Many people, Marylanders included, confuse Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Baltimore CITY is technically its own county. Its boundaries sort of make it look like the state of Nevada. Baltimore COUNTY wraps around Baltimore City to the west, north, and east in the shape of the head of a wrench. Baltimore County also borders Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties. It even touches Pennsylvania’s York County in the northernmost part. Some areas of Baltimore County feel urban, some areas feel suburban, and other areas feel completely remote. The biggest cities/census designated places are Dundalk, Essex, Middle River, Parkville, Towson, Pikesville, Owings Mills, Randallstown, Woodlawn, and Catonsville. Before considering a move to Baltimore County, you’ll want to understand exactly where you are in relation to where you work, what schools you want to be close to, and what you like to do!
Chapters
- Where am I?
- Roads & Getting Around
- Jobs
- Colleges & Universities
- Cost of Living
- Recreation
- Breweries & Wineries
Where am I?
Those working in Baltimore City, who want a little more space, often live in Baltimore County. There are many quiet neighborhoods in residential and suburban areas. In east Baltimore County, you’ll discover Dundalk, Middle River, Essex, Rosedale, and White Marsh. These places are close to the Chesapeake Bay with many grand and quaint homes near the waterfront. In west Baltimore County, you’ll find Randallstown, Woodlawn, Catonsville, Arbutus, and Halethorpe. The Patapsco River, and the surrounding protected areas, creates a beautiful natural boundary. In North Baltimore County you’ll see Parkville, Towson, Lutherville-Timonium, Cockeysville, Pikesville, and Owings Mills. These tend to be some of the larger cities in Baltimore County with higher populations, city amenities, and commercial areas. North North Baltimore County in places like Sparks, Monkton, and Parkton, you can stay far away from your neighbors. You might even commute to York or Lancaster, PA for work if you live in this part of Maryland.
Roads & Getting Around
Commuting to Baltimore, Washington, and other parts of Maryland is relatively easy because of the well-developed highway system in Baltimore County. The I-695 beltway circles all of Baltimore City. From there you can get onto I-95 both in the southwest and northeast as it cuts through Baltimore City. You’ll take 95 South to get to Washington and 95 North to get to Philadelphia and New York. I-895 is a nice bypass that runs parallel to I-95. Both roads have tunnels to take you underneath the Baltimore Harbor. I-97 takes you south to Annapolis, I-70 takes you west to Frederick, I-795 takes you northwest to Reisterstown towards Westminster, and I-83 takes you due north into Pennsylvania. For transportation by train, The Light Rail runs north-south through Baltimore City. It reaches Hunt Valley in North Baltimore County, and extends to the south to reach the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). There are also numerous bus routes to get you around Baltimore County and into Baltimore City.
Jobs
The largest Baltimore County employer, by far, is the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The headquarters and a number of offices are located in Woodlawn (21207) right off of I-695 and I-70. Other major employers are the T. Rowe Price, the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), MedStar Franklin Square Hospital, University of Maryland (Baltimore County), and Towson University. West Baltimore County (Randallstown, Catonsville, etc.) is a convenient place to live if you have to commute to Howard County or DC for work. Southeast Baltimore County (Dundalk) has easy access to the I-895 tunnel to commute to parts of Anne Arundel County (Annapolis).
Colleges & Universities
In addition to all of the strong educational institutions in Baltimore City such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County has a number of universities and satellite campuses. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has locations in Essex, Dundalk, Owings Mills, and Catonsville with current enrollment at about 48,000. Towson University has over 20,000 students and over 110 majors, concentrations, and tracks. Stevenson University, located in Owings Mills, supports a number of technical and science degrees with enrollment at about 4,000. Goucher College, located in Towson, is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S.
Cost of Living
Baltimore County tends to be a more affordable place to live compared to Baltimore City, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. According to the 2020 Census, the median household income in Baltimore County was $78, 724, and the per capita income was $41, 089. The median value of a Baltimore County owner-occupied housing unit (single family, townhome, or condo) was $267, 400. By comparison, in Howard County the median household income was $124, 042, and the per capita income was $55,873. The median value of an owner-occupied unit was $464, 500. In Anne Arundel, the median household income was $103,225, and the per capita income was $48,125. The median value of an owner-occupied unit was $370,100. Baltimore County and its municipalities tend to have lower property and income taxes compared to Howard and Anne Arundel. When determining affordability, it’s important to speak to a financial advisor, lender, and CPA to fully understand the tax structure. You’ll also want to consider the cost of commuting versus the cost of living closer to work. Generally speaking, Baltimore County can be a much more realistic place for the average first-time home-buyer.
Recreation
A true nature-lover will be delighted with everything Baltimore County has to offer. There is so much diversity in wildlife habitats because of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, forests, and hilly terrain. Located by Dundalk, Edgemere, and Sparrows Point, North Point State Park is a great place for water views and picnics. Likewise Rocky Point State Park and Hart Miller Island are convenient if you go a little farther north near Essex. Lots of people who own boats keep them in the marinas around Middle River. Between Catonsville and Randallstown, there are a number of places to access the trails of the Patapsco Valley State Park along the 32 miles of the Patapsco River. There’s hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback riding, biking, and picnicking. Loch Raven Reservoir is northwest of Towson and Timonium. There are trails that also connect to the passages of the Big Gunpowder Falls. Baltimore County often feels like a retreat compared to the more congested areas of Baltimore City. You can feel the grass barefoot, smell the brackish bay water, and see the wonders of the great outdoors.
Breweries & Wineries
Baltimore County has some of the best breweries and wineries in Maryland! In Halethorpe you’ve got both Heavy Seas Beer, and Guinness Open Gate Brewery, the only Guinness factory in the United States! In east Baltimore County, you have DuClaw Brewing and Key Brewing Company. In Cockeysville there’s B.C. Brewery and in Monkton there’s Inverness Brewing. Sparks Glencoe has both Farmacy Brewing and Basignani Winery. Both DeJon Vineyard and Boordy Vineyards lie between Glen Arm and Baldwin. And there are countless others! A lot of the breweries have a rustic feel, utilizing barns, warehouses, and historic buildings for their taprooms and beer gardens. If you don’t feel like taking a long road trip or flying to a far-off destination, these places are the best of staycation heaven!
Conclusion
When people generalize the Baltimore Metro area as all Baltimore City, they are really missing out on some great residential opportunities in Baltimore County. Be sure to take a closer look at the cities and towns within Baltimore County to figure out what you like best. Those who are priced out of Howard and Anne Arundel Counties might find many of the same perks of suburban life. You also have to consider what kinds of activities you enjoy most and what kind of natural environment you want to be close to. There’s something here for everyone. Keep yourself in the know!