I remember when I was in law school, for 2 years I walked back and forth from school located within sight of Penn Station down to St. Paul Place near Mercy Hospital where I was a law clerk, then over to Howard Street to wait for my transit bus at the end of the day (daylight and night.) That's a trip I would not try making now.
I've never been off Rt. 30 in Lancaster, so I have no idea what the city is like. I've been to the hospital in York coming from Hanover, and it looks so-so in a few spots, but for the most part nothing that would make me concerned to be outside. A lot of crimes on strangers to the perpetrators is bad luck or doing something stupid to draw attention to yourself.