Good Neighborhoods/Cities in the Baltimore Area?

08/25/07 | Reaganesque

[Reaganesque]

Mrs. Reaganesque and I are moving to the Baltimore, MD area. Are there any Freepers out there that can give us a good idea of where to look for a home or apartment, either in Baltimore or nearby? We would much appreciate the info! Thanks!

[Reaganesque]

I would like to say that we are moving to the Baltimore/DC area in anticipation of a glorious Romney win, but...a better job calls.

[Reaganesque]

I’m pinging a few of the Romney list as I know a few of you. Terry, don’t you live in Philadelphia? Do you know Baltimore all that well?

[Clemenza]

In the city, Mount Vernon is a pretty cool place to live, just don’t bend over if you are a guy...

[Reaganesque]

Well, I currently live in downtown Minneapolis so, that wouldn’t be much of a change for us. LOL.

[Clemenza]

Keep in mind that Baltimore can be kind of rough, but if you stick to your immediate nabe (Mount Vernon and Fells Point are the two I know the best) you should be OK.

Being a New Yorker (though now living in NJ), I enjoy Baltimore because it is cheap, the locals (outside of the crackheads) are nice, and there is a strong neighborhood culture once common in NYC, but now all but gone.

[Reaganesque]

I’m originally from the Boston area so, I like the neighborhood culture to. Cool. I’ve been looking at apartment/house rental prices and have been somewhat concerned that the rents are really low compared to what we have been paying. I know of Baltimore’s problems and thought the low prices had to do with bad neighborhoods. Looks like I was wrong, thank heaven! Thanks!

[sevenbak]

Hey, congratz. I don’t know the area that well, have only visited. Good luck in your relocation.

BTW, you may very well catch two birds... A “glorious Romney win” as you say couldn’t hurt! ;-)

[USNBandit]

Have to know a couple things. What section are you going to be working in and are there kids still living in the home?

If the answers were downtown and no kids, the Fells Point area would be cool. Gets more complicated with kids.

[A message]

On the north side Cockeysville, Towson, Timonium/Lutherville areas are nice.

[Thrownatbirth]

Northern Virginia

We need Republicans to repel the creeping moonbatism.

[Caramelgal]

Welcome to Bawlmore, Murland dare Hon! Ain’t de beer cold and does crabs hot ‘n spicy!

If you really want to live in Baltimore City, then I’d recommend the Federal Hill, Fells Point or Canton areas. You might also want to look at Roland Park, Hamden or Mount Washington. But be aware that the crime rate and property taxes in Baltimore City are very high and these areas are very, very expensive. Also if you have kids and can’t afford private school, you really don’t want to live in the city. And I’d keep a close watch on the mayoral elections, If Shelia Dixon wins, things will only get worse.

North of the city, Cockeysville, Towson, Timonium/Lutherville (or Hunt Valley) are pretty nice as “A message” said but crime is on the rise in those areas also with the Light Rail and Cockeysville has an ever increasing Hispanic population as does Fells Point in the city.

It all depends on what you are looking for. Until four years ago I lived in a very nice NE Baltimore neighborhood just inside the city line – Overlea, Hamilton, Parkville area. I loved city life and this area because it was, until recently a very nice quiet area, lots of great old Victorian houses and tree lined streets and safe and very convenient to downtown, Towson, White Marsh and I-95. It is still not as bad as other areas of the city but not as safe as it used to be. If I could afford it, I’d probably live in Federal Hill or Mount Washington.

I moved to Harford County, Bel Air – Abingdon area, very affordable, safe and better schools and convenient to I-95. Bel Air has shopping and restaurants and growing culture scene but it still has a small town and rural feel. But BRAC (Base Realignment And Closure) coming to Aberdeen is making this area more expensive and more congested than when I moved here four years ago.

If you want to be a close to Baltimore and closer to DC, you might want to look at Ellicott City. Historic Ellicott City is very cool, http://www.ellicottcity.net/

[Reaganesque]

LOL! I’ll keep that in mind!

[Reaganesque]

Thanks! Sounds great!

[Mase]

How close to the city do you want to live and what kind of budget do you have?

The Canton area has really changed since I lived there and is filled with new construction as well as updated row homes. There are lots of great restaurants and plenty of nightlife and the younger generation has been flocking there in drives. I have friends who live in the Federal Hill area and love it but that's still a little too close to la ghetto for me. If you want to be a little further out but still be in a nice community look into the Mt. Washington area.

If you want a really nice home, need to be near the city and price isn't all that important, look at Homeland, Guilford and Roland Park. Remember though, wherever you live in the city you'll be surrounded, in most cases, by very rough neighborhoods.

The communities of north Baltimore would be where I'd recommend looking. Like many others suggested I think you'd like Lutherville, Timonium, Cockeysville and the Falls road corridor (north of 695). Hunt Valley has always been a nice area but since the politicians spent millions and millions to export crime there via the light rail (crime rail) I'm not so sure about that area any longer. If you want a more countrified location look in the Phoenix/Glencoe area and be sure to drive around Monkton, if for no other reason than to see just how beautiful Md. can be. I used to live out that way myself and really miss the horse country sometimes.

Anyway, you have lots of options in the area but don't ever forget that Baltimore, as a city, is pretty hopeless and a tax hell. Private school for the kids is a must. I'd recommend watching the Balto 11pm news a couple of nights to better see what the city proper is best known for. Balto. county is still a pretty nice place to live however.