Does anyone else think Baltimore is one of the most underrated cities in the US? (move to, population)

[james777]

Originally Posted by venus101

Ive been to Baltimore inner harbor many times having grown up in Maryland, but never knew the city or neighborhoods. I've been recently looking into moving to Baltimore inner harbor,,I love the place! the architecture parks, brownstones. This city is definitely UNDERRATED.
Anyways I'd like some advice from local who know the place better than I, as I've just began my interest in moving to Charm city this month. Ive looked in Fells point, Bolton Hill, Mt. Vernon and Reservoir Hill,They are all nice to me, any advice from local?? I would love to live close to Druid park, But I need* to be close to Penn Station (for work) My husband and I have two sons in their 20's. we love the urban lifestyle, walking everywhere. Thanks for reading and would love your guidance

Do you plan on renting an apartment or buying a row home? There are plenty of apartments for you to rent near Penn station (Symphony Center, Sutton Place) if you need more time for decision making. If you are buying I suggest Bolton Hill. You don't have to wait for the neighborhood to get better, and you don't have to worry about it getting worse. Close to Penn Station and not far from Druid Park, it is also safer than the downtown/midtown neighborhoods. With its tree lined streets, many parks and fountains, there is not a nicer neighborhood of row homes in the city.

[DallasReeves]

Current City of Chicago resident here. I lived in Baltimore for a year (June 2013- Aug 2014). Sadly I was counting down the days until I could get out when I was there. Horrible way to approach daily life, I know. Eventually that day came (relocated for a job). I thought Baltimore was a crime ridden, drug infested unhinged city and was not a good fit.

I never thought I'd say it, but Baltimore REALLY grew on me after I left. I miss it a lot sometimes. There is just something really unique about the place. I can't really put my finger on it. The place is crazy and interesting in a very peculiar way. I like the energy and the quirkiness. Of course the food - so so good. I miss being able to get Berger cookies and RoFo fried chicken, amazing crab cakes, trinidadian food, the list goes on. My old neighborhood (Govans - Belvedere Square) was outstanding - super friendly people in a close knit neighborhood.

From talking to people who've moved, apparently this is quite common. Classic example of not appreciating something and being in the moment. So far all these reasons, I think Baltimore is for sure an underrated place.

[Zea mays]

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

Current City of Chicago resident here.

I feel your pain. In the upcoming election, you have a choice between Rahm, a moderate right wing republican with a (D) behind his name (like his mentor Barak), and a local black with a real (D) behind his/her name. The northwest side, full of old white fogies afraid of having a NEGRO mayor, will come out amass for Rahm; the southside Negros won't come out to vote.

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

I lived in Baltimore for a year. I thought Baltimore was a crime ridden, drug infested unhinged city and was not a good fit.

You think ChiTown is not a crime-riden, drug-invested city? Obviously, you have never ventured south of Roosevelt Road or west of Halsted. Chicago can be every bit as exciting as Baltimore.

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

I never thought I'd say it, but Baltimore REALLY grew on me. There is just something really unique about the place. I can't really put my finger on it. The place is crazy and interesting.

Baghdad is crazy and interesting. You would not want to live there.

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

Of course the food - so, so good. I miss the amazing crabs ...

Crabs are bottom dwellers and the bottom of the Cheasapeak is laden with Mercury and other toxins. Try a real Chicago hotdog at Portillo's while you're out there. Chicago steak if you can afford it.

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

I think Baltimore is for sure an underrated place.

Well, I don't. I don't knock Baltimore in front of strangers because I grew up there, and it gives me a sense of place. Baltimore is symptomatic of much of urban ills in America. I doubt I'll see much change in my lifetime.

[pwduvall]

Originally Posted by DallasReeves

Current City of Chicago resident here. I lived in Baltimore for a year (June 2013- Aug 2014). Sadly I was counting down the days until I could get out when I was there. Horrible way to approach daily life, I know. Eventually that day came (relocated for a job). I thought Baltimore was a crime ridden, drug infested unhinged city and was not a good fit.

I never thought I'd say it, but Baltimore REALLY grew on me after I left. I miss it a lot sometimes. There is just something really unique about the place. I can't really put my finger on it. The place is crazy and interesting in a very peculiar way. I like the energy and the quirkiness. Of course the food - so so good. I miss being able to get Berger cookies and RoFo fried chicken, amazing crab cakes, trinidadian food, the list goes on. My old neighborhood (Govans - Belvedere Square) was outstanding - super friendly people in a close knit neighborhood.

