Working Midtown near the Manhattan center - is living in the West Village a bad commute?

I'm female, looking to relocate from London so apart from long weekends in manhattan I don't really know the city that well. I'm thinking west village as being older(40's) I don't want to live near Times Square but want to be near work but also live somewhere with everything near by, lots to do-restaurants bars etc safe but not quite its scary at night walking home!