2022 Best Places to Live in Baltimore County

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: I love Lutherville, its close to places where people never sleep and the streets are alive until 2 am, its not far away from Baltimore which is convenient because i can go to football and baseball games with my buddies, and the people will take you in an a second if you need it because that is what we do here, take care of each other. Lutherville is a great place to raise a family as well, schools are good, lots of teen job opportunities, and everyone's so close its not hard to go see your friends. One thing about Lutherville is that it is very liberal and is shown very openly by residents here, which makes it hard for conservatives to express how they feel, but I'm not complaining I cant vote yet so my opinion does not matter. Lutherville is a safe environment where you can walk alone at night and not have to worry like you would in close by communities.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 6,755

• Town in Maryland

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  226 reviews

Current Resident: I really love Towson! Everything is really close by so I can walk virtually everywhere. The schools in the area are nice, and the teachers obviously value students' wellbeing and quality of education. Everyone here is also really friendly.... Read 226 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 59,014

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mays Chapel for 8 years. I feel safe. The community is clean. The local schools are fine. Close enough to major roads, but also nice community for walking and riding bike. Glad I found this place.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 12,428

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.14 out of 5  7 reviews

• grade A+

• grade B+

• Population 5,055

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.92 out of 5  74 reviews

Current Resident: Pikesville is a very diverse community. I grew up going to elementary and middle school in Pikesville and it has been an overall positive experience. I live in the suburbs so there isn’t much to be distracted by, this way I am more focused on my school work. As far as schools, I was opened up to a very diverse community which has widened my view of the world!... Read 74 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 33,549

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: Timonium has lots of nice stores and restaurants and is generally easy to get around. It lacks some of the charm of a town though. There’s no town square and most of the stores around are chains. It makes for convenience though. It is very close to Baltimore and DC, which is another perk.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 11,136

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  140 reviews

Former Resident: Catonsville is a wonderful central point to be able to access just about every major city in Maryland. From Catonsville, you can get to Columbia, Baltimore, Westminster, Towson, and even Arundel in just about 25 minutes. The best part about Catonsville is the diversity of the area. It is a big Asian community but also a wonderful mix of Spanish, African American, and other small minorities. The area itself is laden with a lot of Asian marts and a bevy of unique restaurants and shopping. There is a little bit of everything for every person. I hope that everyone takes the time to visit out little city and enjoy its many wonders!... Read 140 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 42,789

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  65 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here on and off for over a decade. There are gated neighborhoods with big lots and privacy and other streets completely lined with cheap apartments. Schools and restaurant variety is great. Crime in certain areas is elevated, but low relative to most other areas in the county. Some businesses have issues staying open more than a few years, many with recurring thefts due to the wide variety of clientele in the area and availability of public transit. Only a handful of bars worth going to in the evening, which vary depending on the intended age group. Bars and restaurants worth going to usually have live music on weekends and overall affordable dining. Real estate is expensive and new listings are highly sought after. Variety of elementary schools. Middle school and high school are reputable with veteran staff.... Read 65 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 23,803

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Great community, new developments and shopping. Great family friendly communities. Close to several beaches, close to I95 and the express lane which make rush hour commutes easier. The variety of shopping options, dining choices, and night life possibilities are endless in White Marsh, nearby Towson and Baltimore City. One of the largest regional malls in the Baltimore area, the White Marsh Mall, is located 4 miles from our community, providing a diverse shopping experience, a variety of dining selections and services as well as a full calendar of entertaining activities. A selection of grocers are close by, such as, Giant Food, Weis Market, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Walmart Supercenter. Within 3 miles of your community are great neighborhood favorites such as Red Brick Station, Kobe Japanese Steak and Seafood House and the classic Italian restaurant, Liberatore’s Restorante.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 9,663

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  68 reviews

Current Resident: One of the biggest attraction about Perry Hall is the fact that it’s diverse. There are so many cultures that coexist in this area. This makes it a great place for people to be exposed to different aspects of various cultures. In addition, students are able to make friends from different races. Another good aspect about this region its’ recreational areas. For instance, there is a large park at HoneyGo. In this park, there is a massive playground for the children, picnic area, outdoor exercise equipments, stage for performers, paths to walk on, and even a library right next to it! The only factor that could make Perry Hall a better area is the food. Although there are a bunch of stores and restaurants around, if there were more places such as Korean BBQ, then it will build more attraction!... Read 68 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 29,165

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: I believe this area will begin to create new job opportunities and provide more fun places to discover.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 9,727

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.01 out of 5  154 reviews

Former Resident: Owings mills is the perfect county location in Baltimore. From the shops and restaurants, to the quite and home-like neighborhoods, I recommend this area to be one of the best! Considering price and affordability, I would consider the area to be luxury and slightly expensive.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• Population 35,170

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Arbutus is the area that I currently living and has lived in ever since I can remember. While I still Iive in this area, I have childhood friends that I can easily walk to their houses to hang and we even had dungeons and dragons nights during high school on Friday nights. And when I went to school, I'm always not far from the elementary, middle, and high schools that I graduated from. Right now I'm enrolled in CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County) and I'm trying to find scholarships to help pay for my semester tuition.... Read 32 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 19,662

