Living in Baltimore: 14 Things You Need To Know About Life in Charm City

Got living in Baltimore on the brain? If you’re considering moving to Baltimore, you’re likely wondering, “Is Baltimore safe?” We’re here to give you answers. Also known as “Charm City,” Baltimore has a small-town vibe but is packed with exciting restaurants, craft breweries, museums, and — if you’re here long enough — familiar faces. It’s a popular home base for D.C. commuters, young professionals, and folks looking for big-city amenities that don’t cost them the feeling of community.

Baltimore at a Glance

• Baltimore is just off of the Chesapeake Bay, located about an hour’s drive north of Washington, D.C., and two hours south of Philadelphia.
• With a population of around 570,000 people, Baltimore is Maryland’s most populous city, but its metro-area population of 2.4 million makes it the 22nd largest metro area in the U.S.
• Founded in 1729, Baltimore may be one of America’s oldest cities, but its residents tend to be on the younger side, with a median age of around 36 years old — three years younger than the national median.
• Baltimore covers 81 square miles — roughly the same size as Toledo, Ohio, and just under half the size of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Living in Baltimore means having several public transportation options, from buses and the light rail to the subway and Water Taxi (pictured).
(Source: Baltimore Water Taxi via Facebook)

Pros and Cons of Living in Baltimore

What are the pros and cons of living in Baltimore? Before we dive deep into the top 14 things you should know about life in Baltimore, here’s a high-level look at some of the ups and downs of Baltimore life.

Pros of Living in Baltimore

• The cost of living in Baltimore, MD, is lower than average — both in the U.S. at large and in the state of Maryland.
• If you’re looking to buy, home prices in Baltimore are way cheaper than in nearby Washington, D.C. — and there are tons of gorgeous Federal and Greek Revival homes to choose from.
• And if you’re renting in Baltimore, you’re in good company: More than half of residents rent their homes.
• Baltimore has several public transportation options, from buses and the light rail to the subway and Water Taxi.
• Locals call it “Smalltimore” because though it’s a city, it can have a small-town feel.

Cons of Living in Baltimore

• Summers tend to be pretty humid, and winters tend to be cold and wet.
• It was ranked the sixth most dangerous city in the U.S. by MoneyGeek — though there are certainly lower-crime enclaves to be found.
• Niche gives Baltimore public schools an overall rating of C, which means parents may want to do some extra research on where they send their kids to school.

1. The Cost of Living in Baltimore Is Cheaper Than You Might Think.

How much do you need to make to live comfortably in Baltimore? Less than you might think for a metropolitan city. Baltimore has a lower cost of living than the U.S. national average and Maryland overall. So whether you’re relocating within the state or making a long-distance move, you’ll likely get more bang for each buck. Just keep in mind, however, that while you might be spending less, you’ll also likely be making less. 

• According to the U.S. Census, the median household income in Baltimore is around $58,000, versus the national average salary of around $75,000.
• According to RentCafe, renters can expect average apartment sizes to clock in at about 816 square feet, and rent averages about $1,550 per month for a one-bedroom apartment — more than $150 less per month than the national average.
• Best Places reports other daily and monthly expenses, like utilities (+7.3 percent) and transportation (+24.4 percent) are slightly higher than the national average.

The average value for a home in Baltimore is significantly lower than the average home value in Maryland.
(Source: Baltimore Heritage via Facebook)

2. You Can Get a Steal of a Deal on a Historic Home in Baltimore. 

While around 66 percent of folks in the U.S. own their homes, only around 48 percent of households in Baltimore are owner-occupied. This is likely tied to the city’s poverty level, since the average value for a home in Baltimore is around $188,700 —  significantly lower than the average home values in Maryland ($422,700), nearby Washington, D.C. ($610,200), and the U.S. overall ($363,400). 

Love historic homes? You’ve got your pick here! Much of Baltimore is designated as historic districts, and you’ll find several types of the city’s trademark row houses throughout. Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles, for example, are abundant and full of color and character. 

3. Over Half of Baltimore Residents Are Renters.

About 52 percent of residents living in Baltimore rent their homes, paying anywhere from around $700 to over $2,000 per month in rent. Another plus? Since Baltimore is a historic city with some new developments, you can pick from a variety of different units, like one of the city’s unique row houses or a luxury apartment rental. 

4. The Top 3 Best Neighborhoods To Live in Baltimore Range From Quirky to Classy.

Federal Hill

This charming harborside neighborhood is popular with recent grads and tourists alike, mostly because it’s accessible to much of the city’s best offerings: great Inner Harbor views, a lovely collection of beautiful brick row houses, and easy accessibility to a slew of restaurants, locally owned shops, and entertainment and culture options. Plus, it’s just a straight 10-minute shot on the Purple line (or in the car) up to Downtown Baltimore. It even has a stop on the Baltimore Water Taxi.

