Article Overview: Living in Baltimore | Moving to Baltimore
Are you thinking about moving to Baltimore? I’ve lived in Charm City for nearly a decade and created a quick list of pros and cons of living in Baltimore, Maryland.
Hopefully it answers some questions, if not, please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments below.
Oh, Baltimore.
The city with the unfortunate reputation created by its infamous appearance on the hit TV show, The Wire. While yes, part of the systemic issues highlighted in the show are a reality, most are either dated, overplayed, or just not true (at least today).
Living in Baltimore has been a time mixed with some great highs and not so great lows. If you’re considering moving to Baltimore I’m hopeful my experience living here can be helpful to you.
Keep in these pros and cons are based on my own personal experience and not everyone feels the same way about the city that I do.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore
Plan to visit before finalizing your decision to move to Baltimore? If helpful, here’s the best hotel in town (it’s the one I recommend to my own family and friends).
Table of Contents: Living in Baltimore
Table of Contents: Living in Baltimore
- Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore
- Pros of Moving to Baltimore
- 1. Baltimore has a prime east coast location
- 2. High affordability & low cost of living
- 3. Baltimore has some absolutely gorgeous neighborhoods
- 4. Living in Baltimore gives you access to a massive job market
- 5. Baltimore is full of history
- 6. There’s a lively arts, music, & culture scene
- 7. Baltimore has excellent opportunities for recreation
- 8. The incredible food scene
- Cons of Living in Baltimore
- 1. Crime is a real problem while living in Baltimore
- 2. Moving to Baltimore you’ll find poverty is more pronounced
- 3. Let’s face it, Baltimore is a dirty city
- 4. Public transportation in Baltimore is lacking
- 5. The summers are hot & humid
- 6. Public schools leave much to be desired
- 7. Prepare for harsh winters living in Baltimore
- Retiring in Baltimore FAQ
- Cost of Living in Baltimore
- Comparison of the Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore
- Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore Summary
- Map of Living in Baltimore
- Pros of Moving to Baltimore
Pros of Moving to Baltimore
1. Baltimore has a prime east coast location
One of the best parts of living in Baltimore is its near perfect location on the eastern seaboard relative to the other major east coast cities.
Rail happens to be the fastest mode of transportation to get to most of the major cities including Washington D.C., New York, & Philadelphia when you factor in security screening times at TSA.
If being centrally situated on the east coast is important to you then moving to Baltimore checks the box.
Distances from Baltimore to major East Coast Cities:
Baltimore to Boston: 7 hours by car, 6.5 hours by train, 1.5 hours by plane
Baltimore to New York: 3.5 hours by car, 2.5 hours by train, 1 hour by plane
Baltimore to Richmond: 3 hours by car, 4.5 hours by train, 1 hour by plane
Baltimore to Philadelphia: 2 hours by car, 1 hour by train, 1 hour by plane
Baltimore to Washington D.C.: 1 hours by car, 30 minutes by train, 30 minutes by plane
2. High affordability & low cost of living
Compared to its mid-Atlantic neighbors, Baltimore boasts a big advantage in the affordability and cost of living department. You might be surprised just how far your dollar goes in Baltimore compared to New York & Washington D.C.
In terms of major cities where you can live well for less, Baltimore ranks #3 in the nation despite being just an hour away from spendy D.C. According to Inc., one can “live comfortably” for just $49,761.60 per year.
Apartment hunting in Baltimore? The average rental price is currently $1114/month for a one bedroom apartment per ApartmentList as of the writing of this article.
3. Baltimore has some absolutely gorgeous neighborhoods
If you’re looking for great neighborhood vibes, living in Baltimore might be for you. There are more than 200 neighborhoods in Baltimore with an incredible amount of diversity in character (and price).
Iconic row houses, newly revitalized areas, hipster, artsy, trendy, luxurious, edgy, peaceful – give me an adjective and there’s a good chance there’s a neighborhood that fits the bill.