From talking to people who've moved, apparently this is quite common. Classic example of not appreciating something and being in the moment. So far all these reasons, I think Baltimore is for sure an underrated place.

My theory is that there is a completely unexplained law of physics that Einstein couldn't even dream of. This subtle but very real force pulls people towards Baltimore for no discernable reason. Some day physicists will develop a instrumentation sensitive enough to detect it. Until then, just obey the force.

[B.K.]

Originally Posted by pwduvall

My theory is that there is a completely unexplained law of physics that Einstein couldn't even dream of. This subtle but very real force pulls people towards Baltimore for no discernable reason. Some day physicists will develop a instrumentation sensitive enough to detect it. Until then, just obey the force.

This is a well-known phenomenon known colloquially as the "Baltimore Black Hole Effect." The city is a center where both strong and weak as well as gravitational forces intersect. The result is that once one has been attracted, they find themselves unable to pull themselves out of the vortex that is Baltimore.
Quite literally, Baltimore "sucks": sucks you in so that you can't seem to pull yourself out, and sucks in that life here seems to suck the life out of you and any pre-conceived notions you may have had about what constitutes a "normal" human existence.

[jimjim5]

Originally Posted by Zea mays

I feel your pain. In the upcoming election, you have a choice between Rahm, a moderate right wing republican with a (D) behind his name (like his mentor Barak), and a local black with a real (D) behind his/her name. The northwest side, full of old white fogies afraid of having a NEGRO mayor, will come out amass for Rahm; the southside Negros won't come out to vote.


You think ChiTown is not a crime-riden, drug-invested city? Obviously, you have never ventured south of Roosevelt Road or west of Halsted. Chicago can be every bit as exciting as Baltimore.

Baghdad is crazy and interesting. You would not want to live there.


Crabs are bottom dwellers and the bottom of the Cheasapeak is laden with Mercury and other toxins. Try a real Chicago hotdog at Portillo's while you're out there. Chicago steak if you can afford it.


Well, I don't. I don't knock Baltimore in front of strangers because I grew up there, and it gives me a sense of place. Baltimore is symptomatic of much of urban ills in America. I doubt I'll see much change in my lifetime.

This isn't a thread about Chicago. Chicago is cool, but it's not Baltimore. Chicago has a some things going for it that are better than Baltimore, and Baltimore has some things going for it that are better than Chicago. However, to compare a hot dog (good hot dogs though) to Maryland crabs/crabcakes is asinine. A good steak can be had just about anywhere. There is nothing regionally unique about a steak (as much as you would like to fool yourself to think there is).

Baltimore has a more interesting layout and hodgepodge of architecture compared to Chicago. Also the topography of Baltimore is amazing. Chicago is flat, flat, flat.

I've got news for you, Baltimore is changing for the better everyday. You just don't see it.

[Mvmdmd]

Yes, it is underrated. This is due to it being overshadowed by DC and Philly. I have lived in all three places and prefer Baltimore and intend to stay here for awhile.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Mvmdmd

Yes, it is underrated. This is due to it being overshadowed by DC and Philly. I have lived in all three places and prefer Baltimore and intend to stay here for awhile.

I can understand the DC/Baltimore comparison, as they are such different cities.

But, Philadelphia and Baltimore has so many similarities, I'd think Philly being similar, and bigger, would just be more interesting? No?

[Scorpion3510]

Originally Posted by DMVboy

The one heartbreaking thing was seeing all of the homelessness around town. It seemed like it was more of it this year than last year. I had just went up to DC 2 months ago and didn't see as many panhandlers in that city as I did in Baltimore.

Oh you saw the panhandlers in DC and there are more of them. They are just dressed in high end suits and drive luxury vehicles. you can find them panhandling around the capitol building.

[Infinite_heights77]

That is not DC or Philly's fault! It's Baltimore's FAULT! You prefer to live in Baltimore because it's SLOW and CHEAP!

Originally Posted by Mvmdmd

Yes, it is underrated. This is due to it being overshadowed by DC and Philly. I have lived in all three places and prefer Baltimore and intend to stay here for awhile.