Safest area to live in??? Coming from Atlanta looking to relocate soon... (Baltimore: apartments)

[FreshStart13]

Hi,

I am currently looking to relocate to the MD area soon but plan on working in the DC area. I'm getting a little more familiar with the "DMV" area, but I'm very unsure of where to live and what would be safest for me. And I definitely need some help.

1) In my early 30s
2) Have worked in various industries, but mainly administrative
3) No kids, don't plan on having anytime soon
4) Interested in the healthcare field
5) Affordability (not looking to purchase a home, would like to rent a 1bd for less than $850/mo
6) Public transportation (not extremely important, but would be nice
7) Culturally diverse

If you could give me any information that would really help me out!!

Thanks!

[goldenage1]

I'll give the same advice I gave earlier-- plan on spending more like $1100/month or plan to share an apartment. Otherwise, locate the job first, then ask about a place to live. People end up doing ridiculous commutes because the are not living close to where they work.

[Greenline_girl]

For affordability, you'll likely want to look to the Hyattsville/College Park area. It has excellent access to DC via the PGPlaza or College Park Metro (Greenline), buses and/ or driving up Baltimore/Rhode Island Ave and its a good diverse population. At your price point, you're likely looking at a room share situation in a single family home or roommate for apt. Rents in the metro DC area are pretty high. Most likely anywhere you might find a one br for less than $850, isn't somewhere you'd want to live.

[bonnielisabeth]

You would probably want to share an apartment or rent a room in a group home--typically someone buys or rents a larger home and then rents out all the bedrooms to different people. It's how a lot of younger or single people make it here.

[dropping_k]

I agree with Greenline_girl. Traffic in this area is very bad. Best to know where you will work before you commit to an area. However, if you have no choice and need to pick a location before you know where you work, I suggest the following

1. Look for a location by a Metro station. This gives you something to fall back on in the event when you land a job, if it happens to be out of the way, you have the options to commute to and from. The problem with living by a metro station is that it is can get somewhat expensive unless you rent out a room. Look at the Metro map and look up stations. Living by the Redline can be kind of expensive. I would suggest Greenbelt Station.
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
2. Option 2 is live in an area close by main commuter routes (like 495, route 50, and 295). This will make it easier to get to and from DC. Try and stay away from 270 (Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown area) these places are great areas, but the commute to DC from here is hell (about 1hr).

[stpickrell]

You will want a roommate. Maybe Bowie is worth a look too ... Frederick can offer a good deal if you get a job up there.

[EducatedBro82]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

You will want a roommate. Maybe Bowie is worth a look too ... Frederick can offer a good deal if you get a job up there.

There is no apartment in Bowie, well areas outside the beltway that is $850/month. DC Area rent is expensive. the only apartments that are under $900 are not in the best areas, moreso are located inside the beltway. If you want to look into an area for that amount I would say look into the Baltimroe area.

[Mahatma X]

That criteria is impossible.

[LNicole01]

First off, good luck with your move. I live in Ellicott City, Maryland. I like it here! However, there aren't many areas where you will be able have both affordability AND safety. It is my opinion that Maryland is getting just as expensive as New York City. I moved here thinking that I can have both affordability AND safety because when I first visited my family here in 2001, the rents were affordable in safe areas. At that time, I was paying $780 for a townhome apartment but since moving back here, a lot has changed. I am paying $1500 for a two bedroom apartment and having to pay all utilities. Please do your research because like every place there are good and horrible areas. I apologize for not being specific on locations. It is because I really think it depends on a few things as to where you'll want to rent and what you consider safe since I previously stated that I really don't think there are areas here in Maryland that offers both safety and affordability. Just do yourself a favor and don't go anywhere close to Baltimore City. Baltimore City is probably the only area in Maryland where you'll get affordability but NOT safety.

[redd1skng]

Originally Posted by FreshStart13

Hi,

I am currently looking to relocate to the MD area soon but plan on working in the DC area. I'm getting a little more familiar with the "DMV" area, but I'm very unsure of where to live and what would be safest for me. And I definitely need some help.

1) In my early 30s
2) Have worked in various industries, but mainly administrative
3) No kids, don't plan on having anytime soon
4) Interested in the healthcare field
5) Affordability (not looking to purchase a home, would like to rent a 1bd for less than $850/mo
6) Public transportation (not extremely important, but would be nice
7) Culturally diverse

If you could give me any information that would really help me out!!

Thanks!

If you want to be independent on $850/month look into areas north of Laurel such as Odenton, Halethorpe, Catonsville, Randallstown. This is an excellent location for the healthcare field. If you end up working in DC there are plenty options for transportation, i.e. commuter trains, commuter buses, vanpools, and carpools.

Also, there are plenty options in D.C. in the healthcare field but there's also over 20 hospitals and many research and outpatient medical facilities in the Baltimore metro area including federal VA and military installation clinics. Good Luck.