Okay, it’s not Boston, but it’s the unsung hero of the East Coast Seafood Scene. From lobster rolls to crab cakes, oysters on the half shell, and more. Baltimore has the food and drink scene on lock. If you want the best options, opt to live near the waterfront and in neighboring Fell’s Point. It might be a popular stop for visitors, but it’s a staple for locals as well!

Also, this city is not the Wire, okay? Baltimore is far from being the intense crime drama portrayed on TV. That said, it’s not the safest city in the world, either. Baltimore is a wonderful city with grit, charm, and way friendlier strangers than DC or NYC. But it’s important to keep in mind the same rules you hear about most cities: stay alert at night, be aware of your environment, and, like any good city-dweller, never leave any valuables in your car.



The Seafood Scene!

LookyLOO Review of Baltimore

While DC gets most of the attention, Charm City has a lot of options of its own for residents to enjoy. The beautiful Baltimore Museum of Art, going out on the water, and enjoying the city’s seafood scene are just some of the lifestyle staples of Baltimore. The 135-acre Maryland Zoo and a variety of other museums are a few of ways that Baltimore provides families with a long list of options to pass the time.

Baltimore is also home to almost twenty different colleges and universities, and is unsurprisingly a growing hub for younger people as well. A plethora of professional sports teams both within Baltimore and in nearby DC have lively fan bases that provide the athletically inclined with communities aplenty to enjoy the city. A great public transportation system makes it convenient to get around and a good option for those not excited about paying for a car and the gas costs that come with it. Baltimore is also just a train or car ride away from DC, Philly and NYC, so those looking for a new adventure have that well within their grasp. 

Check out all the happenings in Baltimore in the [**calendar of events**](https://www.baltimoresun.com/events/calendar/#!/), courtesy of the Baltimore Sun. 


Lifestyle 

Due in large part to the presence of institutions like Johns Hopkins University, healthcare, medicine and biotech are king in Baltimore. Charm City is regarded as one of the top spots to move for those looking to work in health or medicine. Baltimore is also home to Fortune 500 companies such as Black & Decker, Constellation Energy, Legg Mason, and T. Rowe Price, and financial services as a whole are also on the rise. To nobody’s surprise, education is also big in Baltimore with its 17 different colleges and universities. The city itself is committed to continue innovating and diversifying its employment options, and that will likely continue to be possible as more and more younger residents begin to call Baltimore their home.


Worklife

[**Baltimore City Public Schools**](https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/) receives a [**"C+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/baltimore-city-public-schools-md/) with higher grades for clubs/extracurriculars and diversity. 

You see a mix of high and low scores for school performance throughout the city with some better scoring density on the north-central swathe. We found a review of the city schools that captured a lot of the local sentiment: 

*Don’t listen to all the naysayers. I speak from personal experience.

I grew up in Baltimore City and attended both public and private schools in the city. I went to Midtown Academy (public), Baltimore Montessori Public Charter, Friends School (private), and Baltimore School for the Arts (public) for high school. While the public schools do have significant funding issues, I can say that I enjoyed my time overall at public school a lot more than at private. In the end, school is more about what you learn outside the classroom, and public school taught me to be an accepting, openminded person. There are so many amazing people I would never have met had I been shut away in the insular world of Baltimore private schools for my entire experience. In the end, super fancy facilities won’t get you very far. It’s the dedication of teachers and the culture that is instilled in you that really matter.

[**Baltimore School for the Arts**](https://www.bsfa.org/) is an especially amazing school. It really changed my life. [**Baltimore Montessori**](https://baltimoremontessoricharter.org/) is also good, but like a lot of the charters, the lottery is very competitive. If you live near Canton, Hampstead Hill is a great school and so is Patterson Park Public. I second the mentions of Thomas Johnson, Fed Hill Prep, and also Francis Scott Key. City Neighbors in Hamilton is also very good. Mount Washington School is also known to be good and has an IB program, as does the [**Baltimore International Academy**](https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/o/bcps/page/335) (a language immersion school).

[**Roland Park**](https://www.rpcs.org/) is probably the best public school in the city, especially for middle school (the magnet ingenuity program draws from the whole city).

For High School, I would agree that [**City**](https://www.cityneighborshighschool.org/) (humanities), [**Poly**](https://www.bpi.edu/) (STEM), and [**BSA**](https://www.bsfa.org/) (arts) are the only three worth going to, at least right now. Going to city schools did not scar me, and I can say for sure that it made me into a better person. So many great teachers and people.*

Schools

Baltimore is definitely an underappreciated East Coast city. It is growing and well-loved by the locals who call it home. And as a city that has access to some of the most significant cities in the region, it’s worth the 45 minute train commute to DC to well....not live in DC.


