Demographics do correlate to crime rates,
that’s something that holds more true than not.
One more hot tip.
Buy a cop a cuppa, and talk to him/her about neighborhood crime rates.
They WILL NOT tell you that an area is a high crime rate area, so frame the question differently, bring a map, tell them you are considering moving to their berg and are looking for a good neighborhood to raise kids. Point to one of the areas you've prescreened and ask them to tell you about that neighborhood, follow up by asking where they, themselves would move.
You'll end up in the neighborhood with the best balance of lower costs and low crime rates good schools and services (and you'll have a bunch of police/fire neighbors)...