Moving to Baltimore, MD: a practical guide for newcomers
Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods, and they feel very different from each other. Before you pick one, it helps to understand the city versus county line, how people commute, and what city life costs. Here’s the guide I give clients relocating here.
Updated November 2026
First, the city versus county line
Baltimore City and Baltimore County are separate governments. The county wraps around the city on three sides and includes places like Towson, Catonsville and Pikesville. Some county homes have Baltimore, MD mailing addresses, so check the actual jurisdiction. It changes your property taxes (the city’s rate is $2.248 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2026, the county’s is $1.10), your schools, and who picks up your trash.
Baltimore neighborhoods by the kind of house you want
| You want… | Places people look |
|---|---|
| A rowhouse near the water, shops and restaurants | Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Locust Point, Patterson Park |
| Historic townhouses and condos near downtown | Mount Vernon, Bolton Hill |
| Rowhouses with a neighborhood main street | Hampden, Remington, Charles Village |
| Older detached homes on tree-lined streets | Roland Park, Homeland, Guilford, Lake Evesham, Cedarcroft, Mount Washington, Lauraville |
| A condo with views or amenities | Inner Harbor, Harbor East, Canton |
I focus on north Baltimore, where I live, and The Key Home Team covers the rest of the city. For a closer look at the north end, read moving to north Baltimore on my main site.
Getting around
- To Washington, D.C.: MARC Penn Line and Amtrak from Penn Station, or MARC’s Camden Line downtown; I-95 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway by car.
- Within the city: the light rail runs north and south, the Metro subway runs northwest, and local buses cover the rest. Many neighborhoods are bikeable.
- BWI Marshall Airport is south of the city, reachable by car, light rail or MARC.
Your first-month checklist
- Utilities: BGE for gas and electric; the city’s Department of Public Works for water, sewer, trash and recycling.
- Parking: many neighborhoods have residential permit parking zones. Apply through the city if your block is one.
- Maryland license and registration: new residents have a limited window; check the MVA’s current rules and book early.
- Homestead tax credit: if you bought a primary residence, apply with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
- Schools: Baltimore City Public Schools assigns elementary schools by address and uses a choice process for older grades. Confirm with the school system.
Questions people ask
What are the best neighborhoods in Baltimore to move to?
It depends on the house you want and your commute. Rowhouses near the water are in Canton, Fells Point and Federal Hill; rowhouses with a main street are in Hampden and Charles Village; older detached homes are in Roland Park, Homeland, Guilford and Lake Evesham. Tell me your priorities and I’ll narrow it down honestly.
Is Baltimore City the same as Baltimore County?
No. They’re separate governments with different tax rates, schools and services. Some county homes have Baltimore mailing addresses, so always check the jurisdiction.
How do people commute from Baltimore to D.C.?
By MARC train or Amtrak from Penn Station, MARC’s Camden Line, or by car on I-95 or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
What are property taxes in Baltimore City?
For fiscal 2026 the rate is $2.248 per $100 of assessed value, per the Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Owner-occupants should apply for the homestead tax credit.
Do I need a parking permit in Baltimore?
On some blocks, yes. Baltimore has residential permit parking zones in busy neighborhoods. Check your block and apply through the city.
About Mike Fielder
Mike Fielder is a Baltimore Realtor and Sales Director of The Key Home Team at Cummings & Co. Realtors. Licensed since June 2016, he focuses on North Baltimore (Lake Evesham, Lake Walker, Cedarcroft, Hampden and Remington) and the Towson area. He also serves as Vice President of the Lake Evesham Community Association.
Over his career, Mike has sold 190 homes worth more than $56 million. He’s backed by The Key Home Team, which has sold more than $375 million in real estate and closes about $30 million a year.
Mike founded Property Management of Baltimore in 2014, two years before getting his license, and still runs it. Managing rentals taught him what repairs really cost, which updates buyers pay for, and how to keep a deal moving when something breaks. Sellers get that judgment when deciding what to fix before listing. Buyers get it when they’re reading an inspection report.
A Towson University graduate, Mike keeps his approach simple: price from real recent sales, spend money only where it pays back, and compare offers by what the client actually keeps.
More from Mike: Neighborhood guide · Buying with Mike · Full bio
Relocating to Baltimore?
Tell me your move date, where you’ll work and what you want in a home. I’ll point you to the neighborhoods that fit.
The Key Home Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors
Cell: 410-905-6678
Email: mike@mykeyhometeam.com
Office: 410-823-0033
108 W Timonium Rd, Timonium, MD 21093
Website: mikesellsbaltimore.com