Do we stay in DC or move to Baltimore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks again for the commentary -- this is genuinely helping us work through our hang ups. And to the PP upthread who noted that if we move to Baltimore, we will inevitably have to deal with DC people talking s**t about it -- excellent point! It's funny because my DH works with a lot of people who are based in Baltimore or elsewhere in Maryland, and they ALL say terrible things about DC all the time and we've always just ignored it because we were happy here and their criticism is often (though not always) based in ignorance of what it's actually like. So we assume the same is true about Baltimore to an extent.

Also, we live in a neighborhood in DC that I'm sure may would PPs would find horribly crime-ridden, and love it and don't find it unsafe. If you live in a city, you will deal with crime. We have accepted that.

And thank you to those encouraging us to take the long view on home values. I do feel like we are suffering from DC short-timers thinking -- you get weirdly accustomed to people profiting off their homes here after living in them for only a few years, and it skews perspective on what a "normal" appreciation is like. We have a neighbor in our building who sold their condo for a 200k profit (after closing costs) after just two years. It was eye-popping. Stories like that have definitely altered our perception and I think if we are really going to make the leap to moving out of DC, we need to be brought back down to earth a bit. So thank you!

I think ultimately we need to just keep looking for the right home. Increasingly, I think Hampden is our sweet spot -- we really love the commercial area of the neighborhood and we aren't looking for a ton of space (we've lived in a 1000 sq ft condo with a child and a pet for over 5 years, I think anything will feel like an upgrade!), though would love a little yard or patio. It feels like the right middle ground and is close enough to a number of schools we like while keeping our overall costs down. I think targeting our search, and maybe letting go of our original instinct to be in a denser part of town, is going to help us make sense of this whole thing and make a better apples to apples financial comparison between DC and Baltimore. Wish us luck!

Hey, I'm the previous poster who just moved to Hampden after a long time in another part of Baltimore -- happy to answer any specific questions as I'm obsessed by the RE market here. If you are looking at public schools, I'd encourage you to consider the pluses and minuses of those zoned for Medfield vs Hampden. If you're looking at private schools, there's lots of us over in the private/independent forum who can tell you about specific schools.

I feel like there are three "zones" of Hampden: Remington/Hopkins, Right There in the Middle, and Woodberry. I'd choose Remington/Hopkins if you have a reason to want to be near Hopkins. There's some good food around there and commerce, but it's really a JHU life-support system. Not that it makes it unpleasant! But it's definitely student-oriented.

Middle Hampden offers mostly small and dense housing. Wonderful walkability, The Avenue is fun, and parking is pure nightmare so spend what you need to for off-street parking.

Woodberry has great dining, hip vibe, and is literally on top of a nice Light Rail station. Larger housing options here, much quieter. Somewhat farther from non-dining conveniences -- and by that I mean that you're a mile from the grocery story and library instead of being .5 mile. It's all still very close. Zoned for Medfield Elementary. Parking can be dicey on some streets but isn't quite as brutal as Hampden proper. Mostly older stock like middle Hampden, but with some cool old stone places like this: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1504-Mill-Race-Rd-21211/home/10860655 . There's also quite a bit of new or newer construction around there if that's more your speed. Speaking of which, new construction in Woodberry is one of the very few places in the Baltimore city limits to offer fios. Most of Baltimore is essentially redlined, which sucks.

We chose Woodberry because the Light Rail access was key for my spouse's job, and we're on the older side (we dine but don't really drink any more!). We've been super happy here so far. You are going to have great options because we passed over 90% of listings because we wanted 2000 sq ft. That's rare and really cut down our choices. But if you're looking around 1500 sq ft you'll have fun. I assume your budget is around 500k or less? If it's more than that things are a bit different. But $400k in Hampden can get you an awful lot. Have fun, and let us know how things go!

OP again. Thank you, this is so helpful! We have mostly been looking at Middle Hampden and are drawn to the Avenue, but Woodberry sounds appealing. We will definitely be doing public to start, though we may wind up in private for MS and/or HS depending on what happens -- my understanding is that public MS/HS in Baltimore requires the same level of careful navigation as it does in DC, so it's hard to predict given that our DC is still very young.

