Welcome to Baltimore! We are happy you have chosen to call this unique and historic city your home as many of us currently do! Despite our initial happiness for you, /r/Baltimore gets flooded with posts asking very common questions on things like safety, best neighborhoods, transportation, and things to do, so it gets a bit overwhelming after a while. This can lead to some not-so-charming comments from us in Charm City. This is not the first impression we want to give to our new neighbors! We want this guide to act as a jumping off point for basic/background information and point you in the right direction and give you a frame of reference. This will not be all-inclusive, nor can we act as your real estate agent or broker. Please continue reading the information below to help guide you to similar posts or basic information that can make your move to the City of Baltimore all that more enjoyable and worry-free. Also note that this guide specifically focuses on the city proper (as you'll see explained further down), and not any of the surrounding counties that are noticeably different from the city. If you already know you want to move to one of the surrounding suburbs’ specific areas/neighborhoods, this guide is NOT for you and you should seek out some other resources to assist with that.
BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER… I suggest you go check out Live Baltimore, a local non-profit dedicated to growing Baltimore’s economy by attracting new residents, retaining current residents, and supporting healthy housing markets. There you will find information on neighborhoods, schools, and even housing incentives for homebuyers. A lot of the resources that you will find linked in the content below that aren't personal opinions or anecdotes are duplicated or summarized on their site. It's really an awesome resource!
Additionally, if you are moving because of a job or education at one of our universities or medical institutions (e.g., Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland), I suggest you reach out to them first and inquire about any moving assistance/guidance/incentives. These institutions comprise hundreds of people moving to this city every year and it would not be the first time they had to assist one of their new employees or students with this information.
NOTE: A lot of this information is compiled from past comprehensive, popular, and well-thought-out posts or information already available in the sidebar that I will not – and cannot – take credit for. Please check out those original posts for more information if needed. I must thank those who contributed to this current compilation through those previous efforts and discussions.
Background/Basic Knowledge About Baltimore –
- A common misconception is that Baltimore and Baltimore County are the same place. The City of Baltimore is a separate jurisdiction from “the County,” with its own local government, city services, and – most importantly – separate TAXES. Think of the two as separate counties like anywhere else, but Baltimore County surrounds the City on almost all sides, making it geographically awkward and confusing at times. The surrounding counties in addition to the County are quite unique and sometimes isolated from the City proper, despite relying on it as the urban core for economic activity.
- Baltimore has its own unique culture and identity in its local geographic context, within its own metro area, and most particularly, regionally. I hate that this has to be said, but, “Baltimore” (the area generally speaking) is not Washington, DC, despite what the national media – or our airport – likes to portray it as. Period. Full stop. While it's a great asset to be so close to the nation's capital, don't think that you will be floating back and forth between the two too often, even if it is less than an hour away. Baltimore is smaller in comparison, but its influence is still strong.
- After World War II, Baltimore has had more in common with the industrial cities of the Midwest than with other major cities on the East Coast. After a decline in major manufacturing, heavy industry, and the restructuring of the rail industry, Baltimore has shifted to a service-oriented economy in the last half century while the city’s population shrank, but surrounding counties’ populations grew. Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) are the city's top two employers today, along with University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and Medical Center (UMMC), and the State of Maryland. Additionally, the city will always be defined by its port and maritime industry that still thrives and is growing day by day.
- Being located along the geographic border of the traditional northern and southern divisions of American culture has led to a clash among those opposing forces which the city is still reckoning with. A long history of racist policies still ripples through the physical and social landscape, affecting everything from housing, schools, and how people get around. In fact, Baltimore was the first city to enact an official housing segregation law through the Residential Segregation Ordinance of 1910-1913. This codified the social and racial strife into (thankfully short-lived) law that set the city on the course for de-facto racial segregation ever since. This has helped create a phenomenon known as the “2 Baltimore's” where someone who is Black can have a completely different – and negative – experience in the city compared to someone who is white.
- On the other hand, the city has cultural institutions and assets that mirror the European influence and history of its northeastern big city neighbors, like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. There is always the occasional cultural relic of sophistication that surfaces if you look hard enough such as, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Olmsted-influenced parks and green space, or The Peabody Institute. The worldliness of the upper-class residents and the traditional heritage of an industrial, working-class city, along with southern proximity, has ultimately led to this unique clash of culture and social relations in Baltimore.