8 Great Neighborhoods in Baltimore to Consider:
- Federal Hill – Old world charm & beauty
- Fells Point/Harbor East – Close to downtown & great seafood
- Canton – Trendy, newly luxurious, artsy
- Brooklyn – Hip neighborhood with great parks
- Hampden – Weird (the Portland, Oregon variety), colorful, and hipstery
- Charles Village – Diverse, blue collar, students (Johns Hopkins)
- Mt. Washington – A bit removed, suburban, peaceful
- Mt. Vernon – Wealthy, museums, theater, downtown
4. Living in Baltimore gives you access to a massive job market
Due to its proximity to the nation’s capitol, moving to Baltimore for the job market may be a smart move. I know a lot of people who work in Washington D.C. (earning higher D.C. salaries) and live in Baltimore.
If you hate traffic then take the 30 minute train from Baltimore to D.C. like the rest of us.
If commuting isn’t your thing then look no further than the home turf. The average annual salary in Baltimore is above the national average at 62K+. The job market is especially sweet if you’re in the healthcare industry with Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland in town.
5. Baltimore is full of history
My dad was a history teacher so the historical side of the city was a highlight when moving to Baltimore in my case. And my, oh my is there history here.
Starting with the focal point of America’s national anthem, Fort McHenry and its flag that was “still there”. It was in Baltimore that Edgar Allen Poe got his start, where his first home (now a museum) can be toured, and where his legacy continues to be celebrated (the Ravens are the namesake of his famous poem “the Raven”).
The nation’s oldest railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O), which transformed America, started here in Baltimore.
Babe Ruth was born here, Fredrick Douglas escaped from here, and John Wilkes Booth is buried here. And that hardly scratches the surface!
6. There’s a lively arts, music, & culture scene
From world class museums, to vibrant theaters, lively music halls, and edgy art scenes there is lots of great cultural spaces in Baltimore.
Personally I’m a sucker for museums (especially art) and love the:
- Walters Museum of Art (my favorite)
- Baltimore Museum of Art (the big one in town)
- The American Visionary Art Museum (which always has amazing exhibits)
- Artscape where you can find some great up and coming artists.
If you’re into theater then check out Fell’s Point Corner Theater, Single Carrot Theater, Centerstage, & Fluid Movement.
For music lovers see Ottobar & Cat’s Eye Pub for great & casual local venues. If you’re into the more highfalutin scene then the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra might be more your pace.
And of course, the Baltimore Zoo & Baltimore Aquarium have to be mentioned here.
7. Baltimore has excellent opportunities for recreation
As a runner and someone who loves green spaces, one of my favorite parts of living in Baltimore is the great recreation scene here. The amount of nearby opportunities for recreation is pretty great.
Baltimore has solid infrastructure for bikes, whether its commuting to work or going out to get some exercise. Kayaking is quite popular here with the harbor giving folks great access to the water.
If you’re looking for green space, some of my favorite parks in the city include: Patterson Park, Baltimore Conservatory, Sherwood Gardens
If you’re looking for national parks near Baltimore there happens to be quite a few including epic battlefield parks like Antietam & beautiful historic parks like Harpers Ferry.
8. The incredible food scene
Just thinking about the food here has my mouth watering for Old Bay (founded in Baltimore) and delicious Maryland Blue Crab (the finest in the world!). And while I may be a bit overzealous about the crab here, I’ve got a lot of folks who will back me up when I say Baltimore is a foodie city.
Baltimore’s food scene can be summed up as a gift from the mighty Chesapeake Bay.
Seafood is the name of the game here and crab is the star of the show. Play the shrimp scene from Forrest Gump in your head and substitute “shrimp” for crab. If it can be made out of crab, they make it, and it’s really tasty.
Beyond that there’s great oysters, fish – all the usual suspects for a seafood town.
Cons of Living in Baltimore
1. Crime is a real problem while living in Baltimore
Living in Baltimore you realize pretty early on that crime is an issue. This year Baltimore was ranked the 5th most unsafe city in America. While, for the most part, it’s pretty different from what Jimmy McNulty was up against, there are plenty of pockets of real concern.
I heard a friend liken the city to being comprised of “islands of safety”. There are plenty of safe neighborhoods in Baltimore, but getting from one to the next is sometimes impossible without crossing through a danger zone.