Can you tell me give me an overview of Medfield v. Hampden schools? We know we may also have some options outside of zoned schools because of Baltimore's choice system, but I've heard Roland Park schools are already overcrowded so we are unlikely to get a spot there if we don't live nearby? Is that true?

Yes, you are not likely to get into RP unless you are zoned for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks again for the commentary -- this is genuinely helping us work through our hang ups. And to the PP upthread who noted that if we move to Baltimore, we will inevitably have to deal with DC people talking s**t about it -- excellent point! It's funny because my DH works with a lot of people who are based in Baltimore or elsewhere in Maryland, and they ALL say terrible things about DC all the time and we've always just ignored it because we were happy here and their criticism is often (though not always) based in ignorance of what it's actually like. So we assume the same is true about Baltimore to an extent.

Also, we live in a neighborhood in DC that I'm sure may would PPs would find horribly crime-ridden, and love it and don't find it unsafe. If you live in a city, you will deal with crime. We have accepted that.

And thank you to those encouraging us to take the long view on home values. I do feel like we are suffering from DC short-timers thinking -- you get weirdly accustomed to people profiting off their homes here after living in them for only a few years, and it skews perspective on what a "normal" appreciation is like. We have a neighbor in our building who sold their condo for a 200k profit (after closing costs) after just two years. It was eye-popping. Stories like that have definitely altered our perception and I think if we are really going to make the leap to moving out of DC, we need to be brought back down to earth a bit. So thank you!

I think ultimately we need to just keep looking for the right home. Increasingly, I think Hampden is our sweet spot -- we really love the commercial area of the neighborhood and we aren't looking for a ton of space (we've lived in a 1000 sq ft condo with a child and a pet for over 5 years, I think anything will feel like an upgrade!), though would love a little yard or patio. It feels like the right middle ground and is close enough to a number of schools we like while keeping our overall costs down. I think targeting our search, and maybe letting go of our original instinct to be in a denser part of town, is going to help us make sense of this whole thing and make a better apples to apples financial comparison between DC and Baltimore. Wish us luck!

Hey, I'm the previous poster who just moved to Hampden after a long time in another part of Baltimore -- happy to answer any specific questions as I'm obsessed by the RE market here. If you are looking at public schools, I'd encourage you to consider the pluses and minuses of those zoned for Medfield vs Hampden. If you're looking at private schools, there's lots of us over in the private/independent forum who can tell you about specific schools.

I feel like there are three "zones" of Hampden: Remington/Hopkins, Right There in the Middle, and Woodberry. I'd choose Remington/Hopkins if you have a reason to want to be near Hopkins. There's some good food around there and commerce, but it's really a JHU life-support system. Not that it makes it unpleasant! But it's definitely student-oriented.

Middle Hampden offers mostly small and dense housing. Wonderful walkability, The Avenue is fun, and parking is pure nightmare so spend what you need to for off-street parking.

Woodberry has great dining, hip vibe, and is literally on top of a nice Light Rail station. Larger housing options here, much quieter. Somewhat farther from non-dining conveniences -- and by that I mean that you're a mile from the grocery story and library instead of being .5 mile. It's all still very close. Zoned for Medfield Elementary. Parking can be dicey on some streets but isn't quite as brutal as Hampden proper. Mostly older stock like middle Hampden, but with some cool old stone places like this: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1504-Mill-Race-Rd-21211/home/10860655 . There's also quite a bit of new or newer construction around there if that's more your speed. Speaking of which, new construction in Woodberry is one of the very few places in the Baltimore city limits to offer fios. Most of Baltimore is essentially redlined, which sucks.

