Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore is nice but the food scene is definitely sleepier than DC. (DC is way more expensive too, of course, real estate and restaurant-wise.)

I’d say the food scene overall is more approachable in Baltimore, even if there are less options than DC. The cafe scene is better in Baltimore however.

I don’t know what “approachable” means but there are far fewer great or even good options in Baltimore and far less variety of food. DC has built a solid food scene in the last 20 years; the restaurant scene used to be so dire here. No knock on Baltimore but there isn’t really a comparison at all.

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore is nice but the food scene is definitely sleepier than DC. (DC is way more expensive too, of course, real estate and restaurant-wise.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore is nice but the food scene is definitely sleepier than DC. (DC is way more expensive too, of course, real estate and restaurant-wise.)

I’d say the food scene overall is more approachable in Baltimore, even if there are less options than DC. The cafe scene is better in Baltimore however.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, since you are the one working only 2-3 days in office I see no reason for your DH to spend 5 days going up to Ft Meade so you both can live in DC.

Your money will go twice as far in Baltimore. You can live somewhere like Riverside and be zoned for a Blue Ribbon elementary school and pay half of what you would for a house in Capitol Hill. It’s also next to the water and MUCH safer and nicer than Capitol Hill. You could drive 2-3 days a week to DC or park at BWI and catch the MARC / Amtrak. A Riverside to Ft Meade commute would be 20-30 minutes.

This is what $495,000 will get you in Riverside within walking distance to the harbor, Federal Hill, and Locust Point. You can walk to ferries that will take you to Canton and Fell’s Point as well. This lifestyle is much more like Hoboken than Capitol Hill. It’s also zoned to a 7/10 K-8 school.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1509-Riverside-Ave-21230/home/11019719

OP here - this is a super interesting recommendation! It looks like a great area. I hadn’t considered Baltimore before because I admittedly don’t know much about it. Its short term but I assume pre k isn’t public/free like dc?

Pre K isn’t free unless you’re lower income and make around $96,000 for a family of four.

Hampden and Roland Park are great neighborhoods as well but are in northern Baltimore so might not be good for either of your commutes. If you get a job closer to Baltimore Roland Park would be ideal if you want a SFH, great schools and parks, and to be a close drive to some really fantastic bars and restaurants in Hampden and Remington.

Another neighborhood in South Baltimore is Locust Point, which is zoned for another 7/10 GS K-8 school and is on the water. It’s a very safe neighborhood and has a nice shopping center with a Harris Teeter in it as well as a bunch of great non chain restaurants and bars. $679,000 can get you a new build townhome there:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1423-Haubert-St-21230/home/195415948

I’d take a look at these neighborhoods in Baltimore before I settled on DC if I were you.

OP here - yeah absolutely! I don’t know why I hadn’t considered Baltimore but so far loving what I see about south Baltimore. I feel like I must be missing something though when I see the real estate prices (so low compared to DC?).

There are more high paying jobs in and around DC, and there really are no “slums” like you find in other cities. Even the “bad” parts of DC look nice; whereas, some residential parts of West Baltimore look partially abandoned and are very, very dangerous. DC also has a really nice subway (Metro) that has contributed to rising real estate prices in both city and suburban neighborhoods.

Baltimore has always had a more working class / Appalachia-type vibe, which has evolved into a lot of home-grown, non-corporate businesses today. DC is very corporate (lots of Compass Coffees and high end Blue Bottles), and also has a button down w/ sports coat vibe.

This is an oversimplification. DC has 122 murders this year and Baltimore has 118 even though Baltimore doesn’t have the benefit of the National Guard, Secret Service, FBI, ATF, and Capitol Police being stationed in the city. Baltimore also has 120,000 less people so DC’s murder rate is obviously higher. DC’s murder rate has been higher than Baltimore’s ever since 2023.

There is more urban blight in some neighborhoods in Baltimore but Baltimore’s crime does not affect neighborhoods where there are $500,000+ townhomes as much as DC. It is much safer in Locust Point, Riverside and Canton than it is in Columbia Heights, Capitol Hill or Petworth for example even though homes in these Baltimore neighborhoods are cheaper and are zoned for better public schools.

OP, don’t believe me. Look for yourself. Go to Locust Point or Riverside and then go to neighborhoods in DC where you can buy nice townhomes like the ones that were posted above for $450,000-$700,000. Go to each area in the day and night. Walk around, get something to eat or drink, and determine for yourself which feels nicer.

Yep I’m actually very excited about checking out the south Baltimore peninsula (areas like riverside and locust point). My employer has an office in Baltimore also that I could probably split time at so I’m not commuting to DC 2-3x a week (instead maybe 1x/wk). I’m not sure why I glossed over Baltimore before but I guess that was the point of this thread

Do most young families in riverside and locust point go to public school for elementary? And I assume it’s mostly middle or UMC two-working parent families (for residents that do have young kids)? Vs an atmosphere that includes SAHMs and private schools etc.

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore is nice but the food scene is definitely sleepier than DC. (DC is way more expensive too, of course, real estate and restaurant-wise.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, since you are the one working only 2-3 days in office I see no reason for your DH to spend 5 days going up to Ft Meade so you both can live in DC.

