Easton and Safety?

[makama]

I'd love to hear from people who live, or have lived, in Easton/Greenbank (or know people who live there) about what exactly the safety situation is? How much of the current reputation of Easton is real and how much hype? We visited during a rainy day recently so didn't see much. Would I be safe walking home from the train station 4-5 blocks in the dark in winter time? My husband is excited about moving to the area due to his love of Indian/ethnic food and we like that there is a train station and the houses are attractive and the prices good. We're Americans from the Berkeley/Oakland area so are used to an urban area but are unfamiliar with the particular challenges of British urban areas so I don't want to be in naive tourist mode. Thank you!

Hope this isn't too late to be helpful. I've lived in Easton/Lawrence Hill for two years, and haven't found it unsafe, as in, threatening to myself. It's perhaps not as spruced up as some parts of Bristol, but I've never felt unsafe. I often use Stapleton Road station for the last train, or walk along the cycle path, and then walk ten minute towards the slightly dodgier part of BS5. Greenbank is pretty swish really, lots of arty types. St Werburghs is perhaps closer to the city centre, and with a better reputation, but the houses are quite a bit pricier, for not really anything more in terms of space.
I really enjoy living in Easton, as you say, the restaurants are great, and there are great local shops (bakers, grocers, deli for cheese and meat, helpful pharmacist...), and it's so easy to access the cycle path and be out in the country in 20 mins.