It’s better than DC

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**DonLunafan51**
Living in Baltimore
3y ago
✭✭✭✭

I have lived in this city all of my 53 years of life. I have had the pleasure of living in eight different neighborhoods in that span of time. Baltimore will make your heart swell, and give you a migraine, sometimes in one day. There are annual street festivals like Artscape, SoWeBo, Fell Point Fun Fest that bring people together and give you a chance to sample food and wares made by locals. Our transit system (I am carless) has many flaws, but if you can learn to be patient, it will get you where you are going. We have a ton of deeply ingrained, systemic problems that do not have easy answers. Redlining in the fifties pushed many affluent whites out to suburbia, as their fear of people that didn't look like them outweighed their love of our city. But if you take a walk through Mount Vernon on a sunny day, you'll see architecture, statuary, and walk the same streets as F.Scott Fitzgerald, Etta and Claribel Cone, Gertrude Stein, Cab Calloway, Eubie Blake and so many others. In short, Baltimore is a place to fall in love with, even though she might not always love you back.

For more reviews of Baltimore from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/baltimore/reviews).

It's a Real City

Reviews of Baltimore from Locals.

**The Best Thing About Baltimore?**  The Seafood Scene!

Okay, it’s not Boston, but it’s the unsung hero of the East Coast Seafood Scene. From lobster rolls to crab cakes, oysters on the halfshell, and more, Baltimore has the food and drink scene on lock. If you want the best options, opt to live near the waterfront and in neighboring Fell’s Point. It might be a popular stop for visitors, but it’s a staple for locals as well!

**The Worst Thing About Baltimore?**  Crime, unfortunately.

It’s not the Wire, okay? Baltimore is far from being the intense crime drama like it’s portrayed on TV. But that being said, it’s not the safest city in the world. Baltimore is a wonderful city with grit, charm, and way friendlier strangers than DC or NYC. But the crime can’t be ignored. It’s important to keep in mind the same rules you hear about most cities: stay alert at night, be aware of your environment, and, like any good city-dweller, never leave any valuables in your car.

**How You Living?**  Neighborhood love!

Some neighborhoods are known for their historic row houses, others have factories that have been converted into cool lofts or condos. Huge bonus if you can find a spot on the waterfront! Check out Mount Vernon if you want to be close to pretty much everything: bars, museums, a light rail stop, and more! The Upper Fells Point area is also a favorite, with a short walk to Johns Hopkins Hospital for anyone in the healthcare industry. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  It’s better than DC

Baltimore is definitely an under-appreciated East Coast city. It is growing and well-loved by the locals who call it home. And as a city that has access to some of the most significant cities in the region, it’s worth the 45 minute train commute to DC to well....not live in DC.


Baltimore is an hour’s drive northeast of Washington DC and two hours southwest of Philadelphia along the east coast. The city center is on the Patapsco River, close to where it empties into Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is a city with a bypass around the city (also called a Ring Road or loop). The streets inside the city are organized in a grid pattern. Because of its close proximity to DC, it is known and often used as a commuter city. 


The Area

Baltimore has a relatively low median age, making it great for young professionals and recent grads. There are definitely some walkable areas and the rent is way cheaper than neighboring D.C. We suggest starting your search in Federal Hill. It’s just south of downtown along Inner Harbor, meaning your commute will be a breeze. You’ll have your choice of luxury condos, rowhomes, and apartments. It’s definitely walkable, which is a huge plus, and you’ll love hanging out at Cross Street Market during nights out with friends.
- Federal Hill
- Fells Point
- Mount Vernon


Young Professionals/DINKs/SINKs

Federal Hill

Even though Baltimore has a relatively low cost of living compared to nearby cities, being single or without children in Baltimore means your dollar stretches just a bit further. You’ll have your pic of beautiful neighborhoods and your choice of luxury apartments, historic victorian homes, or the traditional Baltimore row home. As one of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhoods, Mount Vernon is considered the cultural center of the city that blends historical charm and modern amenities. There’s plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping to keep your free time occupied!
- SoBo (South Baltimore)
- Mount Vernon (https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/mount-vernon/)
- Fells Point


DINKs/SINKs

SoBo (South Baltimore)

