Howdy,

My daughter, class of 2012, will be starting PA School at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, July 2016. She is interested in renting a property on the island. Do you, or someone you know, have knowledge of or connections with rental property in the area? Also, any advice about the best areas (safest) would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Gig Em'!

The further west you go, the safer it gets, but also the less convenient. The city of Galveston itself is very diverse, and each block can be different than the one right next to it. It really depends on where you're at, so it is not easy to make generalizations about what is "safe" and what isn't. For the most part, Galveston is a reasonably safe place though. You might talk to the housing office at her school, they can give you a pretty good idea about what is close and reasonable.

I live in the East End of Galveston, specificially in the Silk Stocking Historic District. The eastern end of the island is not unsafe. Lots of higher income people living in old homes. There is a lot to do in the east end, much more in fact than out west on the island and it's no more unsafe than the west end. Just older.

Old ag '74

East end

Not getting into an East West pissing match, but yeah, statistically as a whole the east end has more crime. It also has more stuff to do and a lot more character and soul. I love the east side, but re: crime, come on now, tap the brakes.

Here is a crime map. Do what you want with it...

http://spotcrime.com/tx/galveston

Actually, since our "bad weather" day in 2008 the whole Island is infinitely safer than it used to be

Galveston is a Great Place to live now especially compared to the 20 or so years before the "Big Storm"

Assume your daughter has found a place by now...hope she is enjoying a great place to live.