Topping the list of best places to live in the Baltimore area is a suburb of Baltimore, Ellicott City.  With a population of a little over 72,000, it is a dense suburban where 74% of the residents choose to own their own home.  

• Median home value =$527,700
• Median rent =$1,605
• Median Household income=$126,668
• 66% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Marriotts Ridge High School/Centennial High School/Mount Hebron High School
• Crime is lower than the national average
• Shops, restaurants, parks

Columbia, a city in Maryland, is ranked #5 in the best cities to raise a family in America.  Its population is 103,663, and 66% of residents choose to own their home in this dense suburban area. 

• Median home value=$372,000
• Median rent=$1,687
• Median household income=$105,815
• 62% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• River Hill High School/Centennial High School/Atholton High School/Burleigh Manor Middle School/Clarksville Middle School
• The crime rate is slightly lower than the national average
• Many professionals and young families choose this area.  It has many coffee shops and parks.  

Ilchester is ranked #3 in Best Places to Live in the Baltimore Area.  It is a suburb of Baltimore and has a population of 26,647 people.  Eighty-one percent of residents choose to own their home in this dense suburban location.  

• Median home value=$386,900
• Median rent=$1,823
• Median household income=$126,773
• 64% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Howard High School/Ilchester Elementary School/ Ellicott Mills Middle School/Waterloo Elementary School
• Crime is slightly below the national average
• Coffee shops and parks

A little closer to the shoreline lies Towson.  It is an urban suburban mix with a population of 58,347, where only 58% of the residents choose to own their home.

• Median home value=$352,700
• Median rent=$1,411
• Median household income=$85,511
• 65% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Eastern Technical High School/George W. Carver for Arts & Technology/Dulaney High School/Towson High School
• The crime rate is slightly lower than the national average
• Restaurants, coffee shops, and parks

Coming closer to the city and sharing green space with Johns Hopkins, Wyman Park is a neighborhood in Baltimore with a population of 1,128 people.  It offers residents an urban feel and 63% of them own their home.  

• Median home value=$268,863
• Median rent=$1,157
• Median household income=$83,380
• 82% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Baltimore Polytechnic institute/Baltimore School for the Arts/Baltimore City College/Bard High School Early College
• The crime rate is lower in murder, rape, and burglary, but higher in robbery than the national average
• Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks

Mid-Town Belvedere, with a population of 3,866, is a dense urban living space where 85% of the residents rent their home.  

• Median home value=$246,628
• Median rent=$1,234
• Median household income=$54,453
• 73% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Baltimore Polytechnic Institute/Baltimore School for the Arts/Baltimore City College
• Crime is higher than the national average
• City life with restaurants, bars, and coffee shops

Inner Harbor, although scenic, rates only #15 in best neighborhood to live in Baltimore.  Its overall population is 1,418, and 52% prefer to rent in this dense urban living space.  

• Median home value=$449,376
• Median rent=$1,567
• Median household income=$105,183
• 73% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Baltimore Polytechnic Institute/Baltimore School for the Arts/Baltimore City College
• Crime is much higher than the national average
• Many shops, restaurants, bars, coffee shops
• Young professionals and retirees tend to live here

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Career Opportunities & Industries in Baltimore:

Over the years, Baltimore’s economy and job market have shifted.  Zippia.com gathered and examined data from many markets to deliver this list of the best industries for jobs in Maryland, the best companies to work for in Baltimore, and the salaries these companies offer.  

Architecture and Engineering, with an average salary of $94,330 and a workforce of over 58,000 people, tops the list of best industries in Maryland.  The Computer and Mathematical Industry employs 123,660 people and pays an average of $96,800.  Coming in third of average salary, job availability, and stress level managed data is the Management Industry.  Topping the salary chart with an average of $125,940, over 151,000 employees earn their living in this field.  The fourth best industry in Maryland is that of the Legal Industry.  It currently employs 25,160 and offers an average salary of $88,330.  Last on the list of the top five is the Business and Financial Operations.  According to Zippia.com, this field employs 163,090 people and pays an average salary of $80,050.  

Narrowing the job market search to include just Baltimore, here are the best companies to work for…both headquartered in Baltimore and around the Baltimore area.

T. Rowe Price is a large finance industry company headquartered in Baltimore that has over 7,000 employees and an annual revenue of $4.2 billion.  It is an American publicly owned global asset firm that provides funds, advisory services, account management, and retirement services and plans for individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries.  Their goal is to help global clients achieve their long-term investment goals.  The average employee salary is approximately $82,000 annually.  Some of the included positions are Associate Software Engineer, Project Manager, RPS Creative, Lead Business Analyst, Tax Group Associate, and Fixed Income Risk Analyst.  Employees working in Advertising & Marketing roles earn the highest wages at $115,052 annually.   

