One makes us feel good about ourselves. One makes us gnash our teeth with worry. Both metrics matter a great deal when choosing a home, in Lethbridge or anywhere else.

While the City of Lethbridge is certainly one of the safer communities in Canada, crime is a fact of life in free society. It’s also one of the reasons that location is everything when choosing a new address. For example, if you have small children or if you don’t drive and need amenities within walking distance, you’ll want to understand the crime patterns of a particular neighbourhood in more detail.

You’ll also want to understand neighbourhood walkability, also known as a “Walk Score.” If you don’t drive, or if you just prefer to be close to the action (think: amenities, community involvement, work and recreation), your challenge will be to find the right balance between safety and accessibility. Which begs the question…

Does Walkability Mean More Crime?

Sometimes, but not always. Ultimately each home buyer has to decide on the right balance between proximity and privacy. Here are a couple of helpful (and very cool!) tools to help you better understand Lethbridge walkability and crime patterns at the neighbourhood level. Try them out and let me know what you think!

1. Lethbridge Neighbourhood Crime Map
2. Walk Score®