2023 Best Suburbs to Live in the Baltimore Area

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  288 reviews

Current Resident: Ellicott City has a lot to offer! There is a variety of food to choose from like classic American all the way to Korean. We also have some parks like Centennial and Patapsco that occur some outdoor activities! Additionally, we have Old Ellicott City that has many small businesses and restaurants that Gordan Ramsey himself came to help after the floods. On another note, Ellicott City is in Howard County and the public school system is fantastic! On the other hand, some downsides of the suburb is that the although we have lots of parks, we don't really have many other activities to do. Another downside is that the traffic during peak hour can be horrendous, especially on the 29. I find that Ellicott City sometimes do not have the greatest of drivers and they tend to block the intersections and so no one can move.... Read 288 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 74,432

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.75 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: A heartwarming memory in my neighborhood was our "Kindness Day" initiative. Residents united to perform acts of generosity, from helping elderly neighbors with yard work to hosting a food drive. The day culminated in a lively street fair, fostering connections and sharing stories. The event epitomized our strong community spirit and left a lasting feeling of unity and goodwill among us.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 5,230

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  34 reviews

Current Resident: Lutherville is a suburb of Baltimore. It has a quiet, rural atmosphere and I think it makes me feel at home. I have only lived here for over a year but I believe my house is very pretty. There are a lot of coffee shops, restaurants, and shops in Lutherville which I really like. I like how Lutherville has preserved some of its colonial history. For example, even my home has preserved some of the wood used. My neighbors' house actually used to be a carriage house in the olden days. In addition, I do believe that there are some great schools nearby. I have looked up some statistics about Lutherville and a few include that it is one of the best places to buy a house in Maryland, one of the best suburbs in Maryland, and it is in the top places for retiring in Maryland.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 6,755

• City in Maryland

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  409 reviews

Current Resident: THE BEST PLACE TO LIFE. As a senior in high school I have never wished to live anywhere else. The ability to walk where ever I please is amazing! The small community allows me to bond with my neighbors and grow life long friendships. The schools in the area never fail to amaze me because of the strong community bond. The schools are always finding new ways to keep the community and students involved. Even from kindergarten to seniors in high school are always connected in community service with one another. Growing up in Columbia the convenience has allowed me to grow my individuality. I was able to walk to my friends house or even just to Dunkin to hang out. This gave me a sense of self awareness, individuality, responsibilty, and freedom to grow.... Read 409 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 105,086

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.62 out of 5  42 reviews

Niche User: I am partial to this area because it is my hometown, but I can objectively say that it is a great place to raise a family. I generally feel safe, and the public school system is decent by national standards. It also allows easy access to cities including DC and Annapolis as well as more rural areas and mountains.... Read 42 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 27,513

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.71 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: Safe neighborhood, with the new shopping center provides lots of necessities. From fast food restaurant, grocery store, convenience stores, gas stations, doctors offices, classy restaurants, and many more!... Read 21 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 10,658

• Town in Maryland

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  Rating 4 out of 5  233 reviews

Current Resident: There are great restaurants, stores, and safe neighborhoods. The towson towne center has many stores leaving. It used to be a very nice mall, but many stores have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The town itself has many great schools, both public and private, a university, many libraries, many different grocery stores and gas stations. There are great restaurants, stores, and safe neighborhoods. The towson towne center has many stores leaving. It used to be a very nice mall, but many stores have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The town itself has many great schools, both public and private, a university, many libraries, many different grocery stores and gas stations. There are great restaurants, stores, and safe neighborhoods. The towson towne center has many stores leaving. It used to be a very nice mall, but many stores have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic.... Read 233 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 59,014

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  30 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 30 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 11,136

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: I love North Laurel! It has a great community center and a lot of residential area. It's super close to I-95 and one can even walk on the overpass above the huge highway. There are a lot of amazing schools nearby. The library system is one of the best in the country. Because of its close proximity to DC and Baltimore, the opportunities are ENDLESS! Grocery is easily accessible – a short drive or even walking distance. Overall, I highly recommend this area.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 24,233

• 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 3.96 out of 5  84 reviews

