D.C. Baltimore neighborhoods/suburbs? (Columbia, Towson: apartment, to rent, crime)

[version]

We are :Married couple, racially mixed, public school teacher and artist.

So, with little money, liberal politics, artistic aesthetics, but a need to be safe (indeed), what neighborhoods might someone from Baltimore or D.C. recommend? I will be teaching way down in Crofton, but I don't want to live in the 'country' so my commute will be in that direction. We're open to inside the city as well as the surrounding suburbs, but it seems that any further north than Towson, or west of say, Columbia,might make for too long a commute.

[tercel95]

A budget will help us point you in the right direction...

[version]

Right now thinking of renting a two bedroom apartment or a single family house, but could only spend up to $1500.

[jsdory]

If you would like to live closer (Inside of the beltway) - Hyattsville and Mt Rainier might suit you (or even College Park) ... check those out and see what you think .. - College Park is the most expensive of the group. Mt Rainier - being a historic city - with small town charm - but you can literally walk to the DC line.

[tercel95]

College Park is not so bad but Hyattsville is terrible, how could you recommend someone to live there?

[df80umes]

With a limited budget you're probably not going to find something in DC. I'm sure you could find something in DC, but it won't be in a neighborhood you'd want to live.

We currently live in New Carrollton. The location is ideal for commuting out to Crofton. You wouldn't encounter any commuter traffic since everyone else is heading the opposite way. A lot of people think PG is horrible, but like any place else it all depends on where you live. For your price range I think you could find several apt/townhouse communities that are safe.
From My home I can get to U street with in 15 mins. You guys would probably really enjoy that area. Lots of character, culture and small shops. Unfortunately I don't think you'll find an affordable apt to rent. Good Luck with your search.

[scrapper105]

Contrary to what tercel95 said, I would recommend that you live in Hyattsville. The city of Hyattsville is a nice area to live. Perhaps tercel95 is referring to the unincorporate areas of P.G. County that are commonly referred to as Hyattsville, although they are not Hyattsville. I've lived in or near Hyattsville and College Park going on 7 years now and am pretty familiar with many of the surrounding areas.

I would say that the areas of P.G. County, inside the beltway, AND North of D.C. might give you the things you are looking for: a manageable commute (against traffic) and a neighborhood with a good fit and decent schools. (You don't mention children, but schools are usually a consideration for most people. If you are childfree, I assume you'll want to take advantage of the metro and I find that accessibility to metro is a big quality of life issue form my family. So, here are some areas you might consider that I think will be within your budget:
Historic Hyattsville (1-2 miles to metro; walkable)
College Park (0-2 miles to metro, except Berwyn)
Berwyn Heights (2-3 miles to metro, not easily walkable)
Greenbelt (2-3 miles to metro, not easily walkable)
Cheverly (1-2 miles to metro, walkable)
Although all of these will have manageable commutes to Crofton, I think that Greenbelt or Cheverly would be the best because of their proximity to the highways that will get you to Crofton.
All of these areas have reasonable rents and crime stats for the region. In any of these schools you'll likely find a mix of races and socio-economic statuses.

Crime
In all of these areas (and frankly anywhere in the DC or Baltimore metro region) you're going to have petty crime, like car break-ins. So I wouldn't take anybody's word for it that a particular area is safe or unsafe. Look at the specifics of the crime statistics: the street locations and the specific types of crime.