If relevant - I’m a white male and lgbtq+

Jumped from Arlington to Bolton Hill. We have been here two years and we love it. Food is good Bolton Hill is very walkable to restaurants and bars in the area. You can get Lyfts and Ubers to get places. There isn't a ton of walkable grocery, but there are a couple of places. There is definitely crime in Baltimore. I have to remain aware here but I don't think it's dissimilar to what some areas of DC are like. We walk the dog in Bolton Hill and I run in the city regularly, including sometimes at night. I remain aware but haven't been bothered yet. Hope this is helpful.

Don't get me wrong Baltimore the city has problems, but I like living here. Just know what the reality is of where you're moving too and stay eyes wide open.

Edit: I would not walk at midnight or really after 10 with zero worries.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! And I’m happy to hear you’ve been enjoying it for two years.

I know I wouldn’t be able to expect DC amenities and safety but I’m glad to hear about your experience.

I think I’m trying to avoid coming to the neighborhood and being blindsided by crime. Are home invasions/burglary an issue? It seems package theft is a problem but that’s not exactly a terrifying issue to me

Vibrancy: it's definitely residential. I describe it as being close to a lot of things without being next to them. You're close to Mount Vernon and Station North for all your culture wants - most of the city's cultural institutions and a fair number of its restaurants/bars are within a twenty-minute walk - but you're very much not in the middle of it all. With the exception of when MICA classes let out, the sidewalks are never very busy, and they're pretty much devoid of foot traffic by 8pm.

Walkability: Most of the things I need for daily life are within walking distance, but they're never on the corner of the block and there might only be one walkable option. There are three restaurants, a café, and a kick-ass dive bar, but those are your only entertainment options. There's a Save-a-lot discount grocery store in the neighborhood as well as a pharmacy, but beyond that most of your shopping will be found fifteen to twenty minutes away by foot in Mt Vernon. As said before, lots of cultural institutions and restaurants/bars can be found in Mt Vernon and Station North. Druid Hill Park is also within a slightly longer walk, as is most of downtown. There's also great transit access - the light rail and the subway both stop on the edge of the neighborhood, as do several bus lines.

Safety: It's not bad, but it could be better. Bolton Hill is a fairly wealthy neighborhood that sits very close to one of the city's poorest areas. MICA has their own safety patrols that keep eyes on the street at all hours. However, there have been a rash of muggings and carjackings this year, and property crime (including catalytic converter theft) is always a concern. I would feel OK walking around past midnight (fellow white guy here), but I would absolutely not wear headphones or walk around with my face in my phone. You absolutely will not have a problem being LGBTQ+ here - there are plenty of non-straight folks around. Overall, I don't think crime is much worse than, say, Mt Vernon, but it's definitely not as safe as Roland Park or Locust Point.

Please don't let the above make you think I don't like it here - Bolton Hill is a wonderful neighborhood in a great location filled with lovely people. I met a guy a few months ago who had lived in the same house on Park Ave for eighty years - this is definitely an area people commit to. I'd love to stay as long as I can.

Package theft is an issue because packages are left out and accessible or the thieves can see and come in the front atrium - many houses have a butterfly door with an atrium before the actual locked front door that isn't locked. It's not to say people don't get packages stolen or it's the people's fault, but more to illustrate it's not like someone is going into someone else's house or smashing through a box to get the packages. It's more just a part of life unfortunately in the city.

Carjackings tend to come in waves. Don't sit in your car at night though and generally you'll be okay. Just move with a purpose and be aware of the surroundings like you would anywhere with a crime rate. If there is a ring they tend to look for late model vehicles. And of course like everywhere, there is catalytic convertor theft.

I honestly haven't heard much about break ins in a while. Again they happen but if you lock your doors/windows, use your alarm you'll be protected.

In terms of downtown Bolton Hill is going to be on the safer edge. It's historically red lined community with lots of wealth. It's becoming a more diverse neighborhood which is great and residents vary in age from young adults up to older retirees, race, and sexual identity/orientation. We have two primary schools in the neighborhood and many Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) students live in the neighborhood and some of the school buildings are in there too.

I have come home late at night via my own car and ride share with no issues. But again, just stay vigilant. Honestly, I think I was a little too oblivious when I lived in the DC area than I should have been.

If you're looking for a good realtor for all of Baltimore, but Bolton Hill specifically, I recommend Jessica Dailey. She is also from Capitol Hill and now lives in Bolton Hill. This is her website: https://jessicadailey.com/about

Hi neighbor!

Thank you for addressing each point so well! It definitely like there is solid access to urban life (even if not in the center).