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4 out of 5  86 reviews

Current Resident: I love Parkville! It is a wonderful community with great school, kind resident and there is businesses everywhere. Small businesses, corporate franchises, and in between. There is always somewhere to go or something to do. There is so many restaurant with amazing food and wonderful service to go with it. It truly is a caring community. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!... Read 86 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 30,783

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: Carney specifically is a quaint family oriented community tucked in the less desirable Parkville area, (IMHO). Equally mixed with retirement aged folks as well as young families. School system seem to be above average. Many places to dine and the downtown area is minutes away if that's your bag. My neighbors are very friendly and down to earth and for the most part we all help each other when needed. We probably will not retire in this area one day as we are attracted to a more rural and less hectic lifestyle but a great place for now.... Read 38 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 29,873

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.54 out of 5  24 reviews

Niche User: Overall, this area is quiet and multi-cultural. There is a lot of diversity everywhere you go and is not more of one ethnicity versus another.... Read 24 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 15,633

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  70 reviews

Current Resident: Reisterstown is a diverse suburb of Baltimore, great for commuting with 795 to Baltimore and Washington DC. Lots of small businesses and a hometown feel, not too many big box stores, but a short ten-minute drive to them. One hour from DC, one hour from skiing and snowboarding, and unlimited outdoor activities within that hour. A short drive to BWI airport. Housing can be expensive yet there are many options of condos, townhouses, and single-family homes. There are several elementary schools with great teachers. There is one middle and one high school, great experiences for active and involved families. There are many residents that have been here for decades, which is great for any community. There is a core group of volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the area and Reisterstown was recently deemed one of Maryland's Main Streets. There are lots of good things here and still to come to the area.... Read 70 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 27,917

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: Suburban, although leans more on the rural side. Many farms and lots of open land. Right by a beautiful park. Schools are pretty good and many magnet high schools provide transportation to Kingsville students. I'd assume crime rates are very low here and most homes are private. Overall nice neighborhood, but there aren't a lot of stores nearby so, unless you need gas or want to eat at the Sunshine Grille, you'll need to drive 20 minutes into Perry Hall/White Marsh.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 4,681

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  57 reviews

Current Resident: Convenient to highways, shopping, and parks. Small neighborhoods of friendly people. A place where people often are seen jogging, walking their dogs and socializing outdoors. Many people in this area are making the switch from manicured lawns to front lawn flower and food gardens. Local groups exist that volunteer in maintaining local parks and litter collection.... Read 57 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C

• Population 20,296

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.25 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in overlea for over a year now. My neighborhood is quiet and my neighbors are very nice. The houses are gorgeous, Victorian style and historic which I love. The schools have decent ratings which is a huge plus writhing the Baltimore county area. However, we do live close to a busy road. The traffic does not stop for my preschool aged son's bus which has been concerning to me. And, there is the occasional wanderer. I have had my car broken into once but to be fair I did leave my car unlocked after a trip to the grocery store. Other than that, I do feel safe and I enjoy the area. Whitemarsh mall is near by, there are a few different grocery stores to choose from, and 695 is easy to get to. Overall I am happy with our move.... Read 16 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 12,959

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.65 out of 5  142 reviews

Current Resident: Peace, Hope this email finds you well. Thank you for the opportunity to express our opinion of our towns as well as this scholarship! The Randallstown area has been quiet for my family and I. Living in this area for over 20 years now has got us closer with our community. Any changes we would like to see? Yes, definitely. I, personally would like to see more of the community at community meetings, become apart of boards/committees in the surrounding area and have more events!... Read 142 reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• Population 35,641

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.55 out of 5  75 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up about 10 minutes from this area and, after living in various towns in Baltimore, I ended up buying a home here 2 years ago. Although I live very close to Rtes 40 and 70 (I love the location), my home is located on a side street in a VERY quiet residential community. I have wonderful and respectful neighbors and I really like the sense of community here. I have diverse neighbors and there are many families and home owners. Most properties are well maintained. This is a safe area, but if crime does occur, it is typically thefts of items from unlocked cars. This is a dog-friendly area. We feel safe walking our dog at night, but some street areas are not well lit. So, we try to avoid those areas at night, when possible. The schools are not rated highly. I accepted this trade off because you get a pretty good value in square footage and amenities compared to more expensive areas close by such as Catonsville and Ellicott City. We are very happy living here.... Read 75 reviews

• grade B

• grade C minus

• Population 42,053

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.39 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet neighborhood with a short commute to Baltimore, close to shopping and dining in Pikesville. A lot of retirees, but also some younger families. Pretty diverse area where neighbors are friendly and help eachother out. Schools are just okay, but seem to be improving.... Read 36 reviews

• grade B

• grade C

• Population 26,995

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 2.91 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here for 2 years now. The schools are great. The neighborhood is a bit congested. It seems that way for most of homes here. The neighbors are friendly, close to the beltway and downtown Baltimore, Glen burnie. Overall I enjoy the area I live in however, just a few blocks away, the area can look pretty rough.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 7,506

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful water atmosphere, lots of local restaurants with great food. People are nice for the most part. Plenty of parks and places to hang outside... Read 2 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• Population 6,447