Your money will go twice as far in Baltimore. You can live somewhere like Riverside and be zoned for a Blue Ribbon elementary school and pay half of what you would for a house in Capitol Hill. It’s also next to the water and MUCH safer and nicer than Capitol Hill. You could drive 2-3 days a week to DC or park at BWI and catch the MARC / Amtrak. A Riverside to Ft Meade commute would be 20-30 minutes.

This is what $495,000 will get you in Riverside within walking distance to the harbor, Federal Hill, and Locust Point. You can walk to ferries that will take you to Canton and Fell’s Point as well. This lifestyle is much more like Hoboken than Capitol Hill. It’s also zoned to a 7/10 K-8 school.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1509-Riverside-Ave-21230/home/11019719

OP here - this is a super interesting recommendation! It looks like a great area. I hadn’t considered Baltimore before because I admittedly don’t know much about it. Its short term but I assume pre k isn’t public/free like dc?

Pre K isn’t free unless you’re lower income and make around $96,000 for a family of four.

Hampden and Roland Park are great neighborhoods as well but are in northern Baltimore so might not be good for either of your commutes. If you get a job closer to Baltimore Roland Park would be ideal if you want a SFH, great schools and parks, and to be a close drive to some really fantastic bars and restaurants in Hampden and Remington.

Another neighborhood in South Baltimore is Locust Point, which is zoned for another 7/10 GS K-8 school and is on the water. It’s a very safe neighborhood and has a nice shopping center with a Harris Teeter in it as well as a bunch of great non chain restaurants and bars. $679,000 can get you a new build townhome there:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1423-Haubert-St-21230/home/195415948

I’d take a look at these neighborhoods in Baltimore before I settled on DC if I were you.

OP here - yeah absolutely! I don’t know why I hadn’t considered Baltimore but so far loving what I see about south Baltimore. I feel like I must be missing something though when I see the real estate prices (so low compared to DC?).

There are more high paying jobs in and around DC, and there really are no “slums” like you find in other cities. Even the “bad” parts of DC look nice; whereas, some residential parts of West Baltimore look partially abandoned and are very, very dangerous. DC also has a really nice subway (Metro) that has contributed to rising real estate prices in both city and suburban neighborhoods.

Baltimore has always had a more working class / Appalachia-type vibe, which has evolved into a lot of home-grown, non-corporate businesses today. DC is very corporate (lots of Compass Coffees and high end Blue Bottles), and also has a button down w/ sports coat vibe.

This is an oversimplification. DC has 122 murders this year and Baltimore has 118 even though Baltimore doesn’t have the benefit of the National Guard, Secret Service, FBI, ATF, and Capitol Police being stationed in the city. Baltimore also has 120,000 less people so DC’s murder rate is obviously higher. DC’s murder rate has been higher than Baltimore’s ever since 2023.

There is more urban blight in some neighborhoods in Baltimore but Baltimore’s crime does not affect neighborhoods where there are $500,000+ townhomes as much as DC. It is much safer in Locust Point, Riverside and Canton than it is in Columbia Heights, Capitol Hill or Petworth for example even though homes in these Baltimore neighborhoods are cheaper and are zoned for better public schools.

OP, don’t believe me. Look for yourself. Go to Locust Point or Riverside and then go to neighborhoods in DC where you can buy nice townhomes like the ones that were posted above for $450,000-$700,000. Go to each area in the day and night. Walk around, get something to eat or drink, and determine for yourself which feels nicer.

Anonymous wrote:I would at least take a look at Takoma Park or Takoma DC near the metro and Main Street Takoma. It will definitely not be nearly as interesting as Hoboken, but it is very family friendly and walkable. Tons of families with young kids, quite a few prek options, and plenty of lovely small in-home daycares (which based on another thread is what I think OP wants for her younger kid). It sounds like that Fort Meade commute is going to be a bear from anywhere, but at least being on the red line would make OP's commute easier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think of Baltimore as DC’s “Hoboken”.

Federal Hill neighborhood:
https://fedhill.org/

Hampden:
https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/hampden/
A John Waters movie about Hampden in the 90s:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126604/

Canton and nearby Patterson Park:
https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/canton-brewers-hill/

https://baltimore.org/listings/patterson-park/

Thanks! Definitely giving this a look.

My millenials and their contacts consider Hoboken most equivalent to Arlington but Fort Meade makes it a no. For life on the street , AKA walking the neighborhood, with or without dogs and strollers, the Baltimore area stuff is far better than Capitol Hill. People buy or rent in Capitol Hill- couple bought into the idea and rented after living in another larger city. Couldn't wait to get out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, since you are the one working only 2-3 days in office I see no reason for your DH to spend 5 days going up to Ft Meade so you both can live in DC.

Your money will go twice as far in Baltimore. You can live somewhere like Riverside and be zoned for a Blue Ribbon elementary school and pay half of what you would for a house in Capitol Hill. It’s also next to the water and MUCH safer and nicer than Capitol Hill. You could drive 2-3 days a week to DC or park at BWI and catch the MARC / Amtrak. A Riverside to Ft Meade commute would be 20-30 minutes.

