Go to ilford when the sun goes down.
Have a gander around.
Good luck.
I think it depends on what your reference points and experience are.
I grew up in East London and Ilford, and I have a business and customers in those areas. I'm there frequently, so perhaps I just don't see it. I've been to plenty more scary places than Ilford, I don't think it's that bad. A few minutes walk from from the Centre of Ilford, all the roads off of Wanstead Park road have very expensive houses.
Chigwell is a mixed bag, you could live in a house on Manor Road (it won't be less than a couple of £M) or on the Limes Farm Estate opposite, known for housing the "less fortunate".
It's the same with Woodford, you could live on the Monkhams Estate (all properties are £1M+) or the Broadmead Estate (they've changed the name to the Orchard Estate now).