Legg Mason is second on the Zippia.com list of best companies to work for in Baltimore.  It also is an investment management firm with a focus on asset management.  Worldwide service gives customers products in equities and fixed income, as well as domestic and international liquidity management and alternative investments.  It boosts Baltimore’s work economy by employing 3,300 people and providing an annual income of $2.9 billion.  Salaries at Legg Mason range from $52,000 to $142,000 annually depending on position, training, and certification.  

McCormick & Company “spices” up the job market by coming in third for best places to work in Baltimore.  This American food company manufactures, makes, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavoring products.  They serve the industrial, restaurant, institutional, and residential markets, and currently employ nearly 12,000 people.  McCormick boasts an annual revenue of $4.5 billion.  You can save your culinary world from bland, boring food and you can save your bank account from mediocre wages by working at this company.  Salaries range from $32,000 to $96,000 annually.  Jobs include Team Manager, Database Administrator, Purchasing Manager, Consultant, Engineering Scientist, Master Scheduler, Food Scientist, or FInance Analyst.  

Baltimore City Hall, a public administration industry leader with 10,000 employees, carries an annual revenue of $5.5 billion.  It is ranked twelfth on Zippia.com’s list of Best Non-Profit Companies to Work for in America.  Although diverse in its demographic backgrounds, it has an unusually high proportion of democratic employees…89.6%.  Baltimore City Hall retains its employees on average for three and a half years.  

Baltimore’s Schools include over 5,700 employees ranging from Special Education Teacher, School Social Worker, Administrative Assistant, Instructor, Curriculum Writer, Teaching Assistant, and Hall Monitor to name a few.  The median salary is $59,012 and higher positions pay up to $91,000. 

Under Armour, with competitive earnings for athletic and casual apparel, offers a median salary of $51,211.  The Baltimore headquarter is an industry leader employing 10,850 residents and brings in an annual revenue of $5.0 billion.  Their mission, “To make all athletes better through passion, design, and the relentless pursuit of innovation” is also evident in their professional team associates.  Here are some of the positions that drive this world-known brand: Senior Infrastructure Engineer, Director, Global Compensation, Visual Content Creator, Sr. Global Web Content Coordinator, Sr. Lead, HR Business Partner, Sr. Lead Solutions Architect-Loyalty.

Healthcare Systems in Baltimore

Part of the massive workforce in Baltimore is contributed to the healthcare systems.  Johns Hopkins Hospital is ranked #1 in Baltimore and ranked #15 nationally in fifteen adult specialties and ten children’s specialties.  Along with being a general medical hospital, it is also a teaching hospital and a surgical facility.  Hopkins claims several medical firsts including developing renal dialysis, isolating and crystallizing insulin, and inventing the rechargeable implantable pacemaker.  

The University of Maryland Medical Center located in Baltimore is ranked #2 in the city.  It also is a general medical and surgical facility, along with it being a teaching hospital.  

As Baltimore continues to grow and prepare for its economical future, Maryland’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages provides data that shows nine key industries that drive fifty percent of the county’s employment.  As the job market continues to grow, these target industries will account for seventy-five percent by 2024.  

Transportation, Distribution, Logistics

Baltimore County’s strategic east coast location makes it a critical hub for the TDL industry.  Seaports, railways, and major highways make this industry set up for continued augmentation.  Regionally, it supports 14,000 workers.  The redevelopment of Sparrows Point, from its current setup to a world class multimodal logistics hub, is projected to add 17,000 jobs by 2024.  

Construction

Baltimore County accounts for fourteen percent of Maryland’s construction jobs.  There are more than 2,000 employees, and although the industry was attacked with the great recessions, there are many current and future construction opportunities.  The Sparrows Point project anticipates creating over 21,000 construction jobs. Greenleigh at Crossroads, a 200-acre combined use development of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on Route 43 will create an estimated 2,000 construction jobs. Towson Row is a projected development of a 1.2 million-square-foot, mixed-use development located at the southern gateway of downtown Towson.  It is expected to create over 3,000 jobs, generate nearly $185 million in labor income, and create nearly $500 million in business sales.  Top employers for these projects are Whiting-Turner Contracting, Kinsley Construction, and Concrete Protection and Restoration.  

Manufacturing

McCormick mentioned earlier, teams up with BD Life Sciences Diagnostic Systems and Stanley Black and Decker Global Tools and Storage Headquarters to support over 6,200 employees.  These diverse manufacturers call Baltimore County home and have helped to sustain the industry throughout economic uncertainty.  Its close proximity to the multimodal logistics hub gives it continual and rapid growth.  