Hampden

This quirky neighborhood is merely a handful of miles away from Downtown Baltimore — but lightyears away when it comes to style. You’ll know you’re in Hampden right away with its can’t-miss personality shining through in the colorful row houses and undeniably trendy vibe in the air. Want great eats, excellent vintage shops, and a relaxed but bustling energy? You’ll find that here.

Mount Vernon

This affluent neighborhood shows off a slice of Baltimore’s history — not through the city’s typical row houses but via beautiful mansions. Designated a National Register Historic District, this area is where beauty meets brains in Baltimore. Fancy restaurants and high-brow cultural institutions, like the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Enoch Pratt Free Library, and Maryland Center for History and Culture, live in this neighborhood located less than a mile north of Downtown Baltimore. 

Other Baltimore Neighborhoods Worth Considering

• Canton
• Fells Point
• Harbor East
• Remmington
• Little Italy

Living in Baltimore can mean being car-free, thanks to a variety of public transit options — local buses, Metro SubwayLink, Light RailLink, MARC train, or BWI Airport Shuttle.
(Source: Maryland Transit Administration via Facebook)

5. You Don't Have To Rely Solely on a Car To Get Around Baltimore.

Thinking of moving but don’t have a car — or don’t want to need a car? You’ll be happy to know that it’s possible to live car-free in the city. Not only that, but it can actually be cheaper and more convenient. Baltimore has a variety of public transit options — local buses, Metro SubwayLink, Light RailLink, MARC train, or BWI Airport Shuttle — and for anywhere that you may go beyond their reach, there’s always Uber, Lyft, or a taxi.

6. You Can Look Forward to Steamy Summers and Wet Winters.

When it comes to Baltimore weather, you can count on hot, sun-soaked summer days that can graze the edge of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and finish with warm nights. However, you’ll also get your fair share of cold and wet winters, where temps are known to drop below freezing —  sometimes dipping under 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 

April to May and September to early October are the best times of year, where you can take full advantage of all the city’s outdoor activities without melting like a candle in the 59 percent humidity of summer or needing to bundle up in the throes of winter.

Year-round average temperatures range from approximately 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but here’s a look at the average temps by season, according to U.S. News & World Report:

• Winter: 43°F
• Spring: 58°F
• Summer: 79°F
• Fall: 62°F

7. It's One of the United States' 41 Independent Cities.

Don’t confuse Baltimore the city with Baltimore the county. Baltimore City is what’s known as an independent city — and there are only 41 of them in the whole country (and almost all of the rest of them are in Virginia). That means Baltimore doesn’t belong to a county, and the city doesn't have to follow a local county government structure. However, since Baltimore is such a big city, you probably won’t even notice the difference. 

8. Locals Often Refer to It As “Smalltimore.”

If you want to live in a city without having to sacrifice the small-town benefit of knowing your neighbors (or your waitress or sales clerk or car dealer — you get the idea), this just might be your place. Baltimore is a big city that can feel small, a draw for some and a disadvantage for others. In fact, locals jokingly call it “Smalltimore” because it can seem like everyone knows everyone. 

The nickname also refers to the tight-knit social scene where everyone seems to have their place, their turf, and their crowd. This is great for a sense of community, but it may be a little daunting for individuals new to the area until they find their crew. 

9. Baltimore Can Be a Dangerous Place (But Mainly in Certain Areas).

Is Baltimore safe? MoneyGeek ranked Baltimore as the sixth most dangerous city in the U.S., out of 302 cities with populations over 100,000 people, begging another question: “Why is Baltimore so dangerous?” That’s a tough question to answer succinctly; however, much of Baltimore’s crime happens in specific, poverty-stricken, drug- and gang-ridden neighborhoods — not throughout the whole city.

Wealthier, gentrified, and/or tourist areas like Inner Harbor, Mount Vernon, Federal Hill, and Fells Point are of much less concern. For more info, check out this guide to Baltimore’s safest neighborhoods in 2024. 

Baltimore is known for its blue crabs. They’re caught locally in the Chesapeake Bay and steamed, dusted in Old Bay seasoning, and then dumped on the table to be devoured.
(Source: Visit Baltimore via Facebook)

10. Everyone's Obsessed With Crabs.

Okay, okay, it’s probably more accurate to say that Baltimore is full of crabs — delicious, succulent, famously feastable crabs. Baltimore is known for its blue crabs caught locally in the Chesapeake Bay and steamed, dusted in Old Bay seasoning, and then dumped on the table to be devoured. In fact, the crabs are so highly regarded, they draw tourists and locals by the thousands during the mid-April to November crab season. For a more civilized (but possibly less exciting and messy) meal, the city is also known for other crab concoctions, like crab dip, crab cakes, or just plain ol’ steamed crabs in a basket.  

