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["Gina Norman" <gina.norman AT nortelnetworks.com>]

When we were looking for a place to live before moving out here, the first word out of almost all of the people, strangers to co-workers was 'Don't live in Durham'

Not exactly the ringing endorsement. When I lady at the grocery store in Durham said that, we got nervous.

Heard things like crime, corrupt police force, bad education system, all sorts of things.  

Yes, Durham has an interesting "reputation," spread mainly, I imagine, by people who've never lived there or perhaps even visited there.  FWIW, I lived in Raleigh for about 15 years, Carrboro for three and Durham for, gosh, it must be going on 17 now... the one crime I've ever had committed against me (and it was a doozy) was in Raleigh, and "inside the beltline" at that.  Though I realize one person's experience is not statistically significant, from my perspective it's much more meaningful than any pile of numbers.  That being said, I've got friends in each of the major cities in the Triangle (and most of the little ones too), and each place has its own character. 

It's interesting to me because my mother (who has lived in Raleigh for 35+ years now) thinks Durham and Chapel Hill are like foreign countries, even though she works in the park!  I'll say "Let's go to Pops for dinner" and Mom'll say "All the way to Durham?!" like it's some expedition she should pack spare water and a sleeping bag for (and maybe malaria pills).  I think Mom's "localized" attitude (Raleigh-centric?) is not uncommon amongst Raleighites, and that was one of the reasons I didn't really want to live there.  I wanted to be "in the middle" (see point above about friends all over Triangle), so South Durham was perfect for me.

I guess I would echo what other's have said:  I'd not want to be making a decision about where to live on rumors and accusations without first checking it out for myself, but I'm sure everyone's MMV.

-Gina