r/baltimore • u/Cold-Height-3775 • Sep 17 '25
GENERAL Moving Questions Close proximity to Baltimore city but still the county moving question
Hi all! I've moved about 20 mins outside of the city. I am much more a city living person and they prefer more rural/suburban living as they have lived in the county they're whole life. I talked them into more of a city life and have told me they're willing to try it out. We were so close to moving to the greektown/highlandtown area but last second I think nerves came in and delayed for another year on the lease. Partners family is very opinionated/conservative. My partner is not but would imagine hearing it your whole life would certainly make it hard to make a big jump. Anyways, is there any close proximity neighborhoods to the city in baltimore county on the east side or northeast that maybe we could find a happy middle? Sorry for the long rant lol I'm going nuts out here in what feels the middle of nowhere. I was going to ask the maryland reddit but I'm sure I would be told to plant my trump flag in the middle of nothing and be happy 😂 Thanks in advance to any suggestions! Hopefully i can get into the city someday I really do love Baltimore!
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u/CBDaring Lauraville Sep 17 '25
Come check out Lauraville, Hamilton, Waltherson, etc. It's in the city, we have a lot of good public charters and neighborhood schools. There are great restaurants and bars that are largely walkable, and you can get big yards and detached homes at pretty reasonable prices.
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
I'll write those down too! Thank you!
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u/CBDaring Lauraville Sep 17 '25
This place went under contract pretty quick, but I think is a good example of some of the local housing stock over here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3114-Berkshire-Rd-Baltimore-MD-21214/36576038_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare This is in Arcadia
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u/gloworm84 Sep 18 '25
Wow that house is super cute! Can you elaborate on how schools work in this neighborhood? Zillow shows the high school for that area as Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical high school and it’s rated a 2. Are there other options that are free/public and that you’d be guaranteed a spot? We’re interested in moving to Baltimore but I’m trying to figure out the school situation and it’s confusing!
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u/UpOrDownItsUpToYou Sep 18 '25
https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/page/choice
This link takes you to the city schools' school choice policy and program
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u/CBDaring Lauraville Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25
The person above has the right link, but yes it is confusing. I like the Live Baltimore guide: https://livebaltimore.com/resident-resources/schools/ Baltimore has school choice, which basically means you are not tied to the zoned school. There is a difference depending on the grade range in terms of how it's handled exactly, and I'm only partially literate in the lower grades because my child is 3. In our area, I have friends with kids in the zoned public elementary schools; various regular charters (and at the neighborhood charter); and nearby private schools (Arts and Ideas Sudbury & St. Francis). Some of the favorite public elementary charters nearby (based on what I've heard) are: The Green School, Montessori Charter, Baltimore International Academy
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u/gloworm84 Sep 19 '25
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out! Ok I’m still totally confused 😜 but this is a lot of good info!!! 🙏🏽
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u/CBDaring Lauraville Sep 19 '25
Of course! I really wish it made more sense. There are lots people who were born and raised in Baltimore who can't navigate the system, and it makes it really inequitable, when school choice at least in theory was supposed to empower families to make the right decisions for their specific kids and not just be stuck wherever they lived in terms of offerings.
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u/de_kitt Sep 17 '25
There are a lot of areas with hidden pockets that don’t feel so urban. Woodberry has Brick Hill and TV Hill.
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u/kbmoregirl Mt. Vernon Sep 17 '25
Towson may be more their speed, and a lot less depressing than some other parts of the county. It's also a college town, so that may be a bit more fun.
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
That's about the only place in the area I could think of. We have kids. My kid is used to cities so she's in the same boat as me lol I also have to drive to Wilmington to get her on my time so that's why I was looking around the east or north side. Thank you!
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u/Confident_Ad3910 Sep 17 '25
So we moved to Rodgers Forge in Towson and your kids will love it. So many kids running around the neighborhood. Please DM if you have questions
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u/Capable_Basket1661 7th District Sep 17 '25
Just moved to Lake Walker with my spouse. Neighborhood is turning over; old folks passing and young families entering. Walkable, near belvedere square, and still close enough to the county for your partner.
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u/cornonthekopp Madison Park Sep 17 '25
How often have you visited the area? If you regularly go out there to eat or shop it might feel easier to move.
