Moving to Essex, MD. What should I expect? (Baltimore, Towson: affordable apartments, to rent)

[frozenpie]

I've heard some bad things, not sure if they're just rumors. Just looking for a realistic description of the positives and negatives of moving to this area. I will be living near the college (CCBC) so I will be fairly close to/possibly in Rosedale so I will need some more info on that area as well. Thanks!

[M2KLA]

I've lived in Baltimore my entire life, now live in NY....I actually went to CCBC Essex, and lived in Essex for a while. lol. Just to let you know that CCBC Essex is not really in Essex. it's in Rosedale. lol Essex if an OK place to live, about 15 mins from CCBC, the apartments are cheaper, but knowing that, that tells you there is more crime.
If your looking to rent something I would suggest places closer to White Marsh, off RT 7/Philadelphia Rd. Stay away from apartments near Golden Ring area (i.e.. Fontana Village....anything around that area near of Philadelphia and Rossville blvd. or Pulaski and Rossville.) That area is getting worse and worse. So the further away from that shopping center, the better! But you are about 10 mins from White Marsh which is a booming area, the mall and lots of restaurants and shopping. Perry Hall is another safer cleaner area to live, about 10-15 mins from CCBC going the opposite way on Rossville Blvd.

[W-74]

Not going to lie dude. You should probably expect run down neighborhoods, crime, rape, robbery, drugs and murder.

The guy talking about Rosedale, what he's saying makes sense but Rosedale isn't exactly great either. If you really want the east side of Baltimore county look at moving to White Marsh, Perry Hall, or the peninsular parts of Middle River.

Unfortunately if you goo TOO far out you end up hitting Edgewood and Joppa which (right after they built the bus line) has (within my lifetime) been infested with the undertow and gangs.

What takes you to Essex? Is it work? Fortunately Baltimore has a decent road system, a little congested at times, but decent. Can't say the same about transit. The bus system is stabby stab city. Live out in the far burbs and just deal with commuting. You'll thank yourself later.

I have lived in the Baltimore burbs my whole life and know them well, from Pasadena all the way around to Parkville. I've lived in 4 towns all the way around the Baltimore clock and worked in most of the others.

[frozenpie]

Thanks for the additional info! I am a single female that will be living alone, is this going to be a safe area? When you say there is a lot of crime are you sure it's not in a central part of Essex or is it spread out? I guess I could try and live closer to White Marsh/Rosedale. Would you know of any safe, inexpensive apartments in that area?

[MDguy99]

Originally Posted by frozenpie

Thanks for the additional info! I am a single female that will be living alone, is this going to be a safe area? When you say there is a lot of crime are you sure it's not in a central part of Essex or is it spread out? I guess I could try and live closer to White Marsh/Rosedale. Would you know of any safe, inexpensive apartments in that area?

I own a home in Essex and also in Edgemere. You are not moving to Essex, CCBC is not in Essex. That is Rosedale and that section is, in all honesty, not the greatest. I wouldn't say it is the safest. For lack of a better word, the immediate area around the Golden Ring shopping area is rather ghetto.

Essex starts once Rossville boulevard branches off into Stemmers Run Road and Mace Avenue. There are some rough spots in Essex, too, but in general, around the water is nice and also once you get past the Food Lion on Back River Neck Road- that part is actually fairly rural and very pleasant.

If you need to be close to CCBC, I'd suggest looking in White Marsh somewhere. The are plenty of better choices instead of anything around Golden Ring, Rossville, or Pulaski Highway. Avoid them like the plague if you value your security and personal sense of safety.

[frozenpie]

Originally Posted by MDguy99

I own a home in Essex and also in Edgemere. You are not moving to Essex, CCBC is not in Essex. That is Rosedale and that section is, in all honesty, not the greatest. I wouldn't say it is the safest. For lack of a better word, the immediate area around the Golden Ring shopping area is rather ghetto.

Essex starts once Rossville boulevard branches off into Stemmers Run Road and Mace Avenue. There are some rough spots in Essex, too, but in general, around the water is nice and also once you get past the Food Lion on Back River Neck Road- that part is actually fairly rural and very pleasant.

If you need to be close to CCBC, I'd suggest looking in White Marsh somewhere. The are plenty of better choices instead of anything around Golden Ring, Rossville, or Pulaski Highway. Avoid them like the plague if you value your security and personal sense of safety.

I've heard the area closer to CCBC is better though, is this true? Also do you know of any affordable apartments in White Marsh? Thanks!

[MDguy99]

Originally Posted by frozenpie

I've heard the area closer to CCBC is better though, is this true? Also do you know of any affordable apartments in White Marsh? Thanks!

That's only true just past Franklin Square going towards White Marsh Mall (the area along King Avenue and Franklin Square Drive), the area across and down the hill from the college towards Philadelphia road/ the Golden Ring shopping center is extremely sketchy. I'm not familiar of any safe apartments on a budget in White Marsh, sorry, perhaps another poster would know.

[W-74]

The Baltimore area is so pocketed in every direction that you really have to do a neighborhood by neighborhood analysis. If you're like me just look at 2010 census demographics. It's pretty easy to match that data up with the reality on the ground.

[W-74]

Originally Posted by frozenpie

are you sure it's not in a central part of

Just FYI for those who didn't grow up here, Maryland is so built up there really isn't a "central" anything. People who live in "towns" generally use a major street to divide one named area from the next area.

Some towns have a "main" part, but that might consist of a mini mall and a couple gas stations and maybe an apartment complex or two. The only places that have any sort of downtown are Baltimore, Annapolis and Towson. Since there's no separation, everything pretty much merges into the next town unless you go out into the sticks.

[MDguy99]

Originally Posted by W-74

The Baltimore area is so pocketed in every direction that you really have to do a neighborhood by neighborhood analysis. If you're like me just look at 2010 census demographics. It's pretty easy to match that data up with the reality on the ground.

What census data are you talking about? I hope not income because I'd take a safe working class area over a high-end development a few streets from a sketchy area.