We chose Woodberry because the Light Rail access was key for my spouse's job, and we're on the older side (we dine but don't really drink any more!). We've been super happy here so far. You are going to have great options because we passed over 90% of listings because we wanted 2000 sq ft. That's rare and really cut down our choices. But if you're looking around 1500 sq ft you'll have fun. I assume your budget is around 500k or less? If it's more than that things are a bit different. But $400k in Hampden can get you an awful lot. Have fun, and let us know how things go!

OP again. Thank you, this is so helpful! We have mostly been looking at Middle Hampden and are drawn to the Avenue, but Woodberry sounds appealing. We will definitely be doing public to start, though we may wind up in private for MS and/or HS depending on what happens -- my understanding is that public MS/HS in Baltimore requires the same level of careful navigation as it does in DC, so it's hard to predict given that our DC is still very young.

Can you tell me give me an overview of Medfield v. Hampden schools? We know we may also have some options outside of zoned schools because of Baltimore's choice system, but I've heard Roland Park schools are already overcrowded so we are unlikely to get a spot there if we don't live nearby? Is that true?

Yes, you are not likely to get into RP unless you are zoned for it.

Woodberry PP here: this poster is correct, it’s really really hard to get into RP. I know one person who got his kid into RP out of zone and I heavily suspect him of using inside local government connections. I innocently called and tried to do the same and they basically laughed at me. If you absolutely want RP elementary, buy in 21210. Roland Park is a lot more like Mount Washington in that it’s leafy, pretty, and not particularly walkable. Really different vibe than Hampden/Woodberry.

My kid is at one of the Roland Park privates, but from what I have heard Medfield is quite good. I’ve heard mixed things about Hampden, but that’s not necessarily fair or accurate. Keep in mind that there are alternatives to the big private schools in Roland Park as well. If you are more on the artsy/hippie side, I know people who are nuts about the Greenmount School. I think it’s about 10K a year. There are also some good Catholic schools. There are also a few great charters you can lottery for. The Green School is notably nice.

Middle Hampden and Woodberry are a mile apart, so just look around 21211 and see what appeals and is available! It sounds like anything in that area could work for you. I don’t know what your timeframe is but you should follow for a while, the stock changes quickly but there are some definite patterns. Do you like new construction or older buildings?

[Anonymous]

Haven’t read the entire thread, but I adore Baltimore. Gorgeous houses and gardens, good food, beautiful museums, strong vibe and fellowship, if that makes sense. If we lived there it would be in Roland Park or Homeland, maybe Ruxton (outside of the city). Maybe Woodberry. I used to live in Bolton Hill and loved it but the petty crime exhausted me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

This. No matter how well educated you are or how high powered your job (and yes, they exist here), it’s just not cool to be a striver. The ceo of my husband’s company is super low key in person, doesn’t even live in a “super fancy” house and makes 8 figures. We have multiple Nobel prize winners in our neighborhood and they are 100% normal people. It took me about a year to get used to it when we moved from DC. PEople are humble, polite, and not overly showy about status, skills, or money. People don’t brag, it’s a huge social no no.

[Anonymous]

The “Baltimore is a crime ridden hellhole” crowd is annoying. OP wants to live in a city, not a suburb. How many $325,000 3br rowhomes that look like this are in neighborhoods with less crime than Hampden? How are the schools in these DC neighborhoods with these $325,000 rowhomes?

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1318-W-40th-St-21211/home/10874694

Here’s what $350,000 will get you in Locust Point. You can walk a couple blocks to a ferry that takes you to Fells Point and Canton from here. Locust Point is one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1414-Richardson-St-21230/home/11023685

Here’s what $350,000 gets you for a 3br rowhome in DC. Would the Baltimore haters in this thread rather live here than the homes above? What is the crime like in the Washington Highlands neighborhood?

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/717-Atlantic-St-SE-20032/home/10168788

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

This. No matter how well educated you are or how high powered your job (and yes, they exist here), it’s just not cool to be a striver. The ceo of my husband’s company is super low key in person, doesn’t even live in a “super fancy” house and makes 8 figures. We have multiple Nobel prize winners in our neighborhood and they are 100% normal people. It took me about a year to get used to it when we moved from DC. PEople are humble, polite, and not overly showy about status, skills, or money. People don’t brag, it’s a huge social no no.

