11 Safest Neighborhoods in Baltimore

May 24th 2024
Baltimore is the economic and cultural heart of Maryland. Home to numerous professional sports teams and companies like Under Armor, Baltimore is a wonderful place to live. Despite this, the city doesn’t always get the best reputation when it comes to safety, so in this article, we’ll look at eleven of the safest places to live in Baltimore. 

hash-mark11 Safest Neighborhoods in Baltimore

  1. Roland Park
  2. Parkville
  3. Cheswolde
  4. South Baltimore
  5. Towson
  6. Chinquapin Park 
  7. Hampden
  8. Federal District
  9. Fells Point
  10. Canton
  11. Mount Vernon

hash-mark1. Roland Park

The safest neighborhood in Baltimore is Roland Park. This tranquil residential neighborhood has a population of 16,076. Roland Park was one of the first planned suburbs in the United States. Despite being described as a quiet neighborhood, Roland Park has a wide variety of restaurants and shopping options. Roland Park is home to the Baltimore Country Club, which was founded in 1898. 

hash-mark2. Parkville

Parkville is another safe Baltimore neighborhood that is great for families. Just north of Roland, Parkville is a small community with a population of 30,734. Residents describe this neighborhood as being quiet and having access to green parks. The neighborhood’s best know park is Belmont Park and Double Rock Park. Parkville is a great location for people who may commute into the city but want a quiet place to live. 

hash-mark3. Cheswolde 

Cheswolde is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore. Situated in northwest Baltimore, Cheswolde is a community made up of primarily single-family homes and garden-style apartment complexes. It’s also known for its large Orthodox Jewish population and is home to several notable synagogues. It has a population of about 8,000 residents. It’s a very safe community with a total crime rate of 917 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 61% lower than the rest of the country and 81% lower than the rest of Baltimore. The violent crime rate is 46% lower than the national average, and the neighborhood is safer than that of 98% of cities in Maryland. 

hash-mark4. South Baltimore

South Baltimore has a population of 30,000 and is perfect for singles and young professionals. South Baltimore is more expensive, but this neighborhood has access to great nightlife and amenities in the heart of the city. It’s also one of the safest places to live in Baltimore. It’s a young neighborhood, with most residents being between the ages of 25 and 35. Crime is very low in this neighborhood as it has been carefully developed and gentrified.  

hash-mark5. Towson

Towson is a very safe suburb located just outside of Baltimore. It has a population of 55,197. The crime rate in Towson is 2,014 per 100,000 people, making Towson 14% safer than the national average. The chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime is 1 in 50. Towson is only a 25-minute drive downtown and a 30-minute drive to the airport. Towson has a multitude of shopping options and restaurants, with many luxury brands having outlets in the area. 

hash-mark6. Chinquapin Park 

Chinquapin Park is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore. Located in northeast Baltimore, Chinquapin Park real estate consists mainly of detached homes and duplexes on spacious plots of land. It’s also home to the Chinquapin Run Park, a 76-acre city park around a stream corridor and features a population of about 1700 residents. Chinquapin Park is a very safe neighborhood with a crime rate that is 22% lower than the national average and 63% lower than the rest of Baltimore. It’s safer than 94% of cities in Maryland, and your odds of being the victim of a crime in Chinquapin Park are 1 in 56. 

hash-mark7. Hampden

Hampden is another one of the safest places to live in Baltimore. It is located near downtown and has a population of 5,989. Hampden is often described as a blue-collar neighborhood that is quickly gentrifying. The population of this neighborhood is young, with the demographics trending toward the 20-30 age range. The Avenue is the main cultural hub of Hampden and is home to art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Despite being located in the city, Hampden still has several green parks. 

hash-mark8. Federal Hill

Federal Hill is a safe and historic Baltimore neighborhood with a population of 2,251. The neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many links to the American Civil War. Federal Hill is often described as being ideal for young professionals who want to be near the city. Federal Hill Park is the neighborhood’s main park, offering a large green area within the city. Being near the city, Federal Hill is one of the more expensive parts of the city. 

hash-mark9. Fells Point 

Fells Point has a population of 4,436 and is located along the waterfront in southeastern Baltimore. Fells Point is a great place for bar hopping, with the greatest concentration of drinking establishments in the whole city. Fell’s Point benefits from a convenient location, just 1.5 miles from downtown Baltimore’s central business district. The area is also home to many antique shops, music venues, restaurants, and independently owned coffee bars. 

hash-mark10. Canton

Also located along the southeastern waterfront, Canton has a population of 10,826. Canton is about two miles from Baltimore’s downtown district and adjacent to several other safe areas. Canton is known for its vibrant neighborhoods, family-friendly community, and growing social scene. Since the late 1990s, Canton has undergone significant gentrification, being ranked the 17th most gentrified zip code in the US from 2000 to 2016. Canton has a great mixture of greenery, parks, and waterfront walking areas.

hash-mark11. Mount Vernon

Last but not least on our list of Boston’s safest areas is Mount Vernon. This neighborhood has a population of 1,067 people. Mount Vernon is located just north of the city’s downtown district and is one of the oldest neighborhoods and originally one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Mount Vernon is great for young professionals and students who want to have access to downtown Baltimore. The city gets its name from Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The original Washington Monument is still a major attraction in the neighborhood.

hash-markSafest Neighborhoods in Baltimore Bottom Line

Despite Baltimore’s bad reputation, many areas in and around the city are perfectly safe. Much of Baltimore is changing, with many young people and companies moving into the city. Baltimore still has a much higher crime rate than the national average, making it one of the most dangerous cities in America, so it’s best to use common sense when visiting or moving to the city.