| Lafayette safe?
I'm not an expert on the matter, having only visited LC, where my son will start next year, but... LC is 'up on a hill", which clearly separates it from the main portion of Easton. The campus itself, and the rest of the neighborhood that is on the hill, seem extremely safe. I don't know the stats, but I'd doubt LC students have had a lot of trouble in the areas immediately surrounding the college. The portion of Easton directly below the college (at the bottom of the "hill") seemed to be pretty "upscale", but also had a "pulse" and includes a number of restaurants and bars that I believe are part of the weekend "night life" for LC students. This area also seems "pretty safe," as does the area east, towards the river. Not boring, not sterile, but relatively safe. However, moving west puts you into areas that I'd call a bit more dicey, based on my first impression. I don't think LC students venture that way often, though I may be wrong.
Summary impression is that LC, like many other high caliber academic institutions, is situated within a somewhat insulated zone, and the further outside that insulation one moves, the more one sees the problems of the "real world". This is true at Yale, Harvard, PENN, Brown, and even more so at many schools (e.g. Columbia... and Trinity is downright scary). I'd suggest visiting the campus, speaking with students, and driving around the neighborhoods. Then you can judge your own comfort level.
Again, this is just my impression from visiting and speaking with students. I'd also be grateful for any "first-hand" impressions.
Good luck!
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