It’s very true that there are a lot of good schools in bad areas. In fact, I can rattle off a number without really thinking (USC, Yale, UPENN, Trinity, Temple). My D was seriously considering Clark and I had no problem had she chosen to go there despite the bad area. My note about the nearby murders was specifically because you said it “doesn’t feel remotely unsafe” and I was thinking you must not have taken the full tour around because parts nearby are more than a bit sketchy.
Again, there are a lot of great schools in terrible areas. I attended one and wouldn’t mind having my D attend one. In some ways they are safer because they take security so much more seriously than some other schools. That said, once you step off of the south and east sides of Clark’s campus it’s scary (the north side seemed fine to me and Peppercorn’s just to the north of campus is a great and safe place to stop for a good meal and a beer).