City vs. County (Baltimore, Towson, Perry Hall: apartments, rent, safe neighborhood)

[nyinjuly]

I'm moving to the Baltimore area for school in Towson. I'm from Texas, and have never lived in a big city, except for a 7 week stint in Washington DC (which I enjoyed). I've done lots of research, looked at tons of apartments online, but I just wanted to put this out there- in case anyone had any experience or advice to share.

I have three top choices for apartments...One is in Roland Park, one in Mt. Washington, and the last is in Perry Hall.

Roland Park seems to be a very nice neighborhood..but the apartments don't include a washer/dryer or dishwasher. Parking may be an issue, because I would have to pay extra for a spot or do my best to find street parking. Also, there is no central air. It gets pretty humid and hot in the summer, right?

I hear good things about Mt. Washington, too. The apartments I'm looking at include a washer/dryer in unit, and seem pretty ideal. But when I look up the zip code (21215) it seems kinda bad. Is Mt. Washington a nice pocket in the middle of not-so-nice?

Finally...Perry Hall. The apartments seem ideal, price is low, and I just can't figure out what the catch is. Located on a busy road, but the area is nice, right? Are there bad neighborhoods in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area? And how would I know if the apartment I'm looking at is in a bad spot?

[wigs817]

If you don't have much experience with big cities other than DC, school in the Towson area will be a nice transition. Baltimore is hot in the summer but it is definitely the humidity that will get you, so in theory you COULD survive without AC, but I'd venture to say that most people in the area wouldn't go without it during the summer and early fall months (it can stay pretty warm here until late September).

Both Roland Park and Mt. Washington are great places to live, in the city line. They have a mix of people, but I'd say are primarily family neighborhoods. I'd say either is a good place to start when moving here, they are "safe" (whatever that arbitrary term means to you) and still have plenty around to do, but are also easily accessed by 83 and can take you in and out of downtown.

Unless the most exciting thing to you is a Panera or Target, than Perry Hall is VERY suburban... that is the catch. It is close to 95, but commuting from Perry Hall to Towson during rush hours during the week will take you at LEAST 35 minutes, if not more.

[Michael21214]

Mt. Washington is actually 21209. If someone is trying to advertise a complex as being in Mt. Washington in 21215, that is misleading. You'll probably like the real Mt. Washington. 21215 has some nice areas, but also a lot of pretty bad areas.

A lot of older places don't have central air...you'll want at least a room air conditioner for the summer.

Perry Hall and White Marsh are generally fairly safe but they are kind of out of the way (in relation to Towson and central Baltimore) and kind of dull places. As wigs817 said they are better places to live for people who commute I-95.

Good luck with your search!

[nyinjuly]

Thanks both of you for the info! I hadn't realized traffic would be so bad traveling from Perry Hall...probably don't want to deal with that.

The apartments in Mt. Washington w/the 21215 zip code (Fox Glen) are located at 5902 Cross Country Blvd. The street view on google maps looks fine, but I guess there's only so much you can tell without actually being there.

[oneworld25]

The Fox Glen apartments are in a fine and perfectly safe neighborhood. However, as another poster pointed out they are not in Mt. Washington. Rather, they are in an area called Cheswolde.

[Lumerian Feast]

Here's a question: if you're going to school in Towson...why not just live in Towson? It's perfectly fine, and you'll have an easy commute. Easy to get to Baltimore, but it's outside of the city so you won't be overwhelmed.

Are you going to Towson U?

[nyinjuly]

Originally Posted by Lumerian Feast

Here's a question: if you're going to school in Towson...why not just live in Towson? It's perfectly fine, and you'll have an easy commute. Easy to get to Baltimore, but it's outside of the city so you won't be overwhelmed.

Are you going to Towson U?

I couldn't find any apartments that I liked in Towson for a good price. I'll be going to Goucher for a special program (postbaccalaureate). My husband will be working, but he hasn't secured a job yet...He could be working anywhere in the city, or even DC if it comes down to it.

[Lumerian Feast]

Originally Posted by nyinjuly

I couldn't find any apartments that I liked in Towson for a good price. I'll be going to Goucher for a special program (postbaccalaureate). My husband will be working, but he hasn't secured a job yet...He could be working anywhere in the city, or even DC if it comes down to it.

Oh, I see. Well, I agree with the other posters: for Goucher, Roland Park and Mt. Washington are nice areas, and Perry Hall/White Marsh aren't convenient to it.

If those apts. don't work out, Lutherville (a suburb) and Homeland (a city neighborhood) might also be worth checking out.

[nyinjuly]

Thanks! I do have one option in Lutherville-Timonium. Haven't even heard of Homeland, but thanks for the suggestion- I'll look into it.

[ToneGrail]

Originally Posted by nyinjuly

I couldn't find any apartments that I liked in Towson for a good price. I'll be going to Goucher for a special program (postbaccalaureate). My husband will be working, but he hasn't secured a job yet...He could be working anywhere in the city, or even DC if it comes down to it.

Uhh, I live in Towson and my rent is $865/mo for a single bedroom. I doubt you will find anything that cheap in Roland Park.