I’ve has the same experience. The whole hyper competitive parenting culture which is way too prevalent in DC is extremely frowned upon in Baltimore as well. People are very humble and laid back, even if their kids are all stars. Totally different culture up there among middle class and UMC people.

[Anonymous]

If I had the opportunity to move to a city where the cost of living was cheaper, I would do it! If it works for your jobs/careers, I'd go for it and focus on your overall quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks again for the commentary -- this is genuinely helping us work through our hang ups. And to the PP upthread who noted that if we move to Baltimore, we will inevitably have to deal with DC people talking s**t about it -- excellent point! It's funny because my DH works with a lot of people who are based in Baltimore or elsewhere in Maryland, and they ALL say terrible things about DC all the time and we've always just ignored it because we were happy here and their criticism is often (though not always) based in ignorance of what it's actually like. So we assume the same is true about Baltimore to an extent.

Also, we live in a neighborhood in DC that I'm sure may would PPs would find horribly crime-ridden, and love it and don't find it unsafe. If you live in a city, you will deal with crime. We have accepted that.

And thank you to those encouraging us to take the long view on home values. I do feel like we are suffering from DC short-timers thinking -- you get weirdly accustomed to people profiting off their homes here after living in them for only a few years, and it skews perspective on what a "normal" appreciation is like. We have a neighbor in our building who sold their condo for a 200k profit (after closing costs) after just two years. It was eye-popping. Stories like that have definitely altered our perception and I think if we are really going to make the leap to moving out of DC, we need to be brought back down to earth a bit. So thank you!

I think ultimately we need to just keep looking for the right home. Increasingly, I think Hampden is our sweet spot -- we really love the commercial area of the neighborhood and we aren't looking for a ton of space (we've lived in a 1000 sq ft condo with a child and a pet for over 5 years, I think anything will feel like an upgrade!), though would love a little yard or patio. It feels like the right middle ground and is close enough to a number of schools we like while keeping our overall costs down. I think targeting our search, and maybe letting go of our original instinct to be in a denser part of town, is going to help us make sense of this whole thing and make a better apples to apples financial comparison between DC and Baltimore. Wish us luck!

Hey, I'm the previous poster who just moved to Hampden after a long time in another part of Baltimore -- happy to answer any specific questions as I'm obsessed by the RE market here. If you are looking at public schools, I'd encourage you to consider the pluses and minuses of those zoned for Medfield vs Hampden. If you're looking at private schools, there's lots of us over in the private/independent forum who can tell you about specific schools.

I feel like there are three "zones" of Hampden: Remington/Hopkins, Right There in the Middle, and Woodberry. I'd choose Remington/Hopkins if you have a reason to want to be near Hopkins. There's some good food around there and commerce, but it's really a JHU life-support system. Not that it makes it unpleasant! But it's definitely student-oriented.

Middle Hampden offers mostly small and dense housing. Wonderful walkability, The Avenue is fun, and parking is pure nightmare so spend what you need to for off-street parking.

Woodberry has great dining, hip vibe, and is literally on top of a nice Light Rail station. Larger housing options here, much quieter. Somewhat farther from non-dining conveniences -- and by that I mean that you're a mile from the grocery story and library instead of being .5 mile. It's all still very close. Zoned for Medfield Elementary. Parking can be dicey on some streets but isn't quite as brutal as Hampden proper. Mostly older stock like middle Hampden, but with some cool old stone places like this: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1504-Mill-Race-Rd-21211/home/10860655 . There's also quite a bit of new or newer construction around there if that's more your speed. Speaking of which, new construction in Woodberry is one of the very few places in the Baltimore city limits to offer fios. Most of Baltimore is essentially redlined, which sucks.

