moving from California to Baltimore (Columbia, Ellicott City: relocating, housing, schools)

[Smilton]

does anyone have any advice for Californians moving to Baltimore?
safe areas to live? what to expect with the weather shift? is it at all interesting living in Baltimore?
thanks,
Smiltons.

[manofsteel084]

Somewhat Affordable are Severna Park(great schools and nice parks), Broadneck(close to Annapolis) and Annapolis itself. I wouldn't necessarily look to live in Annapolis' city limits, but there are great neighborhoods and schools all around there.

[manofsteel084]

Do you have children? What price range are you looking at for housing?

Typical weahter in Maryland is 45 in the winter and 95 in the summer. Pretty mild temps throughout the year.

[Hobgoblin]

As a Californian who moved to Maryland the weather was a difficult adjustment. I still can't deal with the amount of humidity here. The summers are unbearable for me. I hate how it never cools down at night.

I'm also not a fan of the cold winters either, some people like snow and fall and all that, but turns out I'm not one of them.

I'm looking forward to getting back to California, but after several years out here I've come to appreciate many of the things MD has to offer, but the first couple of years were a hard adjustment. Then again I didn't move out here because I wanted to leave California, and Maryland had an uphill battle to win me over.

[ptfleming]

Stay out of the city if you can...only the tourist areas are safe and on wrong turn puts you in the very poorest of neighborhoods. You will have little trouble adjusting to suburbia i.e., Timonium, Columbia, etc. Maryland is a pretty state...mountains and seashore...but thinking of relocating to NC to retire....good luck...there is a lot of opportunity for the taking in MD.

[manofsteel084]

I took a walking tour through Annapolis close to Halloween. We were fine. It's not that easy to hit a bad neighborhood....Annapolis is great.

[Where2GoNext?]

I'm from Baltimore and moved to California . I grew up in the city. Yes, there are some areas in Baltimore you want to avoid but the entire city isn't bad. I lived near the Baltimore City and Catonsville County line. Maryland (from what I can remember) is a pretty state. The weather is terrible in the winter. Manofsteel084 mentioned the typical winter weather is 45 degrees. When I was there the winter was in the 30's or below. 45 is too high in my opinion...we would call that a nice warm day in Baltimore, however, I haven't been there in the winter in 6 yrs. so maybe things have changed.

[medfieldbum]

You will find Baltimore living interesting! Not boring at all.

[Where2GoNext?]

Well after being in California....Baltimore can seem a tad bit boring to me. Not enough to do. I think California has spoiled me.

[Army Boy 34]

If you have the money 400k or above i would say Ellicott City, is you best bet. The best schools and the commute to bmore is only 15 mins. i moved here from columbia and think it is twice as nice.