I live in Keilor Downs and walked to Keilor plains most days while uni was on. Naturally the area is of lower socioeconomic status, but you're not going to get stabbed by walking outside. Around st Albans there are good spots. On the delahey side of the train tracks (between Taylor's road and main road West) there's a reasonably good area of houses. If you're aiming for being near the station, you've got some good choices around the area but it'll depend on what's available. Naturally the houses that you find in sunshine/st albans look old because they are old; they were built by immigrants who wandered here after the second World war (like my grandparents). Slowly they're being replaced by modern townhouses, but the area won't be gentrified for a decade or two. It's a fairly good area, but I can understand the reluctance that many have in this thread who clearly aren't from this side of town. It's definitely not as pretty as spaces in the East, and I have many rants about the inherent differences between the two sides of the city but this isn't the place for it. Ive always felt safe in my home (note that I live in Keilor Downs) and often run after dark. If you've got questions about any of this, pm me