We chose Woodberry because the Light Rail access was key for my spouse's job, and we're on the older side (we dine but don't really drink any more!). We've been super happy here so far. You are going to have great options because we passed over 90% of listings because we wanted 2000 sq ft. That's rare and really cut down our choices. But if you're looking around 1500 sq ft you'll have fun. I assume your budget is around 500k or less? If it's more than that things are a bit different. But $400k in Hampden can get you an awful lot. Have fun, and let us know how things go!

OP again. Thank you, this is so helpful! We have mostly been looking at Middle Hampden and are drawn to the Avenue, but Woodberry sounds appealing. We will definitely be doing public to start, though we may wind up in private for MS and/or HS depending on what happens -- my understanding is that public MS/HS in Baltimore requires the same level of careful navigation as it does in DC, so it's hard to predict given that our DC is still very young.

Can you tell me give me an overview of Medfield v. Hampden schools? We know we may also have some options outside of zoned schools because of Baltimore's choice system, but I've heard Roland Park schools are already overcrowded so we are unlikely to get a spot there if we don't live nearby? Is that true?

Yes, you are not likely to get into RP unless you are zoned for it.

Woodberry PP here: this poster is correct, it’s really really hard to get into RP. I know one person who got his kid into RP out of zone and I heavily suspect him of using inside local government connections. I innocently called and tried to do the same and they basically laughed at me. If you absolutely want RP elementary, buy in 21210. Roland Park is a lot more like Mount Washington in that it’s leafy, pretty, and not particularly walkable. Really different vibe than Hampden/Woodberry.

My kid is at one of the Roland Park privates, but from what I have heard Medfield is quite good. I’ve heard mixed things about Hampden, but that’s not necessarily fair or accurate. Keep in mind that there are alternatives to the big private schools in Roland Park as well. If you are more on the artsy/hippie side, I know people who are nuts about the Greenmount School. I think it’s about 10K a year. There are also some good Catholic schools. There are also a few great charters you can lottery for. The Green School is notably nice.

Middle Hampden and Woodberry are a mile apart, so just look around 21211 and see what appeals and is available! It sounds like anything in that area could work for you. I don’t know what your timeframe is but you should follow for a while, the stock changes quickly but there are some definite patterns. Do you like new construction or older buildings?

There are parts of Homeland and Guilford that are also zoned for Roland Park elementary even though they are 21212 and 21218. You need a good agent to help sort it out.

I believe there is a catholic elementary on Hampden right on Roland Ave, but not sure what grade it goes up to. Cathedral, which is on Charles Street in Homeland is a popular k-8 and it is about half the price of the private independents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The “Baltimore is a crime ridden hellhole” crowd is annoying. OP wants to live in a city, not a suburb. How many $325,000 3br rowhomes that look like this are in neighborhoods with less crime than Hampden? How are the schools in these DC neighborhoods with these $325,000 rowhomes?

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1318-W-40th-St-21211/home/10874694

Here’s what $350,000 will get you in Locust Point. You can walk a couple blocks to a ferry that takes you to Fells Point and Canton from here. Locust Point is one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1414-Richardson-St-21230/home/11023685

Here’s what $350,000 gets you for a 3br rowhome in DC. Would the Baltimore haters in this thread rather live here than the homes above? What is the crime like in the Washington Highlands neighborhood?

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/717-Atlantic-St-SE-20032/home/10168788

Or let’s compare SFHs in each city, not compare Baltimore with a suburb.

Here’s a SFH that PP posted in Roland Park. 3 br and 4 baths, listed at $649,000. Half a mile from a 7/10 ES and MS and a short walk to restaurants on Roland Avenue, a Starbucks, and a boutique grocery store.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/216-Oakdale-Rd-21210/home/11155189

Now do a search on Redfin for a 3 br SFH in DC for the same price. Here’s the only SFH that comes up between $600,000 and $650,000.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3823-Pope-St-SE-20020/home/10144996

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

I grew up close by and know many people who went to Baltimore prep schools and disagree with this. But we live in Springfield where it’s very low key. Baltimore preps compared to my public education Anne arundel county educations were not as strong. Many kids switched back to out middling high school from the preps because of this. Also the preps made kids grow up fast and insecure in my experience. I absolutely love Baltimore but don’t want my kids in prep. I would love to move to the area one day after the kids are schooled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

I grew up close by and know many people who went to Baltimore prep schools and disagree with this. But we live in Springfield where it’s very low key. Baltimore preps compared to my public education Anne arundel county educations were not as strong. Many kids switched back to out middling high school from the preps because of this. Also the preps made kids grow up fast and insecure in my experience. I absolutely love Baltimore but don’t want my kids in prep. I would love to move to the area one day after the kids are schooled.

