Your Guide to the Best Suburbs in Baltimore

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We’ve all heard of Baltimore, Maryland. It’s where the National Anthem was written, it has the tastiest crab cakes, and it’s where you’ll find both the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens! Now, did you also know that Baltimore has been quickly working its way up on the list of best cities in the U.S.? Seriously – it’s in the top 100s.

So, whether you’re drawn to this Maryland city for the delicious seafood, job opportunities, or high-end education, the next step is finding a place to live. And before you go looking at apartments or houses in the metro area, the key is to narrow it down to a suburb you truly love first.

To help make things easier for you, we’re going to lay out some of the best suburbs in Baltimore. That way, you can find a suburb that speaks to you.

Let’s get this show on the road!

The best suburbs in Baltimore

Individuals from all walks of life can appreciate Baltimore. It doesn’t matter whether you’re building a career or a family. The city offers something for everyone.

The question is: what are the best suburbs in Baltimore, and which one is worth a second look? Today, we’re going to cover both the top suburbs for families and young professionals working their way up the corporate ladder. First up is families.

Best suburbs of Baltimore for families

If you’re searching for an all-around great place to move to with kids, Baltimore deserves a place on your list. The city offers a plethora of activities for families, home costs that won’t destroy your budget (depending on where in the city you move to, of course), and high-quality schools.

It also has multiple suburbs to choose from, which should give you peace of mind that you can live close to the city or as far away as you want and still have the ability to drive in when you’d like. (That’s truly the beauty of suburbs!)

So, what exactly are the best suburbs of Baltimore for families? Below are a few worth your consideration:

Fulton

Look at a map of Baltimore suburbs, and you’ll see Fulton at the south end of Howard County. The amenities, schools, employment, and crime all score As, so you can trust that this suburb is one of the leading places to move to if you have kiddos. (In fact, it’s one of the top Baltimore suburbs with good schools and one of the safest suburbs of Baltimore!)

Fulton Elementary School is a wonderful school with “above-average test scores” if you’re looking for a quality local school for your elementary-aged kids. Then, as your little ones get older, you can send them to Lime Kiln Middle School, or Reservoir High School.

After school is out, well, that’s the fun part! There are many family-friendly activities near Fulton, such as the Imagination Stage, Bubala, The Bounce Playhouse, and Stem Kids. Also, you can’t forget to stop by one of the city’s beautiful parks (Westside Park, Midtown Park, and Hillside Park–to name a few).

Some popular restaurants in the area include Hudson Coastal, Ananda, Ledo Pizza, Maple Lawn Market, and Maiwand Kabob. The city offers food from all around the world, so whether you’re craving pizza or some authentic Cuban food, you’ll find everything you need in Fulton and the surrounding cities.

Ellicott City

We can’t say enough good things about Ellicott City! It’s rated the top suburb for raising little ones in Baltimore, coming in hot with highly rated public schools, great diversity, and overall family-friendliness. This suburb is in Howard County and is conveniently located near Fulton, Severen, Highland, and Owings Mills.

Local schools include St. John’s Lane Elementary School, Hollifield Station Elementary School, Ellicott Mills Middle School, Patapsco Middle School, Howard High School, and Mount Hebron High School.

Per one resident, “The schools in Ellicott City are fantastic, it’s a safe place to live, and there are a lot of great opportunities for recreation, such as state park hiking, kayaking, canoeing, biking, skateboarding and lots of other great outdoor fun. There’s a little something for everyone in my hometown!”

Want something relaxing to do with your kiddos? Check out Patapsco Valley State Park, Clark’s Elioak Farm, or the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum. Ellicott is a wonderful place to raise kids, and there are plenty of family-friendly activities right here in the suburb. There are also many great restaurants, including Alexandra’s Restaurant, MISSION BBQ, and Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant.

Highland

Voted one of the family-friendliest places in Baltimore, the suburb of Highland is sure to make you and your kids feel right at home. The city has a rural, small-town vibe, giving it a great sense of community.

In other words, if you’re looking for a place where both you and your little ones can make friends and really become a part of a city and all the activities it has to offer, Highland might just be the suburb for you.

