Possible relocation from NYC to Baltimore- How's this area in Federal Hill? (Riverside: to rent, crime)

[personone]

I don't know how anyone could live in Baltimore and commute daily to DC. I know some do it, but I can't imagine it. Maybe if it's the type of job where you can are allowed to get it in at 9am and leave exactly at 5pm (although do those types of jobs even exist anymore???), maybe I could see it working. But I couldn't see myself wanting to spend at least 1hr 30mins commuting everyday (that's 3 hrs/day!!!).

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by personone

I don't know how anyone could live in Baltimore and commute daily to DC. I know some do it, but I can't imagine it. Maybe if it's the type of job where you can are allowed to get it in at 9am and leave exactly at 5pm (although do those types of jobs even exist anymore???), maybe I could see it working. But I couldn't see myself wanting to spend at least 1hr 30mins commuting everyday (that's 3 hrs/day!!!).

Obviously OP wishes s/he had 6x the budget and could live in a Cap Hill TH over a Fed Hill TH, but there being viable mass transit between the two cities makes the commute palatable IMO. A 60m train ride isn't the same as a 60 min drive. The former allows for most of what you'd be doing at home, anyway. That said, there are suburbs of DC that are more urbanized than a predominantly residential neighborhood like Fed Hill. Those might make sense for OP to check out, but that'd require sacrificing the space you'd get in Baltimore (which sounds like a non-starter. $250K buys a studio in the DC suburbs, e.g. https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spr...home/109921892).

[outofhere2020]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Obviously OP wishes s/he had 6x the budget and could live in a Cap Hill TH over a Fed Hill TH, but there being viable mass transit between the two cities makes the commute palatable IMO. A 60m train ride isn't the same as a 60 min drive. The former allows for most of what you'd be doing at home, anyway. That said, there are suburbs of DC that are more urbanized than a predominantly residential neighborhood like Fed Hill. Those might make sense for OP to check out, but that'd require sacrificing the space you'd get in Baltimore (which sounds like a non-starter. $250K buys a studio in the DC suburbs, e.g. https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spr...home/109921892).

Yeah that’s exactly it. The point is to get away from these matchbox apartments.

My commute to Manhattan from BK is about 50 minutes door to door. And it can be completely uncomfortable (everyone packed on top of each other). I’ll never know til I try it. But I’m making a Baltimore trip on a weekday to get a feel for the commute.

It’s possible it would grate on me after a while, but it may also be a worthwhile trade off within my means.

[james777]

I was not a DC commuter, but I have taken the MARC trains to and from DC many times during rush hours. It's a thousand times better than any commute on the NYC subways. I have known several Baltimoreans who have done that commute five days a week for more than 30 years and they have had no regrets, and they did not live close to Penn Station. The key to making such a commute successful is the time and distance between your home and the train, and the time and distance between the train and your job at the other end. If the journey to and from the train is not bad, you may even enjoy the commute.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

The feel of both cities is completely different , too. I'd see which appeals to you more.

[KodeBlue]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Obviously OP wishes s/he had 6x the budget and could live in a Cap Hill TH over a Fed Hill TH, but there being viable mass transit between the two cities makes the commute palatable IMO. A 60m train ride isn't the same as a 60 min drive. The former allows for most of what you'd be doing at home, anyway. That said, there are suburbs of DC that are more urbanized than a predominantly residential neighborhood like Fed Hill. Those might make sense for OP to check out, but that'd require sacrificing the space you'd get in Baltimore (which sounds like a non-starter. $250K buys a studio in the DC suburbs, e.g. https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spr...home/109921892).

What DC suburb is more urbanized than Fed Hill?

[outofhere2020]

Originally Posted by james777

I was not a DC commuter, but I have taken the MARC trains to and from DC many times during rush hours. It's a thousand times better than any commute on the NYC subways. I have known several Baltimoreans who have done that commute five days a week for more than 30 years and they have had no regrets, and they did not live close to Penn Station. The key to making such a commute successful is the time and distance between your home and the train, and the time and distance between the train and your job at the other end. If the journey to and from the train is not bad, you may even enjoy the commute.

This really is the bane of my existence. If I didn't have to commute and could actually afford a home I'd probably stay. But those trains work everybody's nerves. And don't let it be summer when folks are squished into the train; I've witnessed so many conflicts that were on the verge of fights. This place is just chaos sometimes. After 10 years I'm very much ready to move on.

[mahanddeem]

The whole town is big **** hole

[TheseGoTo11]

Originally Posted by outofhere2020

I can't afford DC either for the space I want, so my next stop is Baltimore. I love urban environments.

I mean, I love urban environments too, but that doesn't mean I'm shopping for a place in Kinshasa...which would probably be safer than Baltimore. Look up group houses around DC. I'd rather live in the South Bronx than Baltimore. No passion for urban living justifies Baltimore, much less commuting in/out from the place.

[RowingFiend]

Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11

I mean, I love urban environments too, but that doesn't mean I'm shopping for a place in Kinshasa...which would probably be safer than Baltimore. Look up group houses around DC. I'd rather live in the South Bronx than Baltimore. No passion for urban living justifies Baltimore, much less commuting in/out from the place.

But you're from San Fran? I guess you prefer human feces over getting mugged.