Sorry about typos clearly my “educations” was awesome

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I had the opportunity to move to a city where the cost of living was cheaper, I would do it! If it works for your jobs/careers, I'd go for it and focus on your overall quality of life.

It has definitely been true for us, and we didn’t have to take a pay cut. If you find the right jobs, like we did, it’s a win win for people who want a more relaxed way to raise kids, and for us, to make really good friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

I grew up close by and know many people who went to Baltimore prep schools and disagree with this. But we live in Springfield where it’s very low key. Baltimore preps compared to my public education Anne arundel county educations were not as strong. Many kids switched back to out middling high school from the preps because of this. Also the preps made kids grow up fast and insecure in my experience. I absolutely love Baltimore but don’t want my kids in prep. I would love to move to the area one day after the kids are schooled.

Sorry about typos clearly my “educations” was awesome

No worries about typos, but what exactly in my post were you disagreeing with? I wasn't making any reference to quality of education, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my husband would do it, I would move to Roland Park in a hot second. We have three kids and I am over the constant competitiveness/rat race in the DC area and the transient people. Places like Baltimore are more affordable and people have a real sense of place. I'd like to raise my kids somewhere where their friends don't move every three years and where people are more down to earth.

Don't get stuck on the lack of home appreciation. It's part of the package--that's why it is affordable to live there. Make investments in something other than your home. Also, real cities have crime. Just be aware of it and no where not to go. No one here in DC is driving around the bad parts of NE or SE for fun...you wouldn't do that in Baltimore, Cleveland or Detroit either.

Good luck to you.

I know someone who lives in Roland Park and you are way off in your assessment of it being low key. A lot of very wealthy people live there, and just like wealthy people everywhere, they are committed to keeping their money and influence. It's not a particularly diverse neighborhood.

In my personal experience, the relevant of which is basically the fact I went to one of the big Baltimore prep schools and knew a ton of families from Roland Park and now have friends that own there as well as the fact that I live in DC and have a very stereotypical DC career...the stress levels and competitiveness of even the most “driven” Baltimore person (for lack of a better word) still pales in comparison to those of most DC people I know. There are definitely obnoxious folks in Baltimore—but just totally different levels. I think it has to do with the difference in the industries within the two cities.

This. No matter how well educated you are or how high powered your job (and yes, they exist here), it’s just not cool to be a striver. The ceo of my husband’s company is super low key in person, doesn’t even live in a “super fancy” house and makes 8 figures. We have multiple Nobel prize winners in our neighborhood and they are 100% normal people. It took me about a year to get used to it when we moved from DC. PEople are humble, polite, and not overly showy about status, skills, or money. People don’t brag, it’s a huge social no no.

I’ve has the same experience. The whole hyper competitive parenting culture which is way too prevalent in DC is extremely frowned upon in Baltimore as well. People are very humble and laid back, even if their kids are all stars. Totally different culture up there among middle class and UMC people.

I'd wonder how both PPs respond to the charge that Baltimore is 'laid back' essentially because it's stuck. A lot of folks I know who come there from other places say this. There's a lot of sorting people out by which schools you attended and your country club memberships. I get that DC striver culture can be insufferable, but it's also a powerful black hole that draws people into from all over galaxy (slight exaggeration) and makes them part of the whole, often by incorporating what uniqueness they bring. Baltimore, by contrast, is a place that whimpers along on the reputation of being one of antebellum America's top cities and fairly major port/manufacturing town until roughly 50 years ago, and has since become something of a museum for those ages.