Baltimore neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

I realize that this is a DC forum but I was wondering if anyone has or does live in Baltimore. DH and I are thinking if moving there. DC is just not working for us for multiple reasons. Has anyone got any advice about neighborhoods in/around Baltimore? What are the schools like?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me what you are looking for? House/condo/townhouse? Public or private schools? Why isn't DC working for you?

Baltimore is great, but quite different from DC. Do you want city or suburbs? Many choices, so you need to narrow things down.

[Anonymous]

The only good public schools in Baltimore City are in Roland Park, which is quite pricey. Baltimore County, particularly north Baltimore County, has great public schools. Look at Towson and the surrounding area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what you are looking for? House/condo/townhouse? Public or private schools? Why isn't DC working for you?

Baltimore is great, but quite different from DC. Do you want city or suburbs? Many choices, so you need to narrow things down.

We'd be looking for a townhome or SFH under 300k with public schools and hopefully public transportation. I realize that this puts us in the burbs but I guess that's all we can afford. I think we are too hippy and poor to make DC work for us. I also find the city difficult to navigate with 2 small children. We're hoping to go somewhere a little cheaper and laid back. We want to buy a home and settle in somewhere but DC just isn't feeling like a good fit. We gave it two years and are ready to move on and settle before DD1 starts school.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Baltimore, in Roland Park, as an elementary student. I actually went to a religious private school, not public. Does Roland Park ave hany duplexes mow?

It is a darling and special place to live.

[Anonymous]

Try looking on the forums at city-data. There is a Baltimore forum that has a lot of useful information about neighborhoods. There is also a website that describes different Baltimore city neighborhoods:
http://www.livebaltimore.com/neighborhoods/DiscoverYourNeighborhood/

If you live in the city, you can find good schools, but you have to look carefully. Around Patterson Park and Bolton Hill there are good elementary schools, but you'd likely send your kids to private for middle and high schools.

Roland Park Elementary Middle School is the best elementary school. It has a very good science/math oriented MS program that's extremely competitive. Many parents who live in Roland Park school district send their children to private middle and high schools.

Roland Park is lovely, but you won't find a SFH for under 300K; you may find a duplex or TH, but they tend to sell quickly or need a lot of work. There are apartments in Roland Park, so you could rent for a while and see if you like the area. Condos sell for under 300K, but they will not be large.

Columbia is supposed to be very nice and a little crunchy, so you might like it there, and they have decent schools. Most Baltimore County schools are much better than Baltimore City schools. You can find charters that are decent in the city, but you have to research them carefully, apply and hope you get a spot (just like DC).

Towson is nice, but can be expensive, especially in the areas with good elementary schools. Stoneleigh has a great elementary school, but the houses are extremely expensive. Aneslie has small houses, many of which are zoned for the Stoneleigh school. You would have to buy a tiny house to get something under 300K, but if you look and pounce, you may find something. The other good Towson schools are Riderwood, Rogers Forge, West Towson. The advantage to Towson is that it is close to the city, where there is lots to do.

Hampden is a crunchy, funky part of the city with lots of great shopping, cheap housing and lots to do, but I don't know about the schools. You'd have to research them.

Rogers Forge is nice, and you can find rentals there. It's all town houses, some of which are quite spacious (and expensive), but it's in the county, which has lower taxes and better schools. It's pretty close to the city, but has less crime, and proximity to many things to do. Many young families live in Rogers Forge.

Hamilton/Lauraville is a funky part of Baltimore City with cheap houses. I don't know about the schools. You may have to find a charter school, but there are SFHs that are cute for under 300K.

Baltimore is an acquired taste, but a really nice place to live once you get used to its eccentricities.

[Anonymous]

We lived in Rodgers Forge before we had kids. The elementary school is really great, and most of the kids walk because it's so close and right in the neighborhood. It's really a wonderful neighborhood for young families. Halloween there was the best. Kids come from miles around to trick-or-treat, and there's a great neighborhood parade. It's all rowhouses though, and I didn't like sharing paper thin walls with the neighbors, but I often wish that we had stayed there rather than moving to MoCo to be closer to my husband's job.