I’m trying to determine whether I’d be mugged in broad daylight just walking around or if it’s a little more easygoing than that.

Thrilled to hear it’s queer friendly and that there are other long term neighborhood residents - I’m definitely looking to nest and put down roots. So this is encouraging.

Would commuting once or twice a week to DC be doable? My office is not far from union station.

Ah I see. An alarm system and locking is certainly all doable. Maybe a house with iron bars over the first floor windows would help. As would a garage I imagine.

Thank you for the realtor recommendation! She sounds like the ideal contact for me. I appreciate it.

I think the neighborhood is pretty cool. can't speak too much for night time but I would certainly feel safe there, and there are lots of MICA art students there that walk around at night. the neighborhood certainly isn't going to be as vibrant as a DC neighborhood just because of the size/money of the population in DC. it's like comparing somewhere in DC to Manhattan. I think the most important thing is whether or not you have any friends around. riding the Marc train just to see your friends will be a bit of a drag. though, I think baltimore residents are more friendly overall (except while driving) so I'm sure you'd be able to meet people here.

You can walk in Bolton hill at night. I do often as a few of my friends live on Eutaw. When I first moved to Baltimore after college I lived across north ave in Reservoir Hill and walked as my main source of transportation to downtown/mount Vernon/city at all hours of the night sober and not. Keep your wits about you. But both neighborhoods are some of most architecturally beautiful ones. I have plans to buy in Reservoir Hill.

As for nightlife - it’s very much a residential brownstone neighborhood, but there are gems there like Mount Royal Tavern (dirt church), Cook House, Tilted Row and On The Hill Cafe- so not completely abysmal. There are other shops on the ground floor of the ReNew MV apartment complex across from the light rail station and the armory/state center. Theres a Save-a-lot grocery store on McMechen St. That’s the closet. But you’ll need to go to Mount Vernon(Streets/Eddie’s), Station North, old Goucher/Charles Village(Gaint/Streets), Remington/Hampden (MOMs), Mount Washington (whole foods) for everything else. Good thing is you’re in a great spot for public transit. You can use the light rail/subway/bus and the circulator and hop on Marc/Amtrak at Penn Station

As for the diversity and inclusion… historically bolton hill was for WASPs, there’s art weirdos, hipsters, old money trust funders, other members of the alphabet soup group, and etc. Bolton hill is wedged between the former gayborhood (Mount Vernon) and the new/alternative one (Old Goucher/station north).

You’re also close to Druid Hill Park/ MD Zoo and all it’s amenities, Jones Falls, and the brunt of the cultural attractions.

No and you never could. Its a myth that cities, anywhere can or could offer that type of guaranteed safety. If you think that you could in Cap Hill, then you were lucky. I have lived in Balt City for 38 yrs and never once have had a bad experience, but that does not mean that the city is 100% safe, NO, just that I have been willing to take precautions to not put myself in harms way, and a lot of luck. I grew up outside of DC, and remember when many parts were labeled as UNSAFE. This was in the 1970s when the memory of the 68 riots was still burned into the minds of the people in the DC area. Yet, my first job outside of high school had me working in all neighborhoods of DC, Never had a problem. What I realized is that there is an industry (local TV news) which spends much time keeping people in a state of unnecessary) fear. When you are on the ground and see what is real and what is not, you realize that most of the noise is fearmongering. Why do people expect every place they live to be a vacation destination with all bad things removed?

Pearls are not made without some irritation.

No and you never could. Its a myth that cities, anywhere can or could offer that type of guaranteed safety. If you think that you could in Cap Hill, then you were lucky. I have lived in Balt City for 38 yrs and never once have had a bad experience, but that does not mean that the city is 100% safe, NO, just that I have been willing to take precautions to not put myself in harms way, and a lot of luck. I grew up outside of DC, and remember when many parts were labeled as UNSAFE. This was in the 1970s when the memory of the 68 riots was still burned into the minds of the people in the DC area. Yet, my first job outside of high school had me working in all neighborhoods of DC, Never had a problem. What I realized is that there is an industry (local TV news) which spends much time keeping people in a state of unnecessary) fear. When you are on the ground and see what is real and what is not, you realize that most of the noise is fearmongering. Why do people expect every place they live to be a vacation destination with all bad things removed? I think a lot has to do with the 40 yrs of raising kids as house plants and not letting them be outside.

Pearls are not made without some irritation.

The commute is very doable. I go twice a week from further away in Baltimore with no issues. The train takes an hour (thought there's a 45 minute express train coming back) and is very comfortable and reliable.

Hello! Always good to see another Bolton Hill-er on here.