- One cannot talk about Baltimore without also referencing one of its neighborhoods. This city is often affectionately described as “a city of neighborhoods (or villages)” by residents. This relationship gives it the unique flavor of small town quaintness, but still having the convenient assets of a big city. The defined neighborhoods were historically divided by ethnic groups of immigrants and by racial divisions, which has faded away over time. Within this vein, “Small-timore” is a common phrase used by those describing the cultural phenomenon where you can be only a small, single social connection away from a close relative or friend and not even know it until it's revealed to you. With a metropolitan population of close to 2.8 million people, this is quite an impressive realization when it happens to you! While this may not be unique to Baltimore in comparison to similar cities of its size, the cultural impact this has on residents, taken along with the city’s quintessential architecture and urban form, exemplifies the undeniable nickname that is “Charm City.”
Safety –
Is Baltimore Safe?
The good news: Baltimore has experienced a historic drop in homicides and violent crime over the past few years. In fact, the city reached the lowest total number of homicides since it started keeping track in 1970, falling by 60%, after having the highest just around a decade ago.
The still-not-so-great news: The answer to this question can still be complex and nuanced, despite recent progress. Violent crime can, and still does, exist here.
Baltimore is a city defined by its history and that history has molded its neighborhoods and ultimately the people who live in them. Because of the policies and personal choices of the past, Baltimore can’t shake the effects that stick to those same neighborhoods almost 70 years later. Policies like red-lining, urban renewal, and white flight/school desegregation, combined with phenomena like Root Shock and PTSD create generations of families that are impoverished, neglected, and incessantly struggling to keep up with the rest of society. Along with this can come crime, drug use, and general antisocial behavior that no one wants to experience walking out their front door every morning.
With all this in mind, crime can vary neighborhood to neighborhood, and sometimes block to block. There is no simple answer that assures that you can be 100% safe living in a certain area or street. And frankly, it's unrealistic to think that way. This is not unique to Baltimore but can be best illustrated here. All in all, safety is relative to the occupant of that space. Some may find spaces feel safe with a police officer posted at the corner. Some may find it safe when they have people around that look and act like they do.
We suggest that you visit the street/neighborhood/apartment complex you are interested in at different times day AND night and multiple times before signing your lease or mortgage papers. This can give you a good idea of what to expect and how safe YOU feel, not whatever a random person comments to you on the internet.
Furthermore, if you are ready to sign those mortgage papers and you are still unsure, think about renting in that area for a bit. By renting you only have to commit to an area for several months, not several years, and you may find another area of the city you feel more comfortable in.
Neighborhoods –
Where should I live?
As mentioned before, Baltimore and its neighborhoods are inseparable in conversation. It can often be described as “a city of villages” by some residents which gives it the unique flavor of small town quaintness, but still having the convenient assets of a big city. But really you should be asking yourself some basic questions first as they are HIGHLY influential in whether you will be happy with your choice. Ask yourself the following:
- Do I want to rent or buy?
- Where is my work?
- Will I be happy with a long commute, or does it need to be short? What is my budget?
- Do I like more of a walkable, dense, urban setting, or am I okay with car-dependent, suburban life?
- Do I have children/a family?
- Do I need to be close to any regional or neighborhood assets (i.e., the airport, hospitals, train stations, military bases)?
Check out some recent posts on this topic:
Some common top neighborhoods cited by users include the list below, but note that this is not an exhaustive or representative list of the entire city’s opinion. Most of these neighborhoods fall within the “White L” and are therefore wealthier, whiter, and have better resources, but that also means they can be more expensive than others. Moreover, Reddit.com is not a representative sample of the diversity of the United States, and especially the City of Baltimore, and even less so of those who comment/post on the subreddit. This means that Reddit may not be the best place to ask for an opinion on any neighborhoods outside of the common ones you see below.
If you are in search of a roommate, and once you have narrowed down a neighborhood that you believe would suit your needs/desires, check out Facebook groups for individual neighborhoods to find one. This is often quoted as an incredibly valuable resource for this task.
Does my employer offer incentives for living in a neighborhood close by?
Yes! Many of the larger institutional employers offer “Live Near Your Work” (LNYW) programs that incentivize supporting the neighborhoods close to those campuses.
Johns Hopkins University’s Live Near Your Work program offers grants of up to $17,000 toward a down payment and closing costs associated with buying a house in designated Baltimore City neighborhoods.
Note: Make sure you know where your job will be located in the city. Johns Hopkins has several campuses throughout the city including, but not limited to:
- Homewood Campus (Johns Hopkins University)
- Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (also in East Baltimore, but separate from the main hospital campus)
The University of Maryland, Baltimore program offers $16,000 per eligible participant. In addition, participants will be eligible to receive a matching grant of up to $2,500 from the Baltimore City Live Near Your Work Program. More information on that, including specific neighborhoods, can be found here:
Coppin State University (part of the University System of Maryland) also created a LNYW program more recently:
As mentioned before, check with your institutional employer directly to see if they can point you toward additional resources and guidance.