In most major cities the neighborhoods with the most crime are located in one generalized area and the ones without are located in another. This is not the case in Baltimore where some of the most affluent neighborhoods are directly adjacent to some of the ones with the most crime.
This means crime spills over into basically every neighborhood. Personally I mostly feel safe walking around Baltimore but you definitely have to always keep your antennae up. Muggings are not uncommon here.
I hear some folks say the crime is only drug related gang crimes but in my experience it can be pretty random. Package theft is a problem, break-ins are common, and muggings, while not as frequent as the news makes them out to be, do happen.
2. Moving to Baltimore you’ll find poverty is more pronounced
If you’ve ever hit a red light at the corner of President & Pratt streets you’ve encountered “the Baltimore squeegee kids“. Suddenly a group of kids and young adults rush up to cars the intersection with squeegees and window wash.
Whether or not you agree there’s a high chance the squeegee will be hitting your windshield and money will be demanded in varying degrees of intensity. While it’s hard to blame kids trying to earn some money it can be quite a jarring experience and an outward sign of the poverty that plagues Baltimore.
While Baltimore ranks 30th among major cities with the worst poverty rates, the problem feels more pronounced here than in other cities on the list.
3. Let’s face it, Baltimore is a dirty city
Walk the streets of Baltimore and you’ll find litter is prevalent. Like most major cities there are places with more trash strewn about than others, but it’s a thing here.
On top of the litter, vandalism is common, and graffiti is pervasive. Now, as someone who lived in New York for a while, the city being fairly dirty doesn’t bother me but it does bother some.
After a while you don’t realize how dirty Baltimore is until you visit another city and find yourself in awe of the cleanliness. That being said, if having clean sidewalks is important to you then it’s worth consideration if you’re thinking about moving to Baltimore.
4. Public transportation in Baltimore is lacking
One of the biggest complaints I hear from friends about living in Baltimore is the lack of adequate public transportation infrastructure in the city.
Yes, public transportation does exist in Baltimore but it’s just not enough. If you live outside of the main core areas and don’t feel comfortable riding a bike, then owning a car becomes a near necessity. I own a car here but many of my friends do not and get by just fine.
There is light rail, subway, commuter rail (MARC), and bus lines which might seem sufficient but they are a bit disconnected and somewhat unreliable.
Redlining has been a historic problem in Baltimore making the public transportation options (among many other things) inequitable over the years. I recommend reading about the White “L” and the Black Butterfly if you’re interested in moving to Baltimore.
5. The summers are hot & humid
If you’re used to the east coast then you’re no stranger to heat and humidity. Baltimore is no different than its nearby neighbor of Washington D.C.
Summers in Baltimore are hot and humid with high temperatures reaching into the 80s & 90s. The mugginess makes staying outside for extended periods a no go.
If you like biking to work then make sure you bring a change of clothes as you’ll likely be drenched in sweat for anything over a mile or two. Even long walks during peak heat bring out the pit stains in the best of us.
6. Public schools leave much to be desired
If sending your children to good public schools is an important box to check for moving to Baltimore then you might to think twice. Baltimore public schools routinely rank near the bottom of major cities in the US (47 out of 50 on this list).
For what it’s worth, of my friends in Baltimore with kids, most plan on sending their kids to private or charter schools by middle or high school if they don’t already.
Some of the standout schools in Baltimore to consider include: Roland Park Elementary/Middle, Hampden Elementary/Middle, Hampstead Hill Academy, Baltimore School for the Arts High School, City College High School.
7. Prepare for harsh winters living in Baltimore
Whereas pretty much all east coast cities have humid summers (not all are created equal), not all have harsh winters (think Atlanta, Georgia). As a rule of thumb, the further north you go the colder & harder winter will be.
Living in Baltimore it’s a mixed bag. Some years we hardly see an inch or two of snow whereas other years we get blasted with over a foot in a single storm.
When it does snow, I highly recommend staying off the roads as our snow is not regular enough to instill our drivers with systemic knowledge of what it’s like to drive in the snow.
Average winter temperatures in Baltimore range with high temperatures in the low 40s and low temperatures in the high 20s/low 30s.