>I can walk at midnight with zero worries

That statement holds true until it doesn’t.

Besides, you wanna find out what it feels like to be scared to walk around outside go to Yemen or wherever. Get outside your DC fear bubble and learn about the real world.

I mean, it's Baltimore, and occasionally bad things happen in good areas. If you adjust your crime reference frame to Baltimore standards, Bolton Hill is a safe area. I'm not saying you'll never be mugged in broad daylight just walking around, but I don't think of Bolton Hill as the sort of place where that's more likely to happen than any other part of Baltimore. In terms of how crime impacts you on a daily basis, package theft will dwarf the rest.

The MARC commute to DC is long but doable if you minimize the distance you have to travel on each end of the train. Bolton Hill is a five to ten minute walk from the train station. If your work is near Union Station, the DC commute would be plenty doable. I know plenty of folks who live here who commute to DC on the MARC train. Lastly, as part of the infrastructure bill that got passed last year, there are plans to rebuild the tunnel under West Baltimore to allow trains to go faster into Penn Station - the idea is that when it's done (in ten years) a BAL->DC express train would take just half an hour.

Edit: About the other commenter's real estate agent recommendations - I swear Jessica Dailey sells half the houses in this neighborhood. I'd agree with them solely based on the volume of business she does here - she's obviously doing something right.

WOW, half an hour for an express train to DC would be incredible.

If you're moving from Capitol Hill to Bolton Hill, you'll find the prices in BH VERY attractive. I've lived in BH for six years now, would've loved to buy a nice 2BRM condo in Lion Park (was like 300k in 2019) ... great value here (as an avid property person and coming from one of the most expensive/insane property cities in the world). The only reason these gorgeous, historical buildings don't cost a million, is because of the fear surrounding Baltimore.

The thing about BH is that it literally varies from block to block - the central part of BH is very walkable, you could stroll to N Charles/Mt Vernon, just take the proper city precautions - I love being able to walk home after a concert at the Meyerhoff. TBH, unless you are actively looking for trouble, you should be ok

Thank you for your detailed response! It helps a lot to hear your first hand experience with the area.

I know dc is an area that’s changed dramatically! I can’t imagine the shifts you’ve seen. I’m sorry if my post came off that way - but I definitely don’t expect where I live to be a perfect Disney world. I think I’ve just been spoiled by the ease of where I live now.

I live close enough to the Capitol now that I regularly leave neighbors apartments/homes at 1am after parties on weekends and have never encountered an issue. This is nice! But I know not everywhere is like this so I’m trying to wrap my mind around what to expect if I moved to Bolton Hill.

Trust that I wouldn’t consider even looking at Baltimore if I only watched the news/headlines!

Ah that’s a good frame of reference. I’ve lived in nyc before and had to adjust to the quiet of DC. I suppose Baltimore would be the next adjustment down. Im sure I’d come to prefer it, just like I have to DC!

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I’m not sure why you thought this would be a helpful reply.

I can say I regularly walk around my neighborhood past midnight on weekends and have been doing so for years. And I’ve never encountered an issue. Sometimes I’ll see a homeless person minding their business but I’ve never been mugged or feared for my safety. I’m not as delusional as you seem to think.

It’s also not the flex that you think it is to have Yemen (a relatively safe and rural country)/“or whatever [implied danger]” be your baseline of safety. I’m positive I’ve been to more countries than you, so you can dial back your condescension.

I’ve done routine international travel in past work - including places that are much less safe than my affluent westernized bubble.

I’m curious what you define as the “real” world, but some place being dangerous does not make it anymore “real” than someplace safe. I just prefer to live in a place where danger is limited! I don’t think being mugged or burglarized is a badge of honor. It’s actually just a pain! It’s happened to me several times.

I’m glad to hear this. While I know it’s not Disney world, I imagine the crime is much more overplayed than the reality of daily life in BH. I’d love to be by the Meyerhoff! BSO is excellent, even as Marin leaves.

So glad to hear about the commute. Sounds easy enough to do once or twice a week. Let’s hope for the express train.

So as long as I keep my wits about me, it seems the risk of crime there isn’t disastrous. Thank you.

Seems like a nice time to listen to podcasts or read!

I don’t live there, but I drive through Bolton hill to get to work every day. It seems like a very charming space… parents walking their kids to school or pulling them in little plastic wagons. MICA students walking alone.

Wow! Very good analogy of the pearl. I will definitely be using this for sure. The media truly sucks for manipulating people the way they do but honestly It's helping to keep the prices down here quite a bit.

I also remember DC when it was still the Murder Capital and a lot different than it is now

Glad to hear, that sounds ideal!