Moving to Baltimore discussion
Negative reviews
Susan
This perhaps the most ugly city I have lived in. Other then the walk along the harbor, Fells Point and Canton Square, it is all quite ugly and hard on the eyes. The suburbs are so depressing, but then again most of American built after the 20s is industrial, fast, generic architecture. Some of the worse of it is here. Ugh
Neutral reviews
William Wang
I’m a Chinese student as well as a Master of Marketing candidate in JHU Carey Business School. During the first two months when I arrived in Baltimore, I lived in Arnold Court, a community just a block away from the Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the first sight, I felt comfortable living there: the transportation is convenient, there is a subway station and a Greenroute station down the road; and there is a Save-a-lot supermarket where you can buy a lot of cheap merchandise. Although I lived in a black community, I thought I could live well if I didn’t disturb them. But things changed after the left rear mirror of my Honda CRV was stolen and an old African American scolded at me with F words. I finally decided to move in Harbor East after living there for almost two months. Harbor East, as far as I am concerned, is the only safe area where you can walk out during the night alone. But the living costs here is quite high and that’s the reason why this area is immune to riot and violence. Those jobless rioters and criminals just can’t afford to live here. Now I just wanna finish my academic career here as soon as possible.
Henry Nwobi
Baltimore is a big place. Most people don’t know but Baltimore is divided in two, Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
City - 622,104 people, 92.1 mi², 8.1% unemployment rate
County - 823,015 people, 682 mi², 5.3% unemployment rate
The city is one of the unique places in America where you can walk one block and be in a wealthy neighborhood, walk another block and be in the projects. Baltimore City gets somewhat of a bad rap when it comes to crime. You won’t really see it per say unless your in the projects. The most common crime from my experience is theft, specifically bike theft and shoplifting. My phone was stolen while waiting for the bus on Sunday ironically a block away from a police precinct. A would be $20 Uber ride turned into a $55 cab ride, and $150 replacement bill. THERE IS A MASSIVE HOMELESS PROBLEM. Its annoying, extremely annoying.
The county on the other hand is much more relaxed and doesn’t have a homeless problem or many of the crimes that plagues the city.
heather
I grew up in Bmore and it was nice back in the 80s a little rough in some area's but still safe, after about early mid 90s this crime has gone up , the city is getting beat up and I can't even go to the Inner harbor which I trusted at these times without fear that I will be killed, some area's are still Ok I trust them but still not as good as they use to be, Towson is still ok in my opinion and whitemarsh area and Parkville, a few other area's near by too but getting into the heart of the city, its horrible and needs to be cleaned up, we are a state that has money, this slum crap does not need to stay, I still love Maryland but certain area's are not what they use to be, I would not live in Baltimore at this time, however there are good Hospitals and great food, things to do .
Positive reviews
Ronald Hube
Baltimore doesn't have as many famous tourist attractions as nearby metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and residents like it that way. The Baltimore metropolitan area's population of nearly 2.8 million has grown in recent years, but it still has a small-town feel. Locals like to say that you can't go anywhere in "Smalltimore" without seeing someone you know.
Baltimore's elegant architecture, friendly people and lively pockets of nightlife and music make Charm City a pleasant and fun place to call home. The metro area also boasts a rapidly growing restaurant scene that goes beyond the city's famous crab cakes, pit beef and Berger cookies.
Baltimore is home to a variety of communities that are concentrated in the city's individual neighborhoods, several dozen of which are designated as historic districts. Walking through these distinct areas provides a glimpse into the city's worldly population. Little Italy, located near the Inner Harbor, and Greektown, on the east side, both showcase their residents' heritages in eateries and shops.
Jason Hu
I’ve had a great experience during by undergrad in Baltimore. Baltimore is an exciting and culturally rich place. If you are into dancing and great food there are spots for that. During the summer, it has outdoor movies almost week night. There are interesting places for young professionals to go out (PowerPlant Live, Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, Harbor East, Hampton, Mt Vernon). There are free transportation within the city (Charm City Circulator). It’s a sports team city; they have the Ravens and Orioles. I’m not a sports person, but it was awesome going downtown when the Ravens won. There are plenty of state parks within an hour drive. It also feel very historic and rustic; all the houses are brick and some of them are painted in a hipster manner.
It’s really cheap. I have a classmate who lives on $1,500 a month in Fell’s Point with a couple house mates. There is access to nearby major cities. It’s a $7 train ride from DC, and a $20 bus ride from NYC.
