<p>I’ve spent lots of time in New Haven, New York, and Durham, and it’s true that all those cities have pros and cons. But the idea that they are unsafe is really overstated. If you use even the minimum of common sense, there will always be other people around and you are not likely to be mugged. Of course, if you leave your stuff unattended, or your door unlocked, you are likely to have problems. So don’t do that. In New York, you will definitely see crimes around NYU and elsewhere, but it will be low-level drugdealing, prostitutes, etc. It will not be roving bands of thugs mugging NYU students.</p>