There’s also a thing (not just Baltimore) where folks put lawn chairs in parking spots they’ve cleared of snow when they leave to reserve them. While I don’t love the practice, I also don’t recommend removing the chairs as you never know what the consequences will be.
Retiring in Baltimore FAQ
Yes, overall Baltimore is a good place to live if you find the right neighborhood for you. There are some beautiful and charming parts of Charm City that folks love to call home.
Due to its relative low cost of living and high affordability, Baltimore is a good place for folks to retire who live in the more expensive areas of Washington D.C., New York, as their dollar will go further here.
Is Marijuana legal in Baltimore?
No, recreational Marijuana is still illegal in Baltimore along with the whole state of Maryland.
What’s the population of Baltimore?
The current population of Baltimore, Maryland is 576,498 people.
How many days of sunshine in Baltimore?
On average, Baltimore sees 213 days of sunshine per year which beats the national average by about a week.
Cost of Living in Baltimore
Compared to its mid-Atlantic neighbors, Baltimore boasts a big advantage in the affordability and cost of living department. You might be surprised just how far your dollar goes in Baltimore compared to New York & Washington D.C.
In terms of major cities where you can live well for less, Baltimore ranks #3 in the nation despite being just an hour away from spendy D.C. According to Inc., one can “live comfortably” for just $49,761.60 per year.
Comparison of the Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore
| Pros of Moving to Baltimore | Cons of Living in Baltimore |
|---|---|
| Baltimore has a prime east coast location | Crime is a real problem while living in Baltimore |
| High affordability & low cost of living | Moving to Baltimore you’ll find poverty is more pronounced |
| Baltimore has some absolutely gorgeous neighborhoods | Let’s face it, Baltimore is a dirty city |
| Living in Baltimore gives you access to a massive job market | Public transportation in Baltimore is lacking |
| Baltimore is full of history | The summers are hot & humid |
| There’s a lively arts, music, & culture scene | Public schools leave much to be desired |
| Baltimore has excellent opportunities for recreation | Prepare for harsh winters living in Baltimore |
| The incredible food scene |
Pros & Cons of Living in Baltimore Summary
- Baltimore has a prime east coast location
- High affordability & low cost of living
- Baltimore has some gorgeous neighborhoods
- Access to massive job market
- Baltimore is full of history
- Lively music, art, & culture scene
- Excellent recreation opportunities
- Delicious food scene
- Crime is a real problem in Baltimore
- Poverty is more pronounced
- Baltimore is a dirty city
- Public transportation is lacking
- Summers are hot & humid
- Public schools leave much to be desired
- Prepare for harsh winters
Map of Living in Baltimore
Pin Living in Baltimore
Helpful Related Links
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Living in Washington DC: 15 Honest Pros & Cons of Living in Washington DC
Living in Philadelphia: 20 Honest Pros & Cons of Living in Philadelphia
I found your article very helpful. I was offered a job in Baltimore and was seriously considering accepting it, as they are offering about 10% more than I currently make. But this article (and many others like it) has made me decide against it. The pros sound lovely: low cost of living, lots of activities, beautiful/historical areas. HOWEVER, the cons completely cancel that out (for me). Filthy, crime-infested, poverty-stricken, unpleasant weather…it’s like you’re describing a third-world country. The school situation is also alarming to me. My spouse and I do not have kids yet, but would like to in the future. And providing them with a good education is non-negotiable. And I don’t necessarily want to shell out tens of thousands of dollars on a private education when there are so many public schools across the country that provide top-notch education. I’m currently living in a low-cost of living area with virtually no crime, some of the best schools this side of the country, and have delightful neighbors. THANK YOU for this article because it really would have been foolish of my to give that up for a few extra grand a year, only to end up living in the slums!!
Here goes… I have lived in NYC my entire life, yet contemplating a move to another urban environment that may offer a bit less congestion, decent walk ways and public transit( no car ), movie theaters, grocery stores and better apt. ( good studio or small one bedroom) rental prices. I. am somewhat retired and now on SS with some savings. Baltimore may be a wise relocation for me.????????♂️????