This is what $495,000 will get you in Riverside within walking distance to the harbor, Federal Hill, and Locust Point. You can walk to ferries that will take you to Canton and Fell’s Point as well. This lifestyle is much more like Hoboken than Capitol Hill. It’s also zoned to a 7/10 K-8 school.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1509-Riverside-Ave-21230/home/11019719

OP here - this is a super interesting recommendation! It looks like a great area. I hadn’t considered Baltimore before because I admittedly don’t know much about it. Its short term but I assume pre k isn’t public/free like dc?

Pre K isn’t free unless you’re lower income and make around $96,000 for a family of four.

Hampden and Roland Park are great neighborhoods as well but are in northern Baltimore so might not be good for either of your commutes. If you get a job closer to Baltimore Roland Park would be ideal if you want a SFH, great schools and parks, and to be a close drive to some really fantastic bars and restaurants in Hampden and Remington.

Another neighborhood in South Baltimore is Locust Point, which is zoned for another 7/10 GS K-8 school and is on the water. It’s a very safe neighborhood and has a nice shopping center with a Harris Teeter in it as well as a bunch of great non chain restaurants and bars. $679,000 can get you a new build townhome there:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1423-Haubert-St-21230/home/195415948

I’d take a look at these neighborhoods in Baltimore before I settled on DC if I were you.

OP here - yeah absolutely! I don’t know why I hadn’t considered Baltimore but so far loving what I see about south Baltimore. I feel like I must be missing something though when I see the real estate prices (so low compared to DC?).

There are more high paying jobs in and around DC, and there really are no “slums” like you find in other cities. Even the “bad” parts of DC look nice; whereas, some residential parts of West Baltimore look partially abandoned and are very, very dangerous. DC also has a really nice subway (Metro) that has contributed to rising real estate prices in both city and suburban neighborhoods.

Baltimore has always had a more working class / Appalachia-type vibe, which has evolved into a lot of home-grown, non-corporate businesses today. DC is very corporate (lots of Compass Coffees and high end Blue Bottles), and also has a button down w/ sports coat vibe.

Understatement. Parts look like a war zone--drove through several miles of it a few weeks ago. It's really sad and scary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, since you are the one working only 2-3 days in office I see no reason for your DH to spend 5 days going up to Ft Meade so you both can live in DC.

Your money will go twice as far in Baltimore. You can live somewhere like Riverside and be zoned for a Blue Ribbon elementary school and pay half of what you would for a house in Capitol Hill. It’s also next to the water and MUCH safer and nicer than Capitol Hill. You could drive 2-3 days a week to DC or park at BWI and catch the MARC / Amtrak. A Riverside to Ft Meade commute would be 20-30 minutes.

This is what $495,000 will get you in Riverside within walking distance to the harbor, Federal Hill, and Locust Point. You can walk to ferries that will take you to Canton and Fell’s Point as well. This lifestyle is much more like Hoboken than Capitol Hill. It’s also zoned to a 7/10 K-8 school.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1509-Riverside-Ave-21230/home/11019719

OP here - this is a super interesting recommendation! It looks like a great area. I hadn’t considered Baltimore before because I admittedly don’t know much about it. Its short term but I assume pre k isn’t public/free like dc?

Pre K isn’t free unless you’re lower income and make around $96,000 for a family of four.

Hampden and Roland Park are great neighborhoods as well but are in northern Baltimore so might not be good for either of your commutes. If you get a job closer to Baltimore Roland Park would be ideal if you want a SFH, great schools and parks, and to be a close drive to some really fantastic bars and restaurants in Hampden and Remington.

Another neighborhood in South Baltimore is Locust Point, which is zoned for another 7/10 GS K-8 school and is on the water. It’s a very safe neighborhood and has a nice shopping center with a Harris Teeter in it as well as a bunch of great non chain restaurants and bars. $679,000 can get you a new build townhome there:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/1423-Haubert-St-21230/home/195415948

I’d take a look at these neighborhoods in Baltimore before I settled on DC if I were you.

OP here - yeah absolutely! I don’t know why I hadn’t considered Baltimore but so far loving what I see about south Baltimore. I feel like I must be missing something though when I see the real estate prices (so low compared to DC?).

There are more high paying jobs in and around DC, and there really are no “slums” like you find in other cities. Even the “bad” parts of DC look nice; whereas, some residential parts of West Baltimore look partially abandoned and are very, very dangerous. DC also has a really nice subway (Metro) that has contributed to rising real estate prices in both city and suburban neighborhoods.

Baltimore has always had a more working class / Appalachia-type vibe, which has evolved into a lot of home-grown, non-corporate businesses today. DC is very corporate (lots of Compass Coffees and high end Blue Bottles), and also has a button down w/ sports coat vibe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think of Baltimore as DC’s “Hoboken”.

Federal Hill neighborhood:
https://fedhill.org/

Hampden:
https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/hampden/
A John Waters movie about Hampden in the 90s:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126604/

Canton and nearby Patterson Park:
https://baltimore.org/neighborhoods/canton-brewers-hill/

https://baltimore.org/listings/patterson-park/

Thanks! Definitely giving this a look.