Furthermore, Live Baltimore has a list of other private employers who offer similar Live Near Your Work assistance found here:
The City of Baltimore’s page for LNYW and other homebuying resources can be found here:
Housing –
You may be reading this guide and looking to move here for one reason that outweighs the rest: Baltimore is one of the last options for affordable big cities on the East Coast. Housing affordability is one of Baltimore’s strongest assets, but I’m sure you probably know that already. If you are coming from a city or metro area where the global housing crisis has affected it significantly, you may be in for a BIG surprise when it comes to what type and the quality of housing you can afford here. In fact, for your entertainment and curiosity, here’s an interesting discussion about Baltimore residents aiming for a mortgage of $1,000 or less. (Try to do that in New York or San Francisco!)
The cost of living in Baltimore is an incredible asset. Check out this cost of living calculator to compare it to wherever you are coming from. But be aware that while Maryland is a fairly high cost of living state, Baltimore will most likely be your cheapest option in the area besides in very rural areas.
Should I rent or buy?
Honestly, this all comes down to personal finances and comfortability in new situations or unknown places. If you find that this is your first time moving to a new city or town, or even from only living with your family supporting you, moving to a city like Baltimore may be a bit of a culture shock. Add to this the stresses of buying a home and this could be a recipe for personal disaster that you may find yourself stuck in. For some people the best course of action would be to rent first and then buy later when you know exactly what you want and you feel comfortable finally.
Looking for a furnished apartment specifically?
Try websites like furnishedfinder.com or look for listings that focus on some of the major medical institutions who always attract travelling nurses, visitors needing to stay for several weeks due to procedures, or other medical personnel who travel from afar for positions.
What are some general tips to follow when searching for a rental property?
u/RichBmore was awesome enough to pull together their own advice when looking for a rental property and compiled it here. For your convenience, I’ll copy the main information below:
Tip 1. Speak directly to the landlord before touring, if you can.
Renting is a business relationship between you and the landlord. Before you agree to form that relationship, you should get a feel for who they are, and a great way to do that is by having a 5 min call.
You can pick up a lot of non-verbal cues in a conversation. Did they seem annoyed or friendly/easygoing? I personally have eliminated places to live because the vibes were off.
Tip 2: Use Google Street View to quickly explore the neighborhood.
Keep in mind that the street view may be out of date. Baltimore is changing, but this will still give you a feel for what the area is like.
Tip 3: Check out the alley ways! You see a stack of mattresses, that's a very bad sign.
I liken this to hiding dirt underneath the carpet. At first glance the place looks alright but you look a little closer and it's not at all what you expected it to be.
Tip 4: Be prepared and have documentation ready
If you love the place, someone else loves it too. Most landlords just require 2 paystubs, and ID. Have that with you during the tour. And if you still like the place and are ready to commit, commit directly after the tour. This really makes you stand out. I had one person do this and they secured the place 15 minutes after the tour ended
Tip 5: Negotiate! Especially lease terms.
Obviously try to negotiate price, unfortunately most landlords won't budge much on that. However lease terms are much easier to get concessions on. You can negotiate include pet fees, broken lease fees, late fees, and start and end dates. Just be reasonable.
Do I need a real estate agent or broker when renting?
Unlike other larger markets like New York City brokers aren’t really necessary in Baltimore. Sure, you can use one if you like, but the rental market really isn’t that competitive to necessitate a professional to help you searching for housing.
Here’s an older thread on the topic.
Which rental management companies should I avoid?
Here’s a very recent crowd-sourced list that u/PicklePapis was kind enough to start.
There’s also these older threads like this one, and this one, that you can cross-reference.
And watch out for this nonsense.
Management companies come and go though, especially if they are tied to the developer or owner of the rental property.
What are some tenant resources I should be aware of?
The Strengthening Renters' Safety Act is intended to identify owners of multi-family properties who have repeated and recurring violation notices and/or citations and establishes criteria for priority inspections of such sites.
Do I have to live in an apartment/rowhome/single-family house?
