Baltimore, MD - Anyone ?
 

I made a trip to Baltimore last year and only did the tourist stuff - I am now contimplating a job change there - any advise as to living and working in Baltimore ? What's the best/safest area to live in ? Youe help will greatly be appreciated - need to make a decision soon !

Hi, glad you liked Baltimore enough to consider moving here. What area would you be working in? Do you want to drive/Will you be parking a car? How old are you? Will you be buying or renting? Most areas in the northern district are the safest and also some areas near downtown such as fells point, canton, federal Hill, locust point, mount vernon. Live Baltimore is good website to check out, www.livebaltimore.com

That site will give you an idea of real estate, renting, relocation, etc.. Depending on your needs/wants, Baltimore isnt a bad city really.

I used to live in the neighborhood of Canton, but I moved two years ago. My husband and I also had friends who lived in Bolton Hill, Federal Hill, Charles Village and lots of other places. The safest area to live in is the suburbs, although the northern neighborhoods of the city are pretty safe, too. Unless the city has improved greatly in the past two years, Baltimore has a huge drug problem, which means property crime if fairly high. Everyone we knew had been the victim of some sort of crime while they lived in Baltimore, but almost all of it was some sort of break in when nobody was home, not violent. Our house was robbed in the middle of the day about two months after we moved in, which we came to find out is pretty much standard for Canton.

I'm not saying this to scare you or to rip on Baltimore, which is a great city with a lot to offer, but it's something you need to consider if you are thinking about living in the city itself.

Thanks for your responses - seems to be the general consenses that the crime in Baltimore is high.

Crime in the "burbs" is very low and there are many gorgeous neighborhoods. Also, it's not at all unsafe to go into town for dinner, shopping, etc-- it's just that some of the inner city neighborhoods are not safe. So much depends on what your economic status is (alas! wish it weren't that way!) If you can afford a "good" neighborhood, it's safe and wonderful.

JerseySue- could you please post some information about yourself and what you'll be doing here,so that we can give you some more specific information?