I lived in DC for 4 years in one of the city's nicest apartment buildings in a "safe" neighborhood. In the 4 years I lived there, there was one fatal shooting on my apartment block, multiple car jackings, 2 outright car thefts from my apartment garage, and many restaurant muggings. So yeah, I was pretty worried about crime when I was there and I don't think "it's better than 1980" helped me when I had to take my young dog out to pee at 3am when we were house training her.