How is the area and is it a good place to live/raise a family?

The Duncan area is about 10 mins away, I would recommend there.

Is it really that shitty of an area? I found a house I really like around there.

LOL.  Yes, if you want to live in one of the ghettos of Murderburg.

when I moved here someone posted this for me... https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/sc/spartanburg/crime  
I should have paid more attention to what people were telling me... I just spent the last 8 months in the Hillcrest area... I'm soooooo glad to be out of there. I'm now still in the southern "Burg"  where at least the crime rate is some what lower but  we will be looking for a house well outside and away from Spartanburg.

That link says its #9 on the list of safest neighborhoods......?

I guess I should have said it's beside the mall my bad. It's in the #9 area

Spartanburg is like most any City, the further away you get the better you are!

I would not live within 6-8 miles in any direction of the Westgate Mall-period.  The same goes for the Main Street Area and even Hillcrest.

I grew up between 290/296 and 296/417 (Poplar Springs/Moore).  My fam is still there, and it's primed to get really crowded really soon with all the Industry going in on Hwy 290.  I now live in the South End (Glenn-Springs Pauline) and while I'm 30 min from Everything, I'm happy!  Spent 8 years living high on the Eastside (not again, I'm too country for that).  If I were looking I'd venture South or North.  East is too High Brow and West is getting ready to Boom with growth.  

YMMV

we are east of you guys but Rock Hill, York, and Fort Mill are all doing this same thing,  if there is a spot with grass and a tree they mow it down and build a house.

its crazy,  up from me used to be a golf course,  they sold out and now have 6 houses up and more to come......