Best Neighborhoods in Cumberland, Maryland

Cumberland's old railroad and canal history is written into its streets. Downtown follows the commercial blocks around Baltimore Street, while Washington Street rises west of Wills Creek past some of the city's grander nineteenth-century houses. The South Cumberland and Chapel Hill historic district tells a more working-class chapter of the same industrial past.

Washington Street's architecture is a draw, but older houses can come with substantial upkeep. Near downtown, walkability depends on the hill and the particular block, not just the distance on a map. Cumberland also has a locally regulated preservation district overlapping parts of downtown and Washington Street, so exterior renovations may require approval. Check the district map before making plans for that dream porch.