Like the others have said, there are dangerous parts of the city, so watch where you go after dark. You’ll know when you’re in a neglected part of town when you cross the street and the houses are boarded up and there are no cars around.
Mike Meck
Baltimore is one of the most comfortable cities I’ve been in.
It standard city pros and cons - certain neighborhoods with crime and beltway traffic, but there’s always things to do, and cities always make me feel a sense of opportunity. But where I live is near enough to most of the things I do that I can walk, and I love feeling like I live in an area geared towards my interests.
Definitely read this:
Mike Meck's answer to What are the best aspects of living in Baltimore as a young adult?
Andrew Blomberg
Baltimore has many great things to offer. Despite it’s poor reputation the Inner Harbor is actually a booming tourist attraction with many restaurants and places to site see! Federal Hill is a short walk from the Inner Harbor and provides a beautiful view of the harbor and aquarium as well as downtown skyline!
Baltimore has also received high praise recently for the large innovation of restaurants and breweries in the area. The Federal Hill, Harbor East, Little Italy, Fells Point, Locust Point, and downtown area all are booming in the restaurant industries.
Living in Baltimore has its many perks such as lower cost of living than many other Eastern coast cities between Washington DC, NYC, and Boston. Baltimore is also very walkable, as many areas can be covered in an hour or two of walking (with site seeing stops along the way)
As someone who has lived in Baltimore it was an amazing experience and I highly encourage anyone who is interested in moving there to high consider. Many companies such as Under Armor and M&T Bank are beginning to change the Baltimore landscape by bringing in more jobs, especially to recent college graduates!
Current Resident
It is a great and a not-so-great neighbourhood. It is almost fascinating to see how from each block to block, the safety/vibe of the neighbourhood changes. There are some amazing places that I love, such as, Fells Point & Inner Harbor with great restaurants and places to walk around. However, the thing is I love roaming around the streets aimlessly - this is not possible in Baltimore as you never know when you will walk into a bad neighbourhood. Even so, there are many events in Baltimore (especially in the summer) with diverse neighbourhoods and great seafood!
Current Resident
For the visitors, Baltimore offers many sightseeing attractions like the Inner Harbor and various art museums. For the residents, there are different neighborhoods, each with its vibe, culture, and amenities. Check them out to see which neighborhood(s) you would really enjoy!
Former Resident
Baltimore has a lot of really fun things to do, if you can afford to do them. There are obviously the bar/nightclub scenes in each neighborhood. I personally enjoy the aquarium, science center, museum of industry and the American Visionary Arts Museum. All of which cost money to get into! But, most of these places have reasonable membership programs if you're a repeat offender like me!
I've lived in both Upper Fells Point and Federal Hill. Both are areas I felt safe in, but that's not to say there weren't any incidents. The cost of living is a little pricey, but it's easy to manage if you have roommates. The biggest issue I had is parking!
Former Resident
Baltimore has a lot to offer as a resident in the city. From the outside it might look unappealing (if you've only ever seen The Wire), but there is always something to do or see in and around town. The local art scene is one of a kind. From Artscape (the largest artist's festival in the US) to the annual Maryland Film festival, there are a lot of talented people in Baltimore. Also, the rise of talented chefs in Baltimore has been a great benefit. For being a fairly small city there are a lot of different cultures and cuisines to experience. There are many local breweries, distilleries and a mead-works in the city. From what I know, the public school system is not the highest rated, but the collegiate level of education is much better. Baltimore is home to Johns Hopkins and MICA which are two highly rated schools in the country.
Christian-Marie
et al,
Despite the other comments you may read I hope you take note of a different experience. My son is currently attending Friends School of Baltimore. This is his first year participating in a privately ran school. I can honestly say that this school has changed my son's educational experience for the better. The teachers and faculty have been child's champion as they are with all the children equally. They are kind, understanding, informative and flexible. They have made my son enjoy school again and trusted adults in his life.
Thank you, Friend's Teachers and Faculty for a great experience.
nemoran
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
Hah, what are the odds. My neighbors on both sides of my house in Hampden are early 20s parents who work in web development/design. My wife and I are on that track as well.
To your question, you'll probably want to work backwards based on several factors: where you'll be working, what your transportation needs are, and where you'll want the kid to go to school.
