Job is relocating - which city to choose; Baltimore or Norfolk?

[Anonymous]

OP, check voting patterns ---- the surrounding area is important

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should move to Columbia or Ellicott City in Howard County and have him do the short commute into Baltimore.

This is a great suggestion.
In Baltimore, you will be lot closer to the DC suburbs.

[Anonymous]

I lived in the Norfolk area for school and now reside in the Baltimore area.

I'd pick Baltimore. Tons of family activities, the weather is really nice and the people are down to earth. I lived downtown Baltimore and moved out to HoCo when I had kids. No regrets living here.

I'd look at Ellicott City, Columbia, Fulton, Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton.

And if you decide to go to Norfolk, be mindful of the tunnels. They are traffic nightmares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But how often really do most people take tourist trips from DC/Baltimore to NYC or Philly? I'd rather be 20-30 minutes from the BEACH in Norfolk! Talk about a quality of life change.

DP. Very often. We do that all the time. We live in MoCo and we go to Philly, NJ or NYC on many weekends.
Baltimore to these places is even more convenient. It's only about 1 hour and half, 2 at the most from Baltimore to Philly.
You should get out more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But how often really do most people take tourist trips from DC/Baltimore to NYC or Philly? I'd rather be 20-30 minutes from the BEACH in Norfolk! Talk about a quality of life change.

You're not going to be on the beach daily, or anything close it for most of the year. And really, that's the only attraction. Otherwise, you're in... Norfolk. Womp womp.

Also, *plenty* of us take (or took, in the Before Times) advantage of all the DC-Baltimore corridor has to offer. It's not just city visits, there are lots of fun destinations through Maryland/Southern PA, the Delaware beaches, flights from BWI, etc.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Virginia Beach. Norfolk is not a big or interesting city. It is pretty lame, but then again, the whole Tidewater/Hampton Roads area is pretty lame. I would not personally go back to live there but there are many who do so quite happily and I was perfectly happy growing up there. I would recommend living in Virginia Beach for the schools. I would only live in Norfolk if I planned to send my kids to private school. The commute to Norfolk is not bad and Virginia Beach has some nice, safe (albiet very suburban) neighborhoods. Baltimore is also a very lame city but it has the benefit of being close to DC/PA/NY, etc. I would likely pick some reasonable, safe suburb of Baltimore with decent schools and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

I'm from the midwest and lived in Norfolk for 6 years and loved it. We plan to move back and live in Chics beach or north end Virginia Beach.

[Anonymous]

Baltimore by a long shot. You guys have no idea about the nice parts of the city. Norfolk is a soulless city devoid of any culture or diversity.

[Anonymous]

I moved to Baltimore from DC last year and love it. I don't understand why people are so negative about it. Yes, I see the bad areas but don't live or shop or hang out there. My kids are beyond school age so I'm not too focused on that, but I hear that Roland Park ES/MS is good and there are application high schools that are solid. We live in between Federal Hill and Locust Point (Riverside) and love the walkability and feel very safe, but I don't know much about the schools. It's convenient to getting downtown/Inner Harbor and to DC which was our priority.

I visited Towson last weekend and found it to be charming for a suburb. I'm a city girl, but I could see the appeal. I also like Ellicott City, but only the downtown area which would be difficult to live in. I think Columbia is meh, but I assume the schools are good.

I lived in Norfolk for a summer years ago and it was the only place I've ever been where someone actually used the "n" word as if it was no big deal. White military wife. It was astounding. I found Norfolk to be a pit, but I was young, lived in a crappy apartment in a crappy neighborhood, and had no car so I didn't get around to any nice areas much. I do like VA Beach, but from Baltimore we get out to Ocean City around 5 times a year now and also go to the various beaches/beach towns on the Chesapeake quite often. We're also 15 minutes from BWI and fly a lot since it's so convenient.

LOVE Baltimore!!!!

[Anonymous]

Baltimore, hands down. Pick a beautiful city neighborhood like Roland Park. Stay away from the bad areas.

Baltimore is a much more sophisticated city than Norfolk. It also has great restaurants, museums, public transit and beautiful architecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Baltimore a long time, but honestly this is like being asked to choose between a gray rock and another gray rock. I'm sorry you were left with such a miserable challenge.

I'm from Norfolk and I agree.

Norfolk is closer to the ocean, and Baltimore has more quirkiness and is closer to DC. Otherwise, much of a muchness.

+1 I think both can be good places to live, but are sort of an acquired taste and might take years of “wtf have we done” to feel settled.

LOL! We moved from DC to Baltimore and this sentiment is accurate. We live in a historic neighborhood in Baltimore and I love it - the quirkiness, kindness, getting to know regular working people instead of always being surrounded by the professional class in DC. I've met some of the most fascinating and interesting people here. At the same time there have been a few WTF moments as well.

For me the neighborhoods of Roland Park and Mount Washington are kind of blah. But the one thing about B'more you cannot escape is the grit and despair. If you don't like seeing poor people and the messiness of it, it wouldn't be for you. BTW people are quick to jump into fear-mongering about Baltimore - that's not how it is living here day-to-day.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Wow- a lot of responses! Thank you for all the information on the different areas to look at. We flew into Baltimore yesterday and so far we really like Canton in the city and the Stoneleigh area outside the city. I love the walkability of Canton and we talked to several families that are happy with the zoned school but 32 kids in a kindergarten class? Wow, that’s a lot. I can’t even imagine how that would work but these families all had positive things to say. Are class sizes that large common out here?

We’re touring Catonsville and Howard County tomorrow on our way down to the Norfolk area. Thanks again!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Wow- a lot of responses! Thank you for all the information on the different areas to look at. We flew into Baltimore yesterday and so far we really like Canton in the city and the Stoneleigh area outside the city. I love the walkability of Canton and we talked to several families that are happy with the zoned school but 32 kids in a kindergarten class? Wow, that’s a lot. I can’t even imagine how that would work but these families all had positive things to say. Are class sizes that large common out here?

We’re touring Catonsville and Howard County tomorrow on our way down to the Norfolk area. Thanks again!!

One of the Baltimore boosters here, worked not recommend Canton with kids, the infrastructure just isn’t there. And no, 32 kids in kindergarten is insane, and not the norm.

[Anonymous]

^^^pp what do you mean by infrastructure? I was just there today. Its nice for families especially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^pp what do you mean by infrastructure? I was just there today. Its nice for families especially.

Canton is geared to singles and young couples. I know one family who moved there as a newcomer to the city and sold at a loss a year later. The better daycares, preschools, public schools, and private school options are all half an hour away in North Baltimore. Same for rec leagues etc. . .