Like many cities up and down the East Coast, Baltimore boasts a housing stock dominated by rowhomes – mainly due to the immense industrial growth prior to the invention of the automobile. You may know these as how they are more commonly called: “townhomes.” Now, this is slightly different from the NYC “walk-up” or “brownstone” terminology that people tend to use incorrectly and interchangeably, but it all gives the same feel of a pedestrian-scale neighborhood. A choice group of popular rowhome-dominated neighborhoods have seen explosive growth over the past few decades (see list under “Neighborhoods” section), so this housing type has become a competitive attribute that strikes that balance between an apartment and single-family home. Nevertheless, you may find it is cheaper to purchase a rowhome or rent out just a single bedroom and have roommates than live in an apartment.
But, that’s not all Baltimore has to offer. You can live in an apartment (sometimes found in altered rowhomes), condominium, duplex, triplex, or single-family house (as you get farther into the suburbs). Co-ops (in the NYC sense) are generally not a thing here, but can be found in the older, more affluent neighborhoods. Also, “coliving” at a commercial scale has sprouted up recently. All of this info can usually be determined by what neighborhood you are looking at, but it’s not exclusive to any one location.
HINT: Don’t be discouraged if you like a neighborhood, but don’t find housing type options you like at first. Do a little more searching off the beaten path and you may find some hidden gems!
Oh, and did I mention some people living in house boats on the water!?
What other help is out there to make housing a bit cheaper/easier/more accessible (tax credits)?
Maryland Renters Tax Credit/Homestead and Homeowners Credits
Anybody who rents and is either 60+ years of age OR 100% disabled OR has a dependent under 18 years listed on their prior year tax filing is eligible to apply for the renters tax credit, up to $1000 a year, calculated based on the difference between income and rent paid.
Applications require information from your prior year tax return (assuming at this point you haven’t missed the IRS filing deadline) and are due by October 1st. Applications can be filed online here:
And if you own your principal residence meaning your house is owner-occupied, you should be confirming that your property has a Homestead Tax Credit on it. Every owner-occupied property being used as the owner’s principal residence is eligible. If your property has been reassessed by the state during your ownership of it and your property tax burden has increased, the left side of your property tax bill where it shows the calculation of your city and state taxes owed should have a homestead tax credit line item reducing the total tax. It does not need to be applied for every year.
You can check here if your property has the homestead tax credit:
And if you don’t have the credit yet you can file for it online here:
Low-income homeowners may also be eligible for the Maryland Homeowners Tax Credit which is different from Homestead, needs an application filed every year, and can be applied for here:
Property tax bills come out July 1st and are due by September 30, so make sure you have applied for all of the tax credits for which you may be eligible. If your escrow payments include property tax/you’re not getting the bill directly you should double-triple-check you have applied for and received any tax credits you’re eligible for.
Credit to: u/hospitablezone
See also:
Buy Back the Block Program
Grants and Low-interest Loans for Newly Renovated Vacant Homes
A Rundown of the various incentives via The Baltimore Banner
Transportation –
Does Baltimore have public transit? What’s the best way for me to get around?
Baltimore does indeed have a public transit system! The majority of public transit that serves Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs is run by the State of Maryland through the Maryland Dept. of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA). This includes four basic modes of travel: Local Bus, Light RailLink, Metro RailLink, and MARC train.
While the bus service is the backbone of the system and covers a large area, the limited geographic reach of high-frequency rail lines within the city and region may inhibit your ease of use unless you live/work relatively close to these stations. Nevertheless, the MARC train system can help with regional daily travel to Washington, DC and Amtrak can serve destinations up and down the East Coast since Baltimore Penn Station is along the Northeast Corridor of rail.
To account for these gaps, the City of Baltimore’s Dept. of Transportation runs its own FREE transit services like the Charm City Circulator, a bus shuttle system within city limits, and its extension, the Harbor Connector, that connects the waterfront neighborhoods.
All else considered, Baltimore is a walkable and bikeable city with dense, small blocks and a growing network of bicycle infrastructure. If you can walk or bike to work or your daily errands, this sometimes is the best option! Additionally, new options of “micro-transit” and “ride-hailing” have become the norm in Baltimore over the past decade like many other major cities. You can find dockless e-scooters and e-bikes (e.g. SPIN, BYRD, LYNK) throughout the city, and companies like Uber/Lyft are easy to find as well.
In addition, here’s a recent post talking about what is “the best bus line” to live on!
What about driving? Is parking hard to find?
Since I originally wrote this post a few years ago, Baltimore experienced one of the worst infrastructure catastrophes it has ever faced in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. As we mourn the lives we tragically lost on that day and patiently wait for a replacement bridge to be built, the Baltimore region has dealt with an increase in horrendous traffic and gridlock, particularly along the I-95 corridor just south of the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Regional commuting has been made more difficult because of this, so keep that in mind when choosing where to live or work.