11. They Have a Pro Sports Team Named After a Poem — And The Team’s Really Good.

Besides eating delicious crabs from the Bay, another favorite Baltimore pastime is rooting for the local home teams, one of which is named after an Edgar Allen Poe poem. Yep, the city’s NFL team is proudly called the Baltimore Ravens. Even better? Their mascots used to be three ravens: one called Edgar, one called Allen, and one called — you know where we’re going with this — Poe. Baseball is also huge here with one of baseball's most historic teams, the Orioles, lovingly referred to as the O's. 

Here’s the lowdown on each team:

Orioles

You’ve gotta be in it for better or for worse. The Orioles yo-yo in their performance and have celebrated streaks of being undefeated as well as lamented, being called the worst baseball team in the majors

12. You'll Have To Choose Your Schools Wisely.

One of the city’s lowest marks with the highest potential to dissuade new residents may be Baltimore’s slightly-below-average schools. Niche gives public schools in the city an overall C grade, which admittedly isn’t ideal. However, there are some diamonds in the rough. Here are a few of the city’s best schools that Niche rates an A or higher:

• The Bryn Mawr School*
• Gilman School* (Pre-K, K–12)
• McDonogh School* (Pre-K, K–12)
• Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (9–12)
• Friends School of Baltimore* (Pre-K, K–12)
• Roland Park Country School* (Pre-K, K–12)
• The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland* (K–12)

*Denotes private school

Baltimore has had its fair share of famous residents over the years, from singer Billie Holiday to composer Philip Glass.  
(Source: Waterfront Partnership via Facebook)

13. The City Is a Favorite of Famous Folks.

Baltimore has had its fair share of famous residents over the years — spanning from politicians to poets. Makes sense, given that it's one of the oldest cities in the U.S. As mentioned, Edgar Allen Poe was one local celebrity, even though he only lived here a short time. Here are a handful of other noteworthy names who have called Baltimore home: 

• Philip Glass, composer
• DMX, rapper
• John Waters, eclectic filmmaker
• Billie Holiday, singer
• David Hasselhoff, actor
• Francis Scott Key, poet and national anthem writer of “The Star Spangled Banner” (based off of a poem he wrote about Baltimore’s Fort McHenry battle in 1814)
• Thurgood Marshall, first African-American Supreme Court Justice
• Parker Posey, actress
• Jada Pinkett-Smith, actress
• Frank Zappa, musician
• Frederick Douglass, anti-slavery activist and writer

14. Fun Things To Do in Baltimore Abound.

Ready to dive into the city’s must-dos? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Baltimore — full of local favorites and tourist tips alike, so you can get a well-rounded feel for your potential new home. 

Things To Do in Baltimore at Night

• Attend a performance of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
• Take a self-guided beer tour of Baltimore’s best craft breweries (be sure to hit up Checkerspot, Diamondback, Mobtown, and Peabody Heights).
• Catch a Broadway musical at the Hippodrome Theatre.
• Try your luck at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.

Things To Do in Baltimore During the Day (and With Kids)

• Catch an NFL Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium.
• Root, root, root for the home team Orioles at Camden Yards.
• Did we mention this is the place to get steamed crabs? Try Locust Point Steamers or Captain James Seafood Palace.
• Visit one of Baltimore’s more unique museums, like the National Museum of Dentistry, The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, or the American Visionary Art Museum.
• Snatch a shot of the iconic view from Inner Harbor — and from aboard the Baltimore Water Taxi.
• Go under the sea at the excellent National Aquarium in Baltimore.
• Step foot onto Fort McHenry, the location of the famous battle that inspired our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
• Examine dinosaur fossils at the Maryland Science Center.

And Don’t Forget These Annual Events in Baltimore 

• Artscape: A large, free, local art festival
• Opening Day at Camden Yards: Go, Orioles!
• Maryland Film Festival: More than a film fest; it’s gaming, art, food, music, and tech, too
• Flower Mart: Running yearly since 1911, it’s the longest-running festival in the city
• Charm City Bluegrass Festival: A multi-day, award-winning event
• Preakness Stakes:
• AFRAM: African American heritage festival
• Baltimore Pride: One of the country’s oldest pride festivals

Moving to Baltimore

Still have the idea of moving to Baltimore on your brain? Now that you know it’s much more than just crabs, we hope you’re feeling pumped to start a new adventure in this potentially new-to-you city. 

Not quite feeling prepared for the move? That’s just fine, too! We can get you ready for living in Baltimore with everything from flexible moving and storage options to info on how to pack to avoid damage on a long-distance move to tips for vetting moving companies. Basically, if Baltimore’s meant to be, the PODS Blog has the tools to make the transition as smooth as it can be. 

Alex Keight is a frequent contributor to the PODS Blog who has moved 25+ times because she loves to experience new places.

Editor’s note: For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.