The real question is are you interested in an interesting living experience or what is comfortable? The suburbs offer the predictability of a chain restaurant. Many middle class Americans come from this environment, and only seek it out when moving to a new town. Baltimore city has many very different neighborhoods. Some are very city-like, and some are more pre wwII suburban, and a few places are 1970s suburbs which sit uncomfortably in the city. We have mill-town neighborhoods (Hampden/Woodberry & Dickeyville (which is like an English village), we have up-scale upper middle class town houses (Bolton Hill, Mt Vernon). We have downtown apartment living. Then there are the neighborhoods which are a mix grill of gentrified middle class rubbing elbows with working class (Charles Village, South Baltimore) Then there are our gold coasts. Roland Park, Homeland, & Guilford.

Please do not buy until you have visited and been given a tour of the neighborhoods. It is best to rent, with most of your items in storage, so you can roam around and see the neighborhoods.

Keep in mind Uni of MD is in the city. It and Hopkins Medical are huge entities which press hard on their neighborhoods and are controversial in what they give back to the city. By living in the city, you will be supporting a great historic city of the country. If you are in the burbs, all your earnings will go to support the county and will be a drain on the city.