Going bit by bit:
-
Where to Work: Baltimore has a pretty cool, up-and-coming tech scene. There are a lot of boutique shops that serve clients in DC, Philly, and NYC. I don't have a central resources for looking them up but typing in iterations of "Baltimore + Web Design" or something similar should get you going. If you want to go bigger, you can try for Hopkins (where I work), or one of the other big employers in the city such as UMD, Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, etc... There's also more out in the surrounding suburbs. Don't be afraid to target small ad/marketing agencies - they often have a few web positions. As another poster said, if you get security clearance, you have a ton of opportunities to work with the government as well.
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Transportation Needs: Baltimore's public transit isn't the greatest, but you can live car-light if you work and live within the city, or are OK with buses. My wife and I have one car because I take the Hopkins shuttle; before we moved to Hampden, I biked and, when it was crap weather, I'd take the Circulator. She works out in the county. But this will affect where you choose to live.
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School: Many people live in Baltimore City proper until the kid is school age, and then they move out to the Medfield or Towson area/other parts of the County so they have access to the good public schools. I'll defer to someone else to cover that side of things.
Overall I love living in Baltimore. I moved here from Hoboken, which is right across the Hudson from NYC, where my wife and I were working. It's a great change of pace from that whole scene. We're probably staying here forever.
jastos
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
I have been living in the Locust Point neighborhood for about 4 months now and I am really enjoying it. There are lots of younger families here living in the row homes just starting out their families. It seems like most move on to larger homes once their kids turn 5 or so. It's a very safe neighborhood - people are always out walking after dark. There is a well used playground at the neighborhood park.
I'm a web developer myself, but work in a family business. I peeked around though and there seems to be lots of opportunities out there. Keep an eye out for Under Armour Headquarters openings for web developers. There are also lots of marketing companies in Canton, Federal Hill, and Hampden that I have seen.
Good Luck.
stackolee
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
There are plenty of places in the city where you would do well. Typically the concern with families are good public schools, but you're probably years away from that. Off the top of my head, you'd probably be very comfortable in Locust Point, Wyman Park, Charles Village, Abell, or Mid Govans, but there's more neighborhoods.
So far as tech jobs, you'll find quite a bit of work in this area. Technical.ly put out a map of many of the companies in the larger area. This doesn't even include DC which has a lot of jobs as well. As someone in the industry, I've not had much problem finding work when I wanted it.
My company's also hiring, if you're interested, so long as "web developer" doesn't mean "wordpress admin".
Negative reviews
Susan
This perhaps the most ugly city I have lived in. Other then the walk along the harbor, Fells Point and Canton Square, it is all quite ugly and hard on the eyes. The suburbs are so depressing, but then again most of American built after the 20s is industrial, fast, generic architecture. Some of the worse of it is here. Ugh
Neutral reviews
William Wang
I’m a Chinese student as well as a Master of Marketing candidate in JHU Carey Business School. During the first two months when I arrived in Baltimore, I lived in Arnold Court, a community just a block away from the Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the first sight, I felt comfortable living there: the transportation is convenient, there is a subway station and a Greenroute station down the road; and there is a Save-a-lot supermarket where you can buy a lot of cheap merchandise. Although I lived in a black community, I thought I could live well if I didn’t disturb them. But things changed after the left rear mirror of my Honda CRV was stolen and an old African American scolded at me with F words. I finally decided to move in Harbor East after living there for almost two months. Harbor East, as far as I am concerned, is the only safe area where you can walk out during the night alone. But the living costs here is quite high and that’s the reason why this area is immune to riot and violence. Those jobless rioters and criminals just can’t afford to live here. Now I just wanna finish my academic career here as soon as possible.
Henry Nwobi
Baltimore is a big place. Most people don’t know but Baltimore is divided in two, Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
City - 622,104 people, 92.1 mi², 8.1% unemployment rate
County - 823,015 people, 682 mi², 5.3% unemployment rate
The city is one of the unique places in America where you can walk one block and be in a wealthy neighborhood, walk another block and be in the projects. Baltimore City gets somewhat of a bad rap when it comes to crime. You won’t really see it per say unless your in the projects. The most common crime from my experience is theft, specifically bike theft and shoplifting. My phone was stolen while waiting for the bus on Sunday ironically a block away from a police precinct. A would be $20 Uber ride turned into a $55 cab ride, and $150 replacement bill. THERE IS A MASSIVE HOMELESS PROBLEM. Its annoying, extremely annoying.
