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The University being so dominant in the city explains part of this.
As I mentioned upthread, it's the two-fer of being both the home of the state flagship university and the state capital. Very stable economy, plus competing with tens of thousands of students for entry-level housing.
Except they're actually very affordable, especially when compared to other urban cities.
They both have median rents that are higher than the national average despite being declining, crime ridden in the case of Baltimore, rust belt cities. They also have high utility costs and high taxes.
They both have median rents that are higher than the national average despite being declining, crime ridden in the case off Baltimore, rust belt cities. They also have high utility costs and high taxes.
They're not nearly as bad as them you make them out to be. No, neither high-end luxury urban living like you can find in NYC, DC, Chicago, or SF. But they're not decrepit Rust Belt cities with no life, shuttered storefronts, lack of modern infrastructure, lack of 21st century jobs, etc. Both have a lot going for them and are still experiencing some struggles, but they offer a ton of opportunity for the price.
Baltimore and Philadelphia. They are more expensive than Baton Rouge or New Orleans or even Charleston WV which I personally believe all have a higher quality of life.
In West Virginia $550 a month can get me a nice townhouse in a quiet, friendly small town outside Charleston. In Baltimore that gets you a rat infested rowhouse in the ghetto.
In the Baton Rouge suburbs $185,000 can get your a nice single family home in a gated community with low crime, good access to restaurants and shopping, outdoor activities and good schools. IN the exurbs $250,000 can get you a large home directly on the river with your own private dock. For that price you can live an inner suburb of Baltimore with high crime, smaller homes, and terrible traffic.
When people from Baltimore and Philadelphia outside the yuppie liberal elites visit the South, they truly realize there's a better world out there! Like what do you mean this amazing home only costs this much? There are no tolls on the Mississippi River bridges? State income tax is this low?
Baltimore and Philadelphia. They are more expensive than Baton Rouge or New Orleans or even Charleston WV which I personally believe all have a higher quality of life.
In West Virginia $550 a month can get me a nice townhouse in a quiet, friendly small town outside Charleston. In Baltimore that gets you a rat infested rowhouse in the ghetto.
In the Baton Rouge suburbs $185,000 can get your a nice single family home in a gated community with low crime, good access to restaurants and shopping, outdoor activities and good schools. IN the exurbs $250,000 can get you a large home directly on the river with your own private dock. For that price you can live an inner suburb of Baltimore with high crime, smaller homes, and terrible traffic.
When people from Baltimore and Philadelphia outside the yuppie liberal elites visit the South, they truly realize there's a better world out there! Like what do you mean this amazing home only costs this much? There are no tolls on the Mississippi River bridges? State income tax is this low?
Lmaoooooooooo yeah ok. West Virginia? Such a booming state with such an amazing QOL, right? Those high-quality public schools, efficient public transit systems, lots of job opportunities, large historic city center, high-end shopping, access to numerous other major cities, large international airports, etc.
New Orleans is a great city, but god luck getting a good paying job there. And good luck when you house floods.
Apply what I said about WV to Baton Rouge as well.
Lmaoooooooooo yeah ok. West Virginia? Such a booming state with such an amazing QOL, right? Those high-quality public schools, efficient public transit systems, lots of job opportunities, large historic city center, high-end shopping, access to numerous other major cities, large international airports, etc.
New Orleans is a great city, but god luck getting a good paying job there. And good luck when you house floods.
Apply what I said about WV to Baton Rouge as well.
Baton Rouge in fact has a great, diversified economy, including many well paying manufacturing jobs which Baltimore no longer has. The job market is decent for people of all educational levels. LSU, associated research, private companies and the oil and gas industry combine to create a diversified local economy. Many of the suburbs have very good public schools comparable to Harford or Frederick Counties and there are many good private schools and with vouchers they are often affordable. Baltimore has mass transit but people don't feel safe riding it. The lack of public transportation here doesn't really bother most people since nearly everyone drives and gas is cheap compared to the Northeast and we have no tolls on our highways.
Baltimore and Philadelphia are also expensive and inferior compared to Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville and Atlanta.
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