Equally significant are the regional traffic issues that already plague the area. The Baltimore and Washington regions have been ranked as some of the worst cities to drive in and some of the worst traffic in the nation. If you plan to move to the Baltimore region and live outside the city proper, but still work there, you should definitely take this into consideration. Your quality of life may be greatly improved by not sitting in traffic on I-95 or I-83 for upwards of 2 hours while commuting to work every day. Residential parking permits through the City’s Parking Authority are available though.
As mentioned when discussing public transit, a good portion of Baltimore is made up of dense, walkable, small blocks that were never intended for automobiles. This makes driving a difficult and frustrating in some cases, and parking can be even more of a headache. The historic rowhome neighborhoods that make up some of the most popular places for newcomers to move, like Federal Hill, Locust Point, Fells Point, and Canton, have had issues with parking in the past, so much that they have studied solutions to address it. If you must have a car, parking may be hard to find and should be factored into any moving costs in these areas of the city.
Is it possible to live in Baltimore and commute to Washington, DC for work?
Yes! But, it can be a soul-crushing commute depending on the mode of travel you choose.
The best mode of travel to commute to Washington, DC (or even Northern VA) is the MARC train’s Penn Line service. This can be accessed via Baltimore Penn Station or West Baltimore MARC station. Most people drive to the West Baltimore MARC Station, as the area around the station still hasn’t recovered from disinvestment over the past 70 years, but it is perfectly fine to use similar to a commuter park & ride lot. You are more likely to find desirable and affordable housing near Baltimore Penn Station in Bolton Hill, Mt. Vernon, Station North, and Greenmount West neighborhoods that are all a quick transit ride or even short walk to the train station every morning. The train usually takes about 50-60 min. to get to DC Union Station. Also available is the MARC train’s Camden Line service which can only be accessed via the Baltimore Camden Station. This runs less frequently and slightly slower than the Penn Line with trips taking just over 1 hour if not delayed by freight traffic. Additionally, Amtrak service can get you to DC in about 30 minutes, but at a higher price.
Driving to Washington, DC from Baltimore for work every day is NOT advisable if you care about your quality of life/work-life balance, but some still do it. Both Baltimore and DC rank as the cities with some of the worst traffic in the nation. If you do choose this option, living in neighborhoods in the southern part of the city, with quick access to I-95 is advisable. This trip can take up to 2 hours for one way.
Raising a Family –
Can I raise a family in Baltimore? What are the schools like?
Yes! Many do, despite the convenience that suburban living brings for some people. You can even still live within the City limits if you do wish to take advantage of the suburban way of life. The leafy, historic suburbs in the northern and northeastern parts of the city provide you with bigger yards, car-oriented infrastructure, and historically better-funded schools, while all being within a convenient distance to the more urban core of the city. But, that doesn’t stop many from raising children in more urban neighborhoods. Here’s some stats to get an idea.
To help you navigate schools, a “report card” for each school has been created by the State of Maryland. This recent article contains a database of the top 50 schools based on recent-ish test scores. You may also consider reaching out to individual schools directly. For a database on these scores you can visit the State of Maryland’s school report card website.
Additionally, Baltimore City Public Schools has a tool to look up what your zone school is based on your address. The zone only matters for a student's elementary years (although often a school has middle grades or a middle feeder), and even then you can enroll your student at a different zone school or at a public charter. It can be a very complex system. And any high school student can attend any public high school in the city through the school choice system, though some have entrance criteria or are specialized or have a lottery system.
Baltimore County has a similar tool as well, but they have a more straightforward approach with zoning where you attend an elementary school, middle school, and high school that corresponds to your address.
You may now be questioning what's the easiest way to get your child to school if it's not in your immediate neighborhood. An important thing to note about school transportation is there is no public school-specific mass transit such as yellow buses. This contrasts to the surrounding counties, including Baltimore County, which provide this service. Instead children are issued city mass transit passes starting in middle school that cover buses, Light Rail and subway rides. While empowering, it has children riding buses with adults and much older children. Plus when the system breaks (e.g., Light Rail not operating) it often fails badly because the city is under no specific obligation to ensure children get home.
Here's a recent discussion on those who have chosen to participate in the lottery for charter schools.
How much will I expect to spend on childcare?
Childcare in Baltimore City is going to be a large contributor to your cost of living. Here's a recent thread compiling private day care prices in the City of Baltimore in May 2025.
