Having done the Columbia commute for a couple years until COVID, sticking to Federal Hill and Locust Point will save you like 8 minutes in the morning and 12-15 in the evening. There are also a bunch of bars and gyms there so those neighborhoods are probably where you should be looking.

That said I did this commute living in Mt Vernon and it was fine for the most part. It was kind of too much when I had a baby but before that it was aight. That neighborhood has a big gym (Merritt downtown) as well a couple small ones - City Fit, MV Fitness, Charm City Crossfit, Lightnig Quick Fit (boxing), and a bunch of bars / restaurants / music venues. Crowd skews older there than in Federal Hill though.

Would also just tell you to rent a rowhome with a roof deck, that's where the value for your housing dollar is at lol

My parents live in 1101 St Paul and I really like their view. Would pony up for the garage parking just to save time looking for parking in the evening, getting home from Columbia at 6-ish means you're fighting with the symphony / restaurant / theater crowds