Photo:Jessie TorresAbingdon is part of the Baltimore area. This page covers the whole metro.
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Around Baltimore
“Billy Goat Trail Section A and Maryland Heights (Harpers Ferry) are going to be your best overall options.”
One resident listed Mobtown Ballroom and Ottobar as spots for dance parties.
“Mobtown Ballroom, Ottobar hosts some fun dance parties”
From 6 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident lists several bars in Fells Point and Hampden that offer free live music.
“Bertha's, Admiral's Cup, Waterfront and Coopers in Fells Point all have free live music. Also, Frasier's and Dangerously Delicious in Hampden.”
Read the full commentOne resident names several smaller venues they consider great in the city.
“The Undercroft , Holy Frijoles , Zissimos , The Compound, Current Space, and Wax Atlas are all great smaller venues in addition to what you...”
Read the full commentOne resident says the baltimore.org website is useful for finding large events though not all of them.
“The website https://www.baltimore.org/ is pretty useful. It won't show every event, but it will show large ones.”
Read the full commentOne resident says Baltimore has active meetups for all ages and it can take six months to a year to build friendships there.
“Baltimore has very active Meetups in all age groups. Find ones that appeal to you and show up regularly. It can take six months to a year to...”
Read the full commentOne resident says they love Baltimore but have no friends and do best with regular meet-ups where relationships develop naturally.
“Hello! I really, really love Baltimore. I'm charmed! But I have no friends. I do best if there are regular meet-ups where relationships can develop naturally...”
Read the full commentOne resident says that despite living in several cities, some places are just easier than others for meeting people, implying Baltimore is harder.
“I know wherever you go you have to put in work. But I have lived in several different cities and the fact of the matter is some places are just easier...”
Read the full commentOne resident in Canton says after a few months they are confused whether everyone is already married or off the dating market.
“so… it’s been few months since i moved here (37f, canton), and i’m genuinely confused…is everyone already married? off the market? hiding?”
Read the full commentOne resident listed Mobtown Ballroom and Ottobar as spots for dance parties.
“Royal Blue, Mobtown Ballroom, Ottobar hosts some fun dance parties, Soundstage or Rams Head downtown. Club Chuck, Bloom's or Coral Wig,...”
Read the full commentOne resident mentions the B&O museum is hosting an adults only social night for neurodivergent people with trains and a bar.
“The B&O museum has an adults only social night coming up specifically for neurodivergent folks. Trains, and awkward people, plus a bar!”
Read the full commentAbout 9,016 business locations in the Baltimore area, employing about 218,551 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
Johns Hopkins Access services was mentioned as a reliable employer, especially its Specialty Services crew.
“If you don't mind call center work, Johns Hopkins Access services is always hiring. We're a good bunch, especially the Specialty Services crew.”
Read the full commentA jobseeker suggested visiting one of Baltimore's job centers for resume workshops and employer lists.
“Try visiting one of Baltimore's job centers . They have resume workshops, mock interviews, and a giant list of employers currently hiring.”
Read the full commentPick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
One newcomer from the Boston area said they were seeking good hikes and backpacking spots nearby.
“I just moved to Baltimore from the Boston area and I am looking for some good hikes. I don't mind driving for good backpacking, but I am hoping to do a...”
Read the full comment“Billy Goat Trail Section A and Maryland Heights (Harpers Ferry) are going to be your best overall options.”
One resident listed Mobtown Ballroom and Ottobar as spots for dance parties.
“Royal Blue, Mobtown Ballroom, Ottobar hosts some fun dance parties, Soundstage or Rams Head downtown. Club Chuck, Bloom's or Coral Wig,...”
Read the full commentJohns Hopkins Access services was mentioned as a reliable employer, especially its Specialty Services crew.
“If you don't mind call center work, Johns Hopkins Access services is always hiring. We're a good bunch, especially the Specialty Services crew.”
Read the full comment“It's definitely green. And friendly.”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Baltimore area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Baltimore area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 356,649 rented homes in the Baltimore area, 75% rent for under $2,000 a month and 96% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Baltimore area rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $3,000 to $3,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Your first weeks in Maryland
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Maryland DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: Maryland voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Public schools
One public school district serves this county, with about 111,082 students. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Maryland keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
Search licensed childcare in Maryland →25 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Baltimore. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.