The county on the other hand is much more relaxed and doesn’t have a homeless problem or many of the crimes that plagues the city.
heather
I grew up in Bmore and it was nice back in the 80s a little rough in some area's but still safe, after about early mid 90s this crime has gone up , the city is getting beat up and I can't even go to the Inner harbor which I trusted at these times without fear that I will be killed, some area's are still Ok I trust them but still not as good as they use to be, Towson is still ok in my opinion and whitemarsh area and Parkville, a few other area's near by too but getting into the heart of the city, its horrible and needs to be cleaned up, we are a state that has money, this slum crap does not need to stay, I still love Maryland but certain area's are not what they use to be, I would not live in Baltimore at this time, however there are good Hospitals and great food, things to do .
Positive reviews
Ronald Hube
Baltimore doesn't have as many famous tourist attractions as nearby metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and residents like it that way. The Baltimore metropolitan area's population of nearly 2.8 million has grown in recent years, but it still has a small-town feel. Locals like to say that you can't go anywhere in "Smalltimore" without seeing someone you know.
Baltimore's elegant architecture, friendly people and lively pockets of nightlife and music make Charm City a pleasant and fun place to call home. The metro area also boasts a rapidly growing restaurant scene that goes beyond the city's famous crab cakes, pit beef and Berger cookies.
Baltimore is home to a variety of communities that are concentrated in the city's individual neighborhoods, several dozen of which are designated as historic districts. Walking through these distinct areas provides a glimpse into the city's worldly population. Little Italy, located near the Inner Harbor, and Greektown, on the east side, both showcase their residents' heritages in eateries and shops.
Jason Hu
I’ve had a great experience during by undergrad in Baltimore. Baltimore is an exciting and culturally rich place. If you are into dancing and great food there are spots for that. During the summer, it has outdoor movies almost week night. There are interesting places for young professionals to go out (PowerPlant Live, Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, Harbor East, Hampton, Mt Vernon). There are free transportation within the city (Charm City Circulator). It’s a sports team city; they have the Ravens and Orioles. I’m not a sports person, but it was awesome going downtown when the Ravens won. There are plenty of state parks within an hour drive. It also feel very historic and rustic; all the houses are brick and some of them are painted in a hipster manner.
It’s really cheap. I have a classmate who lives on $1,500 a month in Fell’s Point with a couple house mates. There is access to nearby major cities. It’s a $7 train ride from DC, and a $20 bus ride from NYC.
Like the others have said, there are dangerous parts of the city, so watch where you go after dark. You’ll know when you’re in a neglected part of town when you cross the street and the houses are boarded up and there are no cars around.
Mike Meck
Baltimore is one of the most comfortable cities I’ve been in.
It standard city pros and cons - certain neighborhoods with crime and beltway traffic, but there’s always things to do, and cities always make me feel a sense of opportunity. But where I live is near enough to most of the things I do that I can walk, and I love feeling like I live in an area geared towards my interests.
Definitely read this:
Mike Meck's answer to What are the best aspects of living in Baltimore as a young adult?
Andrew Blomberg
Baltimore has many great things to offer. Despite it’s poor reputation the Inner Harbor is actually a booming tourist attraction with many restaurants and places to site see! Federal Hill is a short walk from the Inner Harbor and provides a beautiful view of the harbor and aquarium as well as downtown skyline!
Baltimore has also received high praise recently for the large innovation of restaurants and breweries in the area. The Federal Hill, Harbor East, Little Italy, Fells Point, Locust Point, and downtown area all are booming in the restaurant industries.
Living in Baltimore has its many perks such as lower cost of living than many other Eastern coast cities between Washington DC, NYC, and Boston. Baltimore is also very walkable, as many areas can be covered in an hour or two of walking (with site seeing stops along the way)
As someone who has lived in Baltimore it was an amazing experience and I highly encourage anyone who is interested in moving there to high consider. Many companies such as Under Armor and M&T Bank are beginning to change the Baltimore landscape by bringing in more jobs, especially to recent college graduates!
Current Resident
It is a great and a not-so-great neighbourhood. It is almost fascinating to see how from each block to block, the safety/vibe of the neighbourhood changes. There are some amazing places that I love, such as, Fells Point & Inner Harbor with great restaurants and places to walk around. However, the thing is I love roaming around the streets aimlessly - this is not possible in Baltimore as you never know when you will walk into a bad neighbourhood. Even so, there are many events in Baltimore (especially in the summer) with diverse neighbourhoods and great seafood!
Current Resident
For the visitors, Baltimore offers many sightseeing attractions like the Inner Harbor and various art museums. For the residents, there are different neighborhoods, each with its vibe, culture, and amenities. Check them out to see which neighborhood(s) you would really enjoy!
