Ocean City might be the most aptly named city in the country. Everything here is about the ocean. Beautiful beaches? Check. Lively boardwalks, beach shops, and carnivals? Triple check. Great Seafood? You betcha. That annoying yet somehow simultaneously relaxing sound that seagulls make? Oh yeah. If you long for the nostalgic beach vacations of your youth, let Ocean City take it from here.

Move away from the shores and there are some cons. Ocean City’s got a reputation for not being safe during some hours of the day throughout the summer, highlighted by crime rates well above the national average. During those summer months, traffic around town can be brutal with all of the tourists coming in, and the presence of drug usage does not go unnoticed, typically stemming from groups of high school and college-age kids that frequently set up camp for a week or two. It’s a paradise, don’t get me wrong, but be prepared to share it with all different kinds of people throughout the summer who see it that way too.

LookyLOO Review of Ocean City

Most full-time residents own homes rather than rent. West Ocean City is a great example of the typical vibes here, with a lot of suburban-type, medium-sized single-family housing less than a ten-minute walk from the ocean. Housing prices are a little above the national average, but definitely below what you might expect for a town as close to the ocean and with all of the amenities that Ocean City offers. One neighborhood in particular that’s a little different than this is North Ocean City, which is right in the heart of the action. Due to its location, you’re probably going to be living in a nice condo or a more expensive home up there.

If you're interested in what happens in Ocean City check out the [calendar of events](https://www.ococean.com/events).

We highly recommend visiting Ocean Beach and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

Unlike most of the other coastal towns you might stop in on a summer road trip, Ocean City is actually a great place to live year round as well. The nightlife here makes Ocean City a solid spot for younger people, and the great public schools and laid back vibe in residential areas make Ocean City a great place to move to whether you’re starting a family or looking to retire. Especially in an age where more and more jobs are going remote and many now find themselves sitting in front of a computer all day, the time has never been better to move to one of the best beach cities in the states.

Not just a tourist town.

Why You Should Move Here Now? 

**rkbird2**
8mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love Ocean City. No, it will never be pristine and deserted like parts of the outer banks. If you want that, just take a 30 minute drive over to Assateague. I’m not into the loud bar scene, if that’s what people mean by trashy, but that’s easily avoided if you stick to the activities you do like, whether that’s walking boardwalk, taking your kids to the playground at 3rd street, or kayaking on the bay.

For more reviews of what living in Ocean City is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/ocean-city/reviews).

Reviews of Ocean City from Locals

**The Best Thing About Ocean City?** The “Ocean” Part

Ocean City might be the most aptly named city in the country. Everything here is about the ocean. Beautiful beaches? Check. Lively boardwalks, beach shops, and carnivals? Triple check. Great Seafood? You betcha. That annoying yet somehow simultaneously relaxing sound that seagulls make? Oh yeah. If you long for the nostalgic beach vacations of your youth, let Ocean City take it from here.

**The Worst Thing About Ocean City?** The “City” Part

Move away from the shores and there are definitely some cons. Ocean City’s got a reputation of not being safe during some hours of the day throughout the summer, highlighted by crime rates well above the national average. During those summer months, traffic around town can be brutal with all of the tourists coming in, and the presence of drug usage does not go unnoticed, typically stemming from groups of high school and college age kids that frequently set up camp for a week or two. It’s a paradise, don’t get me wrong, but be prepared to share it with all different kinds of people throughout the summer who see it that way too.

**How You Living?** Somewhere you can smell the ocean

Most full time residents own homes rather than rent. West Ocean City is a great example of the typical vibes here, with a lot of suburban type, medium sized single family housing less than a ten minute walk from the ocean. Housing prices are a little above the national average, but definitely below what you might expect for a town as close to the ocean and with all of the amenities that Ocean City offers. One neighborhood in particular that’s a little different than this is North Ocean City, which is right in the heart of the action. Due to its location, you’re probably going to be living in a nice condo or a more expensive home up there.


**Why You Should Move Here Now?** Not just a tourist town

Unlike most of the other coastal towns you might stop in on a summer road trip, Ocean City is actually a great place to live year round as well. The nightlife here makes Ocean City a solid spot for younger people, and the great public schools and laid back vibe in residential areas make Ocean City a great place to move to whether you’re starting a family or looking to retire. Especially in an age where more and more jobs are going remote and many now find themselves sitting in front of a computer all day, the time has never been better to move to one of the best beach cities in the states.


Ocean City, like a lot of beach towns, doesn’t have a traditional Young Professional community that lives here for the Downtown business district. Instead you tend to get seasonal workers and some full-time, all year round service/tourist industry workers who live in the Downtown apartment communities, with their families a bit further out. Downtown is convenient if they’re working on the beach or in the service economy but again, it’s largely a tourist scene so there is a transience to the community that makes the Downtown less appealing to permanent residences. 
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Downtown

West Ocean City is on the Sinepuxent Bay and is the home of fishing charters, marinas and seafood restaurants to many of the people and families who live in the area work in that industry. Generally the suburban areas of the area are filled with locals and the waterfront properties are more second homes or top of the food chain locals. Locals like living here because while you can live quietly you’re also close to downtown so you get a bit of both worlds. 
North Ocean City is another option although generally these are condo housing options so there is a tendency to find younger families in the neighborhood. Ocean Pines is the most popular choice for families that crave to be away from Downtown and embrace the peace and quiet the more wooded section of Ocean City has to offer. The area also has Ocean Pines Golf Club and Yacht Club so plenty of hoi polloi available as well. 
- West Ocean City
- North Ocean City
- Ocean Pines


Families

West Ocean City

Ocean City

**rkbird2**
8mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love Ocean City. No, it will never be pristine and deserted like parts of the outer banks. If you want that, just take a 30 minute drive over to Assateague. I’m not into the loud bar scene, if that’s what people mean by trashy, but that’s easily avoided if you stick to the activities you do like, whether that’s walking boardwalk, taking your kids to the playground at 3rd street, or kayaking on the bay.

**Anonymous**
8mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I grew up going to OC and spent many a night in my teens and 20s raising hell. Then I grew up and had kids and live a more straight edge life. I moved to the west coast for about 12 years and recently moved back. Took my kids to OC a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised at how tame it felt compared to what I remember. The worst part - super loud and dangerous highway - hasn’t changed much, but people in general seem to be cooler so long as you’re not there on some “loud af car/motorcycle convention” week, which is still miserable for the people who don’t like that stuff. Brought a tear to my eye that I didn’t see any airplanes towing a sign with something like “Scandals 45th St $5 fishbowls wet t-shirt contest!”

**SelectionDry6624**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I moved there for 5 years after spending 20 of my summers growing up there. Finding steady work that wasn't service industry was hard. (I work in marketing; if you are blue collar and have a trade or the opportunity to work from home, you may be okay).

I moved away because the cost of living was so high and it was really hard to find steady housing rentals. Everything is seasonal; landlords want to make the most of the summer months. I got kicked out of my apartment after 2+ years bc they wanted to turn it to an airbnb.

It's possible; but I plan to return when I can find a long term living solution.

I love everything about it. The biggest issue for me was trying to do anything in the summer months (the beach has gotten a lot more crowded since COVID, and I hate it truthfully). Great offseason specials, you get to meet people and form relationships in the offseason. I miss surfing and fishing every day.

This is just kinda a rant about my experience but just pm me if you have any questions. I love and miss my time there.

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Ocean City, Maryland

Boardwalk Empire

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Reviews

What's it like to live in Ocean City?