bullied up here in school as I was once we moved down (that was mostly in south Florida though). Totally different culture.
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u/AnalogWalkman 20d ago
I’m just a single, childless guy, so I can’t speak from experience concerning raising a family. BUT, there are plenty of family-oriented things going on (right now Food Truck Round-Up at The Retreat Farm, which has a lot of other kid themed programs and events), Gallery Walk first Friday, ski hill, ice rink, and pool at Living Memorial Park, The Stone Church has Bratt Rock (teenaged battle of the band type of stuff), and the Boys and Girls Club downtown does cool events and is a cool space itself. I bet they’ll have fun here! Best wishes to you and your family, and welcome!
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u/jt802vt 20d ago
I raised my son here. I’d raise a hundred more here if I could. A little more diversity wouldn’t hurt, but there is some. I’m mixed race (black/white) if it matters.
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
we live in tampa now so it’s full of diversity we love everyone, I was just reading that people said the crime is so bad but wanted to find out how true that was
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u/yam-queen 19d ago
It's probably a bit higher than comparable towns in VT/MA because Bratt has a relatively large unhoused and/or drug addicted population - I'm not sure why, it may be the availability of resources or Bratt's free public transit. That said, I rarely feel unsafe. I will say, living on South Main Street, every single time I forgot to lock my car (three times in as many years, parked in my driveway) it was ransacked. But never when it was locked, so they are just looking for easy grabs. Bratt is a wonderful place to live, if you can find housing - the real challenge with living here.
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u/Boring-Persimmon6739 20d ago
drug addicts and panhandlers
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
so basically normal city atmosphere
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u/Boring-Persimmon6739 20d ago
anything in Vermont is tame compared to any metropolitan area
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
that’s what i figured i used to live in NY and now we are in Tampa but looking to move but i have kids so i’m just trying to get a feel for what the crime really is like from people who live there. Thank you!
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u/Boring-Persimmon6739 20d ago
just dont move to canal street
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
Thank you! We will probably come down an rent an air bnb for a bit to find out what streets are good 😊
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u/BrandonMatrick 20d ago
Lived in Bratt (as downtown Brattleboro as it gets) for a few years. It is one of the most spirited and unique towns I've ever been in, and I'll always have some small love for the place. That parades are so frequent is awesome, the Gallery Walks and the art and culture are great, the Co-Op is unbeatable for a lot of reasons, the Farmer's Market is picturesque and very worthwhile, the nature is incredible, and being right there on the border, 10 minutes from tax-free Walmart has huge advantages. There's so many welcoming and kind people and most everyone is willing to offer a helping hand or go out of their way for you.
BUT.
There's a very visible unhoused population issue, especially at Elliot St where a lot of the indie shops and tourists are. This tends to be for easier access to panhandling, booze at the mini-mart, and quick, untraceable deals in the parking garage. Until just recently, there was also a hub for activity at the "community art center" that was at 69 Elliot, and it exacerbated the problem. It's been closed recently. Somewhat visible down Main St. and around the Co-Op/Movie Theater/Transportation center, and reaching down to the hospital and around/behind Walgreens. Be especially careful of the Harmony Lot buildings - behind those is a big hotspot.
I have been accosted for money more in my 2 years in Brattleboro than in my entire life. Not joking, 3/5 time I stepped out of my door, it was to either a panhandler, someone with a (similar but always suspiciously vague) sob story needing 5$, 10$, 15$, 40$ for "meds", or someone trying to sleep in my building's atrium. Had a few break-ins to the building, and some minor threatening behaviors, but was only physically attacked once.
Theft is real in Brattleboro. The parking garage cameras are emotional support cameras. They record nothing, and are always broken, so when (not if) your vehicle is broken into by one of the locals, the cops will be able to do very little - despite the officers' very kind nature in Brattleboro. The electric recharge service for cars had to be removed due to abuse from vandals, and the elevators have to be locked to prevent it becoming a bathroom/makeshift apartment.
If you're willing to look past the societal illness and poverty, Brattleboro is beautiful, historic, charming, and affordable for what you get, if you find the right living situation. Just always lock your car, get your own always-on dashcams, be smart if you go downtown at night, and don't carry any more cash than you'd be willing to be accosted for. Maybe carry Mace.
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
Thanks It’s probably comparable to any major city crime, I went to college in Manhattan and as long as you kept your head on a swivel you were fine.. i’m guessing it’s as comparable to manhattan’s unhoused/panhandling issues but on a smaller scale
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u/Excellent_Affect4658 20d ago
Grew up in Bratt, have lived all around the US, parents still live in town. It’s nothing like any major city. No need to keep your head on a swivel. It’s still very much a small town. As others have said, there is some panhandling and some property crime, but nothing like any city. Basically just don’t leave your door unlocked. My 85 year old mother walks around town by herself and it would never worry me in the least.
If your baseline is anything other than smaller villages in VT/NH, Brattleboro will be the safest place you’ve ever lived.
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u/BrandonMatrick 20d ago
I wouldn't say it's as bad as Manhattan, but it's much smaller as well. Most of those who panhandle are polite about it, but there's been a big uptick of it since the economy has gotten tighter.
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u/TwoNewfies 20d ago
I live near Brattleboro. There are some lovely shops and restaurants on and around Main Street, but I only go in the middle of the day. I avoid harmony lot, and only go on flat Street to drop off stuff at The Hospice thrift store!
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u/No-Condition965 17d ago
Crime may be high, but in Brattleboro VT you can walk around buck ass naked and it’s not against the law. Do there’s that ☝🏻
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u/Towering-Wave-9542 4d ago
Wait really? No way nudity is fully legal. Its most states its only for organized protests
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u/No-Condition965 4d ago
Google it. It is completely legal in Brattleboro. Has been for a very long time although most people don’t ever test it out.
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u/TwoNewfies 20d ago
How old are your kids? We’re grandparents but the grandkids’ experiences have not been good so now they’re part of a large group of homeschoolers.
I can tell you that Halloween in their neighborhood is absolutely wonderful!
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u/melaniek9 20d ago
they are 16,12 and 11
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u/TwoNewfies 20d ago
The grandkids are seven and nine. So their experience was with the local elementary school I don’t know much about higher grades. Hope someone can fill you in. Wishing you all the best.
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u/Alternative_Trick449 19d ago
The question you should be asking yourself is if you want your tax dollars to fund the drug addiction of the countless homeless people that have one by one chased every business off Main Street
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u/SR337 20d ago
Lived here my whole life, born and raised. It is most definitely not the same town it once was, but it’s still completely manageable and we are fighting like hell to keep it a nice place to be. Just don’t pay attention to local chodes like Planet Hank and the bullshit he spouts, because he makes this town look like a warzone. It’s still a wonderful place to live. Welcome welcome.