Former Resident
Baltimore has a lot of really fun things to do, if you can afford to do them. There are obviously the bar/nightclub scenes in each neighborhood. I personally enjoy the aquarium, science center, museum of industry and the American Visionary Arts Museum. All of which cost money to get into! But, most of these places have reasonable membership programs if you're a repeat offender like me!
I've lived in both Upper Fells Point and Federal Hill. Both are areas I felt safe in, but that's not to say there weren't any incidents. The cost of living is a little pricey, but it's easy to manage if you have roommates. The biggest issue I had is parking!
Former Resident
Baltimore has a lot to offer as a resident in the city. From the outside it might look unappealing (if you've only ever seen The Wire), but there is always something to do or see in and around town. The local art scene is one of a kind. From Artscape (the largest artist's festival in the US) to the annual Maryland Film festival, there are a lot of talented people in Baltimore. Also, the rise of talented chefs in Baltimore has been a great benefit. For being a fairly small city there are a lot of different cultures and cuisines to experience. There are many local breweries, distilleries and a mead-works in the city. From what I know, the public school system is not the highest rated, but the collegiate level of education is much better. Baltimore is home to Johns Hopkins and MICA which are two highly rated schools in the country.
Christian-Marie
et al,
Despite the other comments you may read I hope you take note of a different experience. My son is currently attending Friends School of Baltimore. This is his first year participating in a privately ran school. I can honestly say that this school has changed my son's educational experience for the better. The teachers and faculty have been child's champion as they are with all the children equally. They are kind, understanding, informative and flexible. They have made my son enjoy school again and trusted adults in his life.
Thank you, Friend's Teachers and Faculty for a great experience.
nemoran
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
Hah, what are the odds. My neighbors on both sides of my house in Hampden are early 20s parents who work in web development/design. My wife and I are on that track as well.
To your question, you'll probably want to work backwards based on several factors: where you'll be working, what your transportation needs are, and where you'll want the kid to go to school.
Going bit by bit:
-
Where to Work: Baltimore has a pretty cool, up-and-coming tech scene. There are a lot of boutique shops that serve clients in DC, Philly, and NYC. I don't have a central resources for looking them up but typing in iterations of "Baltimore + Web Design" or something similar should get you going. If you want to go bigger, you can try for Hopkins (where I work), or one of the other big employers in the city such as UMD, Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, etc... There's also more out in the surrounding suburbs. Don't be afraid to target small ad/marketing agencies - they often have a few web positions. As another poster said, if you get security clearance, you have a ton of opportunities to work with the government as well.
-
Transportation Needs: Baltimore's public transit isn't the greatest, but you can live car-light if you work and live within the city, or are OK with buses. My wife and I have one car because I take the Hopkins shuttle; before we moved to Hampden, I biked and, when it was crap weather, I'd take the Circulator. She works out in the county. But this will affect where you choose to live.
-
School: Many people live in Baltimore City proper until the kid is school age, and then they move out to the Medfield or Towson area/other parts of the County so they have access to the good public schools. I'll defer to someone else to cover that side of things.
Overall I love living in Baltimore. I moved here from Hoboken, which is right across the Hudson from NYC, where my wife and I were working. It's a great change of pace from that whole scene. We're probably staying here forever.
jastos
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
I have been living in the Locust Point neighborhood for about 4 months now and I am really enjoying it. There are lots of younger families here living in the row homes just starting out their families. It seems like most move on to larger homes once their kids turn 5 or so. It's a very safe neighborhood - people are always out walking after dark. There is a well used playground at the neighborhood park.
I'm a web developer myself, but work in a family business. I peeked around though and there seems to be lots of opportunities out there. Keep an eye out for Under Armour Headquarters openings for web developers. There are also lots of marketing companies in Canton, Federal Hill, and Hampden that I have seen.
Good Luck.
stackolee
https://www.reddit.com/r/baltimore/comments/3utjlz/whats_it_like_living_in_baltimore/
There are plenty of places in the city where you would do well. Typically the concern with families are good public schools, but you're probably years away from that. Off the top of my head, you'd probably be very comfortable in Locust Point, Wyman Park, Charles Village, Abell, or Mid Govans, but there's more neighborhoods.
So far as tech jobs, you'll find quite a bit of work in this area. Technical.ly put out a map of many of the companies in the larger area. This doesn't even include DC which has a lot of jobs as well. As someone in the industry, I've not had much problem finding work when I wanted it.
My company's also hiring, if you're interested, so long as "web developer" doesn't mean "wordpress admin".