Where can you send your kids to in and around Highland? There’s Highland Elementary School, Pointers Run Elementary School, Clarksville Middle School, Hammond Middle School, River Hill High School, and Hammond High School.

As for activities, the city is near the Sky Zone Trampoline Park, ShadowLand Laser Adventures, Adventure Park USA, ClimbZone Laurel, and Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake. There are also many great restaurants nearby, which include Konstantine’s Greek Taverna, Lib’s Grill, Great Sage, and El Azteca. (We’re talking Greek food, Mexican food, American food, and much more!)

Best Baltimore suburbs for young professionals and singles

We’ve established that Baltimore is a wonderful city to bring up kids in, but don’t let that scare you away as a young professional who might not be thinking about kiddos yet. You can still have tons of fun and find great places to work in the city and surrounding suburbs yourself!

Whatever questions you have, you’re sure to find the answers you need below. For instance, we’ll touch on:

Is Baltimore a great place for young professionals?
What are the best Baltimore suburbs for young professionals?
What is there to do?
Where are the best restaurants?
And much more!

Without further ado, let’s chat! And remember that even if you don’t see a suburb you love yet, there’s sure to be another just around the corner. Keep at your search, and we’re confident you’ll find a suburb that meets all your needs and more.

Cockeysville

Cockeysville is a thriving Baltimore suburb in the east-center part of Maryland by Chesapeake Bay. Fun fact: it has a median resident age of 34.3! That means that as a single or young professional, you’re sure to meet plenty of people in your age group who you can connect with and find activities to do.

According to one resident, “Cockeysville provides everyone in the community with a chance to interact with each other. Whether it be at one of the many of dining places for people to gather, or at one of the several parks people can stay active and enjoy wonderful walks together, this small town has it all!”

Some must-visit places in this suburb include Oregon Ridge Park, Beaver Dam Swimming Club, Misty Valley Farms, and Oregon Ridge Dinner Theatre. You may also enjoy the restaurant scene. A few of our top picks are Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar, Vito Ristorante, The Mint Leaf, Roma’s Cafe, Yasou Greek Bistro, Coal Fire, and Barrett’s Grill.

So, you might be thinking, “Cockeysville sounds like it could be a great place to live, but where can I work?” The suburb is just over 17 miles from Downtown Baltimore, making it doable if you want to commute to the city. You can also find employment at a series of companies near Cockeysville, including but not limited to SB & Company, Broadmead, A&A Global Industries, RDA, or ArmadaGlobal. (Can you tell now why this is one of the best suburbs in Baltimore?)

Annapolis

If there’s a Baltimore suburb you’ve heard of, it’s probably Annapolis. Not only is it Maryland’s state capital, but it’s also one of the most desirable suburbs to move to in the Baltimore area. You’ll find it along the Chesapeake Bay, roughly 26 miles from Baltimore and 29 miles to Washington, D.C.

The nice thing about Annapolis is that the convenient location between Baltimore and D.C. gives you plenty of options for employment. You could work in the city of Baltimore (if you’re up for the commute) at organizations such as Laureate Education, Inc., the University of Maryland Medical Center, or John Hopkins University. You can also work right in Annapolis at one of the city’s many companies, including Colfax Corporation, Towne Park, or AdvanTech.

As for things to do? Well, you’re in good hands in Annapolis! The city has many museums, parks, and activities on the water. You can go to the U.S. Naval Academy, Quiet Waters Park, Maryland State House, William Paca House & Garden, or Maryland World War II Memorial.

You can also get a quick bite at one of the city’s world-class restaurants. Some of the best places to eat in Annapolis are Sofi’s Crepes, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, Dry 85, Vin 909 Winecafe, and Annapolis Ice Cream Co. All of them offer delicious food that is sure to leave your taste buds happy.

Need a hand moving to Baltimore?

We can help with that. Bellhop’s local and long-distance movers in Baltimore are here to assist with moving coordination, loading, unloading, delivery, and much more. So, whichever of the best suburbs in Baltimore you decide to move to, we are here to assist you!
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Tyler Brown

Tyler has been with Bellhop since 2022. When not working on making moving experience awesome, Tyler enjoys biking through new cities all over the country, figuring out where his next meal is going to be, and fantasizing about where he might live next. He's currently in Richmond, Virginia.