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Old 06-24-2015, 07:13 AM
 
2 posts, read 2,504 times
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So, I am really in need of some advice. I am considering moving to Baltimore for work, i live in central PA right now. The job is in Catonsville, and with everything going on in Baltimore right now, i am struggling with whether or not this is right move for me.

I am single male, so i don't necessarily want to be in a very quiet part of town. But i know many communities/areas are not safe... so i'm struggling with where to look.

Can anyone recommend a neighborhood community that you think might be a good fit? I'm willing to drive 10-15 minutes to work. I don't need to be in center city or anything.. i just want to find a safe, reasonably lively neighborhood to live in.
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:37 AM
 
Location: Howard County, Maryland
16,465 posts, read 10,487,049 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmirig14 View Post
So, I am really in need of some advice. I am considering moving to Baltimore for work, i live in central PA right now. The job is in Catonsville, and with everything going on in Baltimore right now, i am struggling with whether or not this is right move for me.

I am single male, so i don't necessarily want to be in a very quiet part of town. But i know many communities/areas are not safe... so i'm struggling with where to look.

Can anyone recommend a neighborhood community that you think might be a good fit? I'm willing to drive 10-15 minutes to work. I don't need to be in center city or anything.. i just want to find a safe, reasonably lively neighborhood to live in.
Catonsville may be geographically close to Baltimore, but in terms of safety they are light-years apart. If you lived there, the overwhelming odds are that you would live your life in quiet safety. The flip side is that Catonsville is not the happening singles scene that some other places, like Canton and Federal Hill, are. It is mainly a quiet, peaceful bedroom community.

So your choices are, live in a more "exciting" area and commute to work, or live in a quiet area near your work and drive a bit to get to the happening areas. Which would you prefer?
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Old 06-24-2015, 08:32 AM
 
Location: Patterson Park, Baltimore
934 posts, read 1,057,106 times
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I echo the above. Catonsville is undeniably safer than Baltimore.

However, as a young single myself, the Baltimore suburbs are painfully boring.

There are plenty of neighborhoods in Baltimore that I feel totally safe walking around in by myself. Canton and Federal Hill mentioned above are two good neighborhoods for young singles. Federal Hill has the reputation of being a bit more "fratty," and I tend to avoid it because it's a bit too much for me. College kids love Fed Hill, but I don't find it to be ideal for post-grad/working life. However, there are plenty of people that disagree with me.

Canton I think would suit your needs well. It is a neighborhood dominated by rowhomes so it has a bit of a residential feel, but there are also plenty of bars and restaurants around.

If you want a very high concentration of bars and restaurants, you may want to consider Fells Point or Mount Vernon. However, housing in those neighborhoods is much more restricted to apartments. Mount Vernon has the advantage of being sort of "central" to everything. It is the cultural center of Baltimore and home to lots of museums and unique ethnic cuisines, if you're into that. Plus it is close to Penn Station, which many people who commute to outside the city enjoy. Mount Vernon is more hustle and bustle (so much more like true city life) and Canton is more residential (and so mimics the suburbs a little more), but both have a lot of young people living there.

Alternative options include Charles Village and Hampden, neighborhoods closer to the Hopkins Homewood campus. Hampden has a very artsy/"hipster" vibe, so if you like that, I'd highly recommend looking into it. Both neighborhoods are very safe.
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Old 06-25-2015, 04:38 AM
 
537 posts, read 766,559 times
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Just live in Catonsville. I'm a big proponent of living where you work, or at least close to where you work.

But everyone above is right, it is boring in the suburbs. I'm a young person living in the suburbs. Which means you'll have to drive into the city or at least long distance to do anything.
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Old 06-25-2015, 06:47 AM
 
Location: Howard County, Maryland
1,539 posts, read 2,297,296 times
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What about the Hanover area near the Arundel Mills Mall/Casino? Columbia near the Town Center? Downtown Ellicott City or Catonsville are good too. Suburbs are my domain; others can help with the city.
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Old 06-25-2015, 03:06 PM
 
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OP, You are not going to get to work in Catonsville in 10 or 15 minutes from any hip, trendy, or happening neighborhood in the entire Baltimore area. Maybe by helicopter, but not by car. I suggest you take out a short term lease on a residence in Catonsville, or in one of the places cjmeck has suggested in the above post because they are safe, and fairly close to work. That way, if and when you look for another neighborhood, you will know the area better and you can get a feel for the place any time of day or night, weekday or weekend.

You say "with everything going on in Baltimore right now, i am struggling with whether or not this is right move for me." Don't paint an entire metro area with 3 million people as one large ghetto. There are literally thousands of safe neighborhoods in the Baltimore area. If that is too boring for you, you might want to consider another metro area.
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Old 06-26-2015, 10:30 AM
 
675 posts, read 719,924 times
Reputation: 498
Catonsville is a safe bet for the most part. Crime, especially robberies of stores ,gas stations etc. are on the increase though as there is a bleed over form Baltimore City. Ellicott City is very safe. Relay, which is south of Catonsville is very quiet and great for raising children. All are fairly close to Baltimore City via I95.
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