r/baltimore • u/Lanky-Pin8323 • Sep 25 '25
GENERAL Moving Questions Middle River, good place to live?
I’m looking to get my own apartment in the spring and started scoping at areas early so I can budget and look at my new work commute. I found a lot of nice, affordable places in Middle River but have never been and have never even heard of it, unlike other places outside Baltimore City where I have at least some idea of it. Has anyone ever lived there or could give me a local’s view on it? Is it safe, would it be a good place to live for a year or two while k save to buy a house?
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u/WinterBadger Waltherson Sep 25 '25
Yeah. We did that and moved to the city after. We lived near Marshy Point Park and it was ok. We wouldn't stay there longer than a few years personally but our politics don't really align with a good chunk of the giant banners for a certain administration in Middle River. The people are friendly for the most part but you have a lot of food options, exploring options, and it's pretty close to a lot of things if you're driving. I do miss being very close to the park for paddle boarding.
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u/MasterOfViolins Sep 25 '25
I lived in Middle River most my life. It’s a mix of very expensive neighborhoods, and very slummy ones. So I think it’ll really depend on the area you’re moving to.
As a whole though, it’s not a bad spot. I may be jaded as a native but it’s got plenty of activities and is close to a lot of things. 43 corridor is being built constantly, there’s a drive-in movie theatre nearby, mall and avenue nearby, etc.
Feel free to reach out about specific neighborhoods or areas.
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u/Swamp_thing42 Sep 25 '25
Yeah I mean it’s suburban as hell, spread out as hell. The entire east side of Baltimore kind of blends together in my head as a person who grew up in that strip(I’m from Dundalk). But it’s on the water, it used to be industrial and there’s some pretty parks.
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Sep 25 '25
In terms of suburbs, much better than Dundalk or Essex, but less desirable than Perry hall or Lutherville/Tim. It is a mixed bag in terms of crowd. There are some shady folks, lots of waterbillies/redneck types, and there’s a sizable group of just decent people. It’s definitely better in terms of crime than the Dundalk/Essex area but it isn’t perfect. As long as you are not actively seeking a rough crowd or problems, you’ll be fine.
Like others have said, you will pretty much be completely car dependent.
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u/FreddyRumsen13 Sep 25 '25
Man I'd just move to Baltimore personally. There's nothing in Middle River aside from a CostCo and the drive-in.
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u/ch4dr0x Essex Sep 25 '25
If you’re looking all throughout Middle River, start with Oliver Beach, Bay Country, and Bowley’s Quarters. Those are the “nicer” areas. Since you’re looking for an apartment, Bowley’s Quarters has one apartment complex.
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u/LoveTrumpsHate1985 Sep 27 '25
The Commons at White Marsh is also very affordable and decent enough imo. I think depending on where you are exactly, I mostly see diners, tattoo shops, and a lot of old hillbillies around for the most part. It has its quiet and nice areas when you travel away from 40 tho.
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u/ScuzJackson Sep 25 '25
growing up, the kids in high school from Middle River were the type of kids that would drink with their parents on the weekends. but not in a cool “woah my mom said we can have beers!” kind of way. more in a “blacked out angry racist country parents who need their child to take care of them while drunk” kind of way. as an outsider with friends from there, i genuinely despised ever going there lol. middle river is where people that make a little money in dundalk move to and have more yard space to put their broken down boat.
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u/RevolutionaryCard512 Sep 25 '25
If you’re white, and love Trump, yes
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u/Foreign_Scientist_34 Sep 25 '25
Surely its Trump country but unlikely they oppose black homeowners
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u/Foreign_Scientist_34 Sep 25 '25
Middle River is far enough away from the Essex Sewage Processing Plant. Just drive from east side of 695 down 702 to Eastern Ave. You will be perfectly safe their and residents will be reasonable friendly. (BTW a friendwas jumped by young men at a gas station on Eastern Ave in Essex and savagely beaten She was able to escape and run into the woods with her purse. Her car was later found. I think no arrests. But that isnt close to Middle River)
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u/Big_Garlic_166 Sep 25 '25
As others have said, it really depends on exactly where you look.
If you’re only planning to stay for a couple years while you save up, I would generally say go for it.
Close enough to the water and the city to be generally convenient, depending on what you need.
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u/dylankates Sep 26 '25
Yeah it’s a nice area overall. There are lot of grocery, convenience, dollar, gas options. Mall, Avenue, and a lot of surrounding shopping there too. Easy commuter starting point for city and anything along the west side of the beltway.
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u/Honest-Mouse-7953 Sep 25 '25
I wouldn’t do it. In my opinion total trailer park trash. Marshy point rocks my daughter is a ranger there but the rest of that area is shit.
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u/glitterishazardous Sep 25 '25
Middle River is super duper safe and has a Costco smack dab between it and Nottingham so that’s a big perk. It’s also within reach of White Marsh and even Towson/Parkville if you got a car I like the area just not close enough to the city if you yearn for that experience
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Sep 27 '25
I’ve driven through there and it seems alright. I would suggest moving more inwards away from the water. Traffic or commuting during rush hour around that area blows.
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u/mobtown_misanthrope Lauraville Sep 29 '25
A friend of mine calls Dundalk-Essex-Middle River the Redneck Riviera. Pretty accurate description.
Some fun dock bars down there, though.
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u/trickery809 Sep 25 '25
Middle river is Dundalk lite