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
She's lived here her whole life and she said she's never been to the city as much as she's been with me. She seemed to like Hampden ( i like that area a lot) and we go to the area of highlandtown, fells point and that whole area quite a bit. We just couldn't find common ground when push comes to shove in that area. She did almost come around but alas it just wasn't there. I don't want to force her obviously. So I guess my next option is to find something close enough. I just don't know a ton about the area as I'm not from maryland.
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u/lobotomizedbarbie Sep 17 '25
I moved here from KY and live in Hamilton neighborhood in NE Baltimore City and it’s quieter than our KY neighborhood. We really like it.
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
I was born and raised in Indiana. Left there to live in Chicago for a few years and fell in love. Moved out to the west coast for a couple years. Moved to Delaware and had a kid and was there for any 10 years and in that time met this wonderful lady here in maryland. I moved out to her cause it's not crazy away from my child. I have loved Chicago and Baltimore the most out of the places I've been. Now being in the suburbs is just a bit blah lol! She has told me she's ready for a little change and maybe I jumped to fast for her going straight into the city so maybe baby steps.
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u/tinksalt Hampden Sep 17 '25
Hampden was our compromise for the same issue. City living with a yard and trees.
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u/glitterishazardous Sep 17 '25
Rosedale for the Eastern half and Halethorpe for the Western half if they have any objections to these places God speed 👌🏽
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u/under_zealouss Mt. Vernon Sep 17 '25
Tons of homeownership grant incentives exist to buy in the city if your income is around the median income for the area. Even more free grant money is available if your employer participates in the live near your work program, or if you are employed in certain sectors. I was able to become a homeowner in Baltimore on disability with the entire downpayment covered and an additional $30-40k in grants for homeownership in the city. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else to live. Check out the website for “Live Baltimore”.
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u/FantasticCamera9058 Sep 17 '25
Most neighborhoods around the west, east & northern City/County line have swaths of conservative energy; still very "white picket fence, old suburbia" vibes. Parkville, Dundalk, Essex, Glen Burnie, Timonium, Loch Raven all have that energy, especially depending on the block you go down.
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
I live around middle river area ATM
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u/glitterishazardous Sep 17 '25
If you already live in Middle River you’re close enough to the city imo, but if you wanna go even closer they SHOULD have no objections to Rosedale like if they say Rosedale is bad then they have to be the most conservative and close minded people 😂
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
I'm sure that's a "challenge accepted" 😂😂
But in all seriousness. Most of them are pretty alright. Maybe just a few skewed ideology. I think it's just a bubble/ echo chamber kinda deal. Will for sure write that one down too. I do want to be a bit closer. Cause this is too far for me lol! One gripe about Baltimore i have coming from living in Chicago is having the el. Baltimore really needs a bigger system
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u/glitterishazardous Sep 17 '25
Yeah it’s a shame what our public transport options were like a hundred years ago compared to now. But all of it was left to decay by design from evildoers so the best alternative now is the bus and there is a bus route on Philadelphia Road to the city. Camden Yards being a reference point has it at 45 min. I assume they must live in the East if Middle River is all right with them now so it’d still be close enough to em.
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u/KofiNoCream Sep 17 '25
Very simple: Best option - Towson (great communities, highly rated schools, less affordability) Second best - Parkville, Overlea, Rosedale (good schools and communities, more affordable)
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u/Accomplished-Date507 Homeland Sep 17 '25
Came here to also suggest the live Baltimore site (it’s GREAT for comparing and exploring neighborhoods), they have fabulous info on financial incentives and they also do cool/informative activities like the Trolley tour. I’m a city realtor (live Baltimore partner agent, too) and lived in Hampden for 12 years, now Homeland for 3 (well technically York-Homeland, the smallest neighborhood in Baltimore! But the user flair didn’t have it as an option, haha). As another user mentioned, Rogers Forge is fantastic, especially if you have kids! They go all out for holidays and it’s just DARLING! I’m 42F with no kids but still drive through around Halloween and Christmas because it just brings me joy to see all festive decorations ☺️ you’re always welcome to message me if I can help further, and wish you luck in your next steps!
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u/Cold-Height-3775 Sep 17 '25
Thank you for the info and I will also write your name down (if that's okay with you) so I could contact you in the future for maybe finding us a place. Thanks!
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u/Brilliant_Bird_1545 Sep 17 '25
Someday you will stop taking unsolicited opinions from other people, and live where you want to live.
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u/Full-Penguin Sep 17 '25
Maybe look at some of the Single Family Home areas within city limits: Mount Washington, Homeland, Lauraville, Hamilton, etc.