Current Resident: I've actually been out of the country for some years but coming back coming after so long and seeing that not much has changed, that feeling of nostalgia just felt so amazing! I love how friendly the people in this community are which means a lot to me. Although it might be small compared to it's surrounding neighbors that's what makes it all the better. Everything someone might need is close, I can actually walk to most of the places I need to go to without stress. It is also a very safe place to live in as well. Knowing I can walk around knowing nothing will happen to me unlike other places is extremely reliving. And because of that it is a very diverse community of lots of people from different backgrounds. So if you want to to live in a safe, loving , and fun community I would totally recommend living in Elkridge!... Read 84 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 24,115

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: The town is fairly small, every body knows every body. There are multiple family owned shops and it is close to all major highways.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 1,017

• 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 3.9 out of 5  100 reviews

Current Resident: When I first moved to Crofton, I thought that me and my family would not be accepted here because of our race and social class. However, as time went by, I started to notice how everyone treated us just the same as any person who lived and worked in Crofton. It's a great area to raise your children in as I've made some lifelong friendships from people in Crofton. The streets are clean, and the neighborhoods are very scenic. Although it's the most diverse place I've lived it's also a mostly white area so what I would like to see is more people from different backgrounds and races coming to live here and enjoy the same opportunities and friendships as I have while living here.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 29,812

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  75 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 75 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 33,549

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  149 reviews

Current Resident: Catonsville is a great town with lots of small businesses, beautiful nature, and loving neighbors. I feel connected to other Catonsville members through various gatherings, including the recent Christmas tree lighting, a weekly farmer's market, and many other experiences that involve neighbors with their community. However, there are some changes that I think would greatly benefit the Catonsville community. The addition of sidewalks in all residential areas would make it safer for pedestrians. Many students walk to school every day, and on some streets, there are no sidewalks to walk on. In addition to safety, our location - close to Baltimore - means that there is a heavy homeless population. I would love to see Catonsville come together to help out those members of the community and find shelter for everyone.... Read 149 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 42,789

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  53 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Sykesville for roughly six months, and have a had a great experience so far. Nice people and a beautiful, clean environment make for a calm and relaxing lifestyle!... Read 53 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 4,260

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  66 reviews

Nearby Resident: Always something fun and creative to get into! Great area for families and fun. Plenty of restaurants, and places to entertain.... Read 66 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 23,803

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  64 reviews

Current Resident: Have lived here since 1978. Raised a family and am now only minutes away from our kids and grandkids {who live in neighboring communities}. Prior to retiring, I worked in both Baltimore and Washington and found the commute very reasonable. Schools are very good and there's quite a variety of housing and communities. On the down side, there aren't enough restaurants in the immediate area and it's becoming overdeveloped, primarily because of the increasing number of townhouses. As a result, traffic is becoming an issue.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 25,056

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  125 reviews

Current Resident: I love Odenton for it's forestry, quietness, and access to multiple hubs in the state. The centralized location is connected to multiple highways that can get you to Annapolis, Baltimore, and DC. It's also closely connected to the military, as the Naval Base and Fort Meade are nearby. If you have kids, the schools (especially at the elementary level) are top notch! If I were to knitpick, the area could have more eatery spots and coffee shops. Overall I enjoy living in Odenton.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 43,488

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: Fallston is the perfect combination of being in the country, as well as being part of a community. The schools are top quality, with many athletic opportunities available to students. Fallston has every establishment needed to accommodate to the residents needs.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 9,696

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  122 reviews

Current Resident: Severna Park is my hometown growing up and the neighborhood is always lively and bustling with people. The local high school is a great school in terms of high academics and special education. However, the student atmosphere could be improved since we have been in the news as of late due to bullying being committed by students and a few teachers. Despite this one flaw, Everyone else knows each other and is very friendly. There are a lot of outlets and local shops to go shopping. There are also a lot of activities to do there such as Axe throwing, bike trails, antique shops, going to the park/farm, pilates/yoga, the summer carnival, bowling, bath bombs & candle making, and wine & painting sections. The local taphouses and bars are the best social experiences, especially the Severna Park Taphouse since they have the best food & drink and live entertainment.... Read 122 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 39,108

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  104 reviews

Current Resident: Eldersburg is a nice place to live. It has everything you need (groceries, restaurants, etc.) but you don't feel like you're in a big town.... Read 104 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 30,418

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: Fallston never has any issues, very rare.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 4,104

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Safe, clean suburban community. Plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and beautiful shopping centers. The Avenue was recently remodeled and has amenities for people of all ages.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 9,663