Singaporeans are known to be strong supporters of the areas they live in — we constantly hear claims of “East Side Best Side” or “West Is The Best”.
That brings rise to another discussion, which side is the worst side? Well, according to a poll done via Answers.sg, there’s one neighbourhood that does stand out — Yishun.
It also doesn’t help that the area seems to be a hotbed of memorable incidents, such as when a naked woman dangled from a parapet or when a woman was held hostage in January 2023.
But those who live in this neighbourhood must have something to say to defend their hometown, since over 220,000 people live there according to 99.co.
Answers.sg polled Singaporeans about the least desirable place to live, to which 6,987 people responded with their choice.
Out of the 11 options listed, Yishun came out tops at 19.9% — ahead of Pioneer which raked in 15.1% of the votes.
A total of 1,388 respondents voted Yishun as the neighbourhood they would not want to live in.
Meanwhile, places like Pasir Ris and Sengkang had the lowest votes at 3.5% and 3.9% respectively.
Compared to the thousands who voted for Yishun and Pioneer, only slightly over 500 people voted for both Pasir Ris and Sengkang combined.
What’s interesting to note is that the two least desirable places to live — Yishun and Pioneer — are located in the North and West respectively.
On the other hand, Pasir Ris and Sengkang occupy the Eastern and North Eastern parts of Singapore.
These numbers make one wonder — why is Yishun getting all this hate?
Well, there are several reasons why Yishun might be considered the least desirable place to live in. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be familiar with the shocking reports that pop up about Yishun.
In 2016, for example, The Straits Times (ST) reported 21 dead cats in Yishun since Sep 2015.
Apart from animal abuse and fatalities, Yishun has also been a hotspot for drug busts in recent years.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) just raided a residential unit in Yishun Avenue 6 in July 2023 — where officers seized “ice” and ketamine, among other drugs.
Source: Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)
In 2017, TODAY reported a drug bust at an industrial building in Yishun involving 970 grams of heroin and over S$8,000 cash.
That said, these are but a few of the examples.
Over the years, Yishun has become the “Florida” of Singapore — if you’re not familiar, a lot of crazy stories always revolve around Florida to the point it’s become a meme.
This is probably why people tend to take shots at Yishun as well.
However, these stand-out stories might have overshadowed the fact that some people do see Yishun as home.
It’s best to hear about Yishun from people who would know it the best — the residents themselves. After all, it can’t be that bad if over 220,000 are still staying there.
Yishunites on Reddit have shared that it is in fact a rather safe place to stay.
In fact, some have given it the title of a “sleepy neighbourhood” where nothing much happens.
Source: Yishun Home Guide on Facebook
However, others have speculated that housing prices remain low because of Yishun’s “dangerous” reputation.
Whether or not the prices are kept low due to its reputation, it’s hard to argue that it does have reasonable pricing for housing.
The prices of Housing Development Board (HDB) flats in Yishun are comparatively better than in areas like Sengkang.
Based on HDB’s data, the median price for 4-room resale flat in Yishun was going for about S$500,000 in the third quarter of 2023 — compared to the S$558,000 of Sengkang.
For efficient Singaporeans, the convenience of transport might be a key factor in determining the best area.
New MRT lines such the Downtown and Thomson-East Coast lines have improved connectivity for thousands of residents across Singapore.
The North, however, is home to Singapore’s oldest MRT line that looks and feels more dated.
The history of the North-South Line dates back to 1987 when there were only five stations that connected Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh.
Source: Wikipedia
Some may even say that it takes much longer to get from one station to the next on the North-South Line (NSL).
One example that comes to mind is the long ride between Yio Chu Kang and Khatib stations (if you know, you know).
Apart from public transport, there are plenty of factors that come to mind when deciding if a neighbourhood is considered desirable.
Amongst the more common criteria include housing, amenities, entertainment, and the residents — and maybe for the newer generation of residents, it could just be about the vibes.
Pasir Ris, for example, might fare better for being close to Singapore’s coast. Those who enjoy relaxing to the sound of waves, and cycling by the beach can do so at Pasir Ris Park.
Source: Joylynn Goh on Unsplash
There are also a lot more niche factors — for example, does the area have a 24-hour McDonald’s outlet or a 24-hour NTUC Fairprice?
These are all valid considerations for homeowners.
That said, everyone has their own subjective reasons for choosing a specific neighbourhood.
Perhaps they have lived in the area their entire life and have grown comfortable with it.
Others may prefer another area because it’s closer to where they work.
All in all, whether your neighbourhood is a 20% -er or a 4 %-er, it should not really matter if you enjoy staying there.
Be it for the amenities, or just the vibes, picking the neighbourhood that suits your lifestyle is the most important thing.
It all comes down to where you want to come back to after a long day.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Frasers Property for illustration purposes only.
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