For decades, the safest and most prominent area for the LGBTQ+ community in Baltimore was Mount Vernon. With the move of Pride celebrations to Old Goucher, many in the community believe that the community is expanding and that there isn’t a need anymore for just one neighborhood anymore. So even though Mount Vernon is still an accepting community, we suggest starting your search in Old Goucher. It’s a rapidly growing neighborhood with a ton of local businesses. 
- Old Goucher
- Mount Vernon
- Hamden


LGBTQ+ 

Old Goucher/Mount Vernon

If you’re looking to start a family or relocate your family to Baltimore, make sure you work with a Baltimore city realtor. So many people, including certain realtors, will try to steer you away from the city when there are plenty of amazing neighborhoods for families within city limits. We suggest starting your search in the Mount Washington area. It’s a good blend of city and suburb less than a 15 minute drive northwest of downtown. The area also has great schools as well parks nearby. You can spend your weekends at Mt. Washington Village to check out the awesome restaurants, antique stores, and boutiques. 
- Mount Washington
- Mayfield
- Hampden


Families

Mount Washington

Baltimore

**DonLunafan51**
Living in Baltimore
3y ago
✭✭✭✭

I have lived in this city all of my 53 years of life. I have had the pleasure of living in eight different neighborhoods in that span of time. Baltimore will make your heart swell, and give you a migraine, sometimes in one day. There are annual street festivals like Artscape, SoWeBo, Fell Point Fun Fest that bring people together and give you a chance to sample food and wares made by locals. Our transit system (I am carless) has many flaws, but if you can learn to be patient, it will get you where you are going. We have a ton of deeply ingrained, systemic problems that do not have easy answers. Redlining in the fifties pushed many affluent whites out to suburbia, as their fear of people that didn't look like them outweighed their love of our city. But if you take a walk through Mount Vernon on a sunny day, you'll see architecture, statuary, and walk the same streets as F.Scott Fitzgerald, Etta and Claribel Cone, Gertrude Stein, Cab Calloway, Eubie Blake and so many others. In short, Baltimore is a place to fall in love with, even though she might not always love you back.*

**Cautionnerds**
Lived in Baltimore
2y ago
✭✭✭


I used to live in the city and have worked in the city for the last 12 years.

Best: the people. My job has me go into people's homes to fix issues, and no matter where in the city I am, in uniform or out, I'm usually greeted warmly by people just tryna live their best lives. Yes, some people are dicks, but most people in the city are generally nice people.

Worst: outside of anyone living in the L, city leadership is too indifferent in the suffering and inequalities of those living in the city. Live off of Boston, fed hill or JHU, they got you. But live near Gwynn Falls, Mondawmin, cherry Hill, etc., well good fucking luck.

Mindfulhydration
Living in Baltimore
2y ago
✭✭✭

Like:

Close enough to everything (DC, Philly, NY, Virginia), but just far enough away to have some peace. I love DC attractions but dislike the drivers and the stressed residents. Baltimore is just way more chill from the people to the driving (yes, it still sucks but not as bad as DC). I also really love the closeness of nature. I saw a Blue Heron close to Penn Station once. A fox ran across my driveway last night. Lake Roland and Druid Hill park are awesome. I've traveled many places globally, but still count those places as some of my favorites compared to any city. NY makes me feel claustrophobic- way too many people everywhere. I can breath here.

The other side:

The "plantation" style segregation of Baltimore that makes it almost impossible to live in a truly diverse ethnic community. The corruption of government and not-for profit sector orgs that seem to continually suck in money for neighborhoods and residents, and yet nothing changes. Where is all that post Freddie Gray money by the way? Also the littering. I've never seen so many people casually throw trash out their cars in their own neighborhoods. It drives me nuts as someone who lived in SW Baltimore for a long time and participated in many a community clean up. I had a trifling ass neighbor once who let their kid throw trash on my roof. Many people live here, but not everybody has a sense of belonging that encourages them to do right by their community.

pussybulldozer_69
Living in Baltimore
2y ago
✭✭✭

The crime problem is very real and you have to be careful in some areas but there is a lot to do and it shouldn't sway you from visiting some time. It's rough around the edges but at it's heart I truly believe it's one of the most enjoyable cities in the country. If you're into DIY music and art it's one of the best cities in America for that. Lots of history. TONS of great restaurants. Seriously, one of the most underrated foody cities in the world. The crime, poor infrastructure, and lack of a responsible government are real drawbacks but it is the inhabitants that keep the city alive and that's a reason to visit.

Baltimore, Maryland

It's Not The Wire

Looklyloo Score: 83