1. Baltimore Is As Unique As It Is Charming
Tired of cities that are predictable and everything always looks the same?
Baltimore is the answer to those cookie cutter woes. As one of the most truly unique cities in the country filled with strong traditions, fun people, never ending quirks, a passion for the arts, and an Extremely Livable score of 76 on
AreaVibes, Charm City is far from what you see on the TV.
2. Baltimore Knows That Neighborhoods Matter
Neighborhoods like
Locust Point,
Riverside,
Federal Hill,
Inner Harbor,
Downtown,
Canton, and Hampden are among some of the most desirable places to live in town thanks to their close-knit communities and the value put on local traditions and colloquialisms.
3. Charm City Is Budget Friendly
Most cities are through-the-roof expensive. But Baltimore helps you hang onto your hard-earned cash by remaining one of the few affordable cities left. Against an index of 100, Baltimore has an index of 96, making it four percent cheaper than the national average. And for a city-living, that’s even cheaper.
4. You Can Find Single Homes In This City
One of the most affordable parts of Baltimore is, surprisingly enough, the housing. With a median home value of $161,3000, Baltimore’s housing is 7 percent cheaper than the national average. Many of Baltimore’s neighborhoods provide spacious single homes with yards, too, which is another perk you don’t usually get with city-living.
5. Baltimore Is Safer Than You Think
There’s no denying that Baltimore’s crime rates are nothing to brag about. But the Baltimore you see on the news makes up a very small percentage of the city itself. There are plenty of neighborhoods in Baltimore where families live and thrive, you just have to know where to look. Areas like Locust Point, Riverside,
Roland Park, Homewood, Guilford, and Federal Hill all boast crime rates that are nearly 60 percent lower than Baltimore’s average along with others like Inner Harbor and Fell’s Point which are considered safe, too.
6. Baltimore Provides A Quality Education If You Know Where To Look
Just like neighborhoods in Baltimore, what school district your family lives in will largely determine the quality of life for your family. Stoneleigh Elementary, Eastern Tech High, Rodgers Forge Elementary, and Summit Park Elementary are among many great schools in the area, each with a top rating of 10 on GreatSchools. Areas like Locust Point see 92 percent graduation rates, which is 22 percent higher than Baltimore’s average. So don’t overlook the school districts when moving.
7. The Greater Baltimore Area Is An Excellent Alternative
If living right in the city still doesn’t feel just right for your family, there are still plenty of awesome places to look in the Greater Baltimore area. Places like Ellicott City, Lutherville, Columbia, Towson, Mays Chapel, and Pikesville are popular with families for their close proximity to the city while maintaining good school systems, low crime rates, and generously sized homes.
8. Baltimore Is Art City
Thanks to the American Visionary Museum, Baltimore is city that literally has art rolling through the streets. The Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum, James E. Lewis Museum of Art, The Contemporary, Center for Art Design and Visual Culture, and Maryland Art Place, and what seems like an amazing mural around every corner are even more reasons why Baltimore should be called Art City, U.S.A.
9. The Maryland Science Museum Makes Learning Fun For All Ages
You might think that if you’ve been to one science museum, you’ve been to them all. But one visit to the Maryland Science Museum will prove you dead wrong. This science museum that has a little bit of something for family members of all ages, including full-scale dinosaurs and multiple levels of hands-on activities, was named among the top 10 science museums in the country by Parents Magazine. Do the family a favor and get yearly passes. You’ll definitely save money with how much you’ll be coming back.
10. For The Love Of Pirates
Pirate lovers will see Baltimore as their dream city, a place where the ship sails run big and the pirate talk is common. The popular Urban Pirates Cruise is a great way for the whole family to spend the day bonding together aboard a swashbuckling adventure. And pirate culture comes to life at the annual Privateer Festival in Fell’s Point which stages a family friendly pirate land invasion of activities and fun.
11. Baltimore Does Much More Than Just Soccer
If your kids are interested in joining a soccer, softball, or lacrosse team, Baltimore has plenty of resources in and out of schools to make that possible. But there is also an awesome variety of alternative sports that kids can get into here including the popular indoor Charmcity Skate Park which is celebrating its 20th year in operation along with Urban Evolution, an indoor kid-friendly parkour park that will help keep the skaters and the ninjas of the family occupied, too.
12. Vacations And Day Trips Are Just A Short Drive Away
Baltimore is perfectly located between the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the country, giving families access to some of the best destinations in the country. The country’s capital of
Washington, D.C. is practically in Baltimore’s backyard, just an hour’s drive away.
Philadelphia is under two hours and
New York is about three. Beaches are close, too. You can hit the boardwalk at
Ocean City Maryland or run with the feral ponies on Assateague Island. And if the parents are looking for a night of shows and a little gambling but can’t find the time to get to
Las Vegas, a drive to
Atlantic City is just over two hours from Baltimore.
13. There’s Nothing Like Baltimore Sports
Maryland’s pro sports teams are all located in Baltimore. The O’s games at the iconic Camden Yards are the most family friendly of the bunch and will give your kids memories that will last forever. But the Baltimore Ravens have really won the city over, too, making Sundays a proud-to-wear-purple game day in almost every house around the city.
14. Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Port Discovery is for the younger members of the family and allows them to do what they do best: be kids. The interactive exhibits keep them engaged and offer parents a way to keep them entertained at their age levels while still learning through old-fashioned, hand-on fun.
15. Baltimore Keeps Kids Reading
The Baltimore County Public Library has fourteen branches throughout Baltimore County, which gives you a way to keep kids reading without emptying out your wallet no matter where you live in the city. The White Marsh Branch is a massive 15,000 square-foot book haven where you can also find storytimes for babies and preschoolers, farmers markets, crafts and more. Get them learning a love for Edgar Allan Poe early because it’ll never go to waste in Baltimore.
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