Just how bad are the bad areas?

Currently live in Las Vegas but miss the green grass and love the heat. Hurricanes don't bother me, I spent four years on the street and survived. Houston is looking like a possibility. I'm a ham radio operator and was looking at some place central ish with the view to safely operate without worrying I'd get the antennas stolen. Take for example Third Ward and close to the 44 and just south. If I minded my own business would it be safe enough? If not where would y'all suggest? I don't buy the scare stories I've seen on some sites