Education

Baltimore County is home to six major colleges: Community college of Baltimore County, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Towson University, Goucher College, Stevenson University.  There are more than 760 public and private education employers that employ more than 24,080 education professionals.  The education industry creates a stellar $935 million in worker income.  According to Niche.com’s 2020 rankings, Baltimore County’s four-year institutions were ranked among the top ten colleges in Maryland and the Baltimore area.  This industry is a core economic driver and will continue to grow and develop through 2024.  

Financial Services

This industry includes firms that are engaged in investing, lending, and security trading.  Although T. Rowe Price, Bank of America, and Toyota Financial Services are three of the employment highlights for this industry, there are over 2,300 financial service employers that employ roughly 30,000 people.  This industry alone generates $2.7 billion in worker income.  

Professional and Business Services

With a strong foundation of business and professional services companies, Baltimore County has served as a major location for corporate headquarters and corporate branch office operations.  Several employment highlights include CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Element Fleet Management, and KCI Technologies.  CareFirst is the largest network for medical, dental, and vision insurance in the greater Maryland area, and employs nearly 2,000 workers.  An interesting note regarding KCI Technologies is that it is a one hundred percent employee-owned engineering, consulting, and construction firm.  Located in Sparks, it employs nearly 400 people.  

Information Technology

The fastest of these nine target industries is the IT department.  Between 2001 and 2015, its overall employment increased by forty-six percent, and is projected to increase by nineteen percent through 2024.  Regionally there are 15,894 jobs from over 870 employers.  Associated worker income tops $1.4 billion.  Highlighted businesses include Lockheed Martin, Tessco Technologies, and General Dynamics Information Technology.

Things to do in Baltimore:

 

Museums

Make learning an adventure when you visit these outstanding Maryland museums.  Whether it’s science, history, art, or transportation, these museums are sure to be family favorites.

• National Aquarium – Get up close and personal with fish, birds, stingrays, reptiles, and other mammals in habitat.  Walk through an amazing underwater tunnel and let the sharks swim over you!  Walking through the indoor tropical rain forest will make you forget that you are in a downtown city.
• Maryland Science Center – Gaze at the stars and constellations in the planetarium.  Explore exhibits that show Sir Isaac Newtown’s theories in practice.  Experiment with chemistry and Earth Science.  Watch a movie on the giant IMAX screen.
• Port Discovery Children’s Museum – Not just for the “littles.”  This space offers children a chance to climb through a three-story treehouse, eat in a 50’s style diner, and scope out a soccer stadium.  
• Discovery Station – Located in Hagerstown, this museum displays a 1/60 scale model of The Titanic.  Measuring 15 feet and weighing 500 pounds, this exhibit is sure to leave a lasting impression.  
• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, African Art Museum of Maryland, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art – all of these museums are just as diverse and unique as the city itself.  
• Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, and the American Visionary Arts Museum offer a more traditional approach to art museums.  Come see art from the third millennium B.C. to the early 2oth century, works by Vincent van Gogh and Picasso, a life-size metal angel chess set, and an annual human powered Kinetic Sculpture Race!  How exciting!
• History museums are plenty in a city where there is so much history.  Visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the Banneker-Douglass Museum, U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, or the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.  It was here, in the home of Mary Pichersgill, where our flag was sewn.
• So close to the water, and so rich in maritime history, there are many attractions that cater to sea lovers.  Visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, an informative exhibit of vessels and history of the bay, or the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum, featuring boat models, art, and artifacts.  Try some hands-on experimenting at the Calvert Marine Museum, or climb about a workboat at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.  The U.S.S. Constellation is sure to give you the wow factor as you tour the different levels of the warship.
• Take your touristing to the trains and planes by visiting these museums: the Baltimore Museum of Industry, B&O Railroad Museum, College Park Aviation Museum, or the National Cryptologic Museum.  From air and space to the rails and tales of the National Security Agency, you are sure to learn something new and exciting.

 

Top Attractions

• Ocean City Boardwalk – With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Chesapeake Bay on the other, you are surrounded by vacation’s top sights.  Amusement rides, fireworks, surfing, long walks at sunset…all of these can be found in Ocean City.
• Assateague Island – Make her dreams come true by viewing the wild horses of Assateague Island National Seashore, where scores of wild horses roam free.  Enjoy nature trails and sparkling waters.
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and Scenic Byway – travel back to a day where this famous “conductor” led slaves to freedom