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Apparently Baltimore City PD are trying to hire 350 new officers. I'm really considering applying with them. I would just like to learn some input about the area. I've asked a couple of people and they've recommended the Towson area. I'm looking for a suburban area with good public schools. Low crime. And somewhat friendly neighbors.
Any input? Suggestions? Advice?
I'm in Glen Burnie, about 10 minutes south of Baltimore in Anne Arundel county. We have decent schools on the south side. Most everyone will tell you Howard County has the best schools in the Baltimore area, which is about 20-25 minutes SW of Baltimore. It's pricier out there too, they may average about one murder every couple years, it's super quiet out there. It's relatively quiet here in GB, not too much traffic during the rush hours, close to everything. Towson is a good place to live, that's on the north side of Baltimore just north of the city line into Baltimore County. Baltimore County is starting to have more crime, but Towson is okay. Lots of traffic through Towson, that side of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) stays packed during the rush hours. Towson is a little more hustle-bustle/borderline snooty to me, I grew up about ten minutes from Towson and my mother worked in the heart of Towson for 15 years. Generally though, in the area the people are very friendly, but definitely get away from Baltimore for better schools and neighborhoods.
That's not to say that it's all bad in Baltimore, it surely isn't. There's a strong sense of community in a lot of neighborhoods. A lot of people talk trash about Highlandtown, Parkville, Belair-Edison, Waverly, but I've been in a lot of those neighborhoods and outside the drug game the people are very friendly and helpful. That being said, your idea of living in the suburbs is not a bad one, to put it nicely. I'd read up on the area, but any questions specifically you might have about the area, hit me up, I'd be more than glad to answer them. Plus we have a lot of junkyards for parts here!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore,_Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._neighborhoods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson,_Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimo...ropolitan_area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimo...ice_Department
Thank you very much.Quote:
wetamup2k3gI'm in Glen Burnie, about 10 minutes south of Baltimore in Anne Arundel county. We have decent schools on the south side. Most everyone will tell you Howard County has the best schools in the Baltimore area, which is about 20-25 minutes SW of Baltimore. It's pricier out there too, they may average about one murder every couple years, it's super quiet out there. It's relatively quiet here in GB, not too much traffic during the rush hours, close to everything. Towson is a good place to live, that's on the north side of Baltimore just north of the city line into Baltimore County. Baltimore County is starting to have more crime, but Towson is okay. Lots of traffic through Towson, that side of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) stays packed during the rush hours. Towson is a little more hustle-bustle/borderline snooty to me, I grew up about ten minutes from Towson and my mother worked in the heart of Towson for 15 years. Generally though, in the area the people are very friendly, but definitely get away from Baltimore for better schools and neighborhoods.
That's not to say that it's all bad in Baltimore, it surely isn't. There's a strong sense of community in a lot of neighborhoods. A lot of people talk trash about Highlandtown, Parkville, Belair-Edison, Waverly, but I've been in a lot of those neighborhoods and outside the drug game the people are very friendly and helpful. That being said, your idea of living in the suburbs is not a bad one, to put it nicely. I'd read up on the area, but any questions specifically you might have about the area, hit me up, I'd be more than glad to answer them. Plus we have a lot of junkyards for parts here!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore,_Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._neighborhoods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson,_Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimo...ropolitan_area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimo...ice_Department
I'm just looking for a decent place to raise a family. I've got a 6 year old son and 12 year old stepdaughter. And I really don't want to move into a shitty area just because of my career aspirations.
What's your impression of BCPD? Professional? Assholes? Disrespectful? Lacking integrity? Courteous?
Greg has given you some good information on the place. I'm in Timonium MD, most of the time, right next to Towson. As he said, it is crowded, but if you're going to be working in Baltimore downtown, and live in the apartments in Towson (off Dulaney Valley Road), you have a very good school there. I have a lot of colleagues who have done the research on the areas in and around Towson, and can get you the information you need about the schools, just let me know. The rents in Towson area are on the higher side compared to this area, but that's because of the university, usually a two bedroom apartment can run you somewhere between 1400-1700 a month. If you prefer a town home setup, Owings Mills might also be a nice area to consider, very residential and good accessibility. Two bedroom Townhomes that are cheap in that area, run somewhere between 1500-1700.
I'm not sure about Baltimore county itself, as I don't stray very far from the Timonium/White Marsh/Towson/Owings Mills area, but you have your good and bad areas. If you're in the PD, you are probably going to have to deal with them all.
I don't know if this applies, but MD has the hardest car inspection in this area to pass. Everyone with an older car, that I know, after moving here, has had to pay at least $500 in repairs before passing inspection.
Tamim I had this idea that you were closer to DC than Baltimore. I like Timonium, just York Rd can be a hassle during rush hour, especially when you get to Lutherville going north. Owings Mills is hit or miss lately, my sister lives in an incredibly ghetto pocket of Owings Mills by the Lexus dealership. Owings Mills has a lot of Jewish communities though, that part of town is very nice. Upper Randallstown too, there's some nice homes up there, but keep away from the apartment complexes in lower Randallstown by the beltway, ratchet city! I like White Marsh too, White Marsh/north side of Rosedale/Nottingham, that whole area is pretty okay from what I remember. It's been a while since I had to regularly deal with that area. All of that is in Baltimore county.
BCPD (sometimes just referred to as BPD) seems to be cool. They have A LOT to deal with, but every interaction I had as a citizen was relatively pleasant. DC's cops seem to me to be the worst. Just rude and testy. Baltimore's are more laid back, but they'll shoot you in a heartbeat, we stay having police-related shootings on the news in the city.
Hey Greg, you're right, I used to be in Gaithersburg until the beginning of last year. I moved here once I started working in Timonium, as it was just a hassle beyond hassles, trying to drive down 695 in the mornings. I've been to that part of Owings Mills (down the lane next to the Lexus Dealership), it looks a little old, but haven't had a lot of interactions. The Theater in Owings mills is the one I frequent most often, as it's the nicest one in the area.
Yeah, you're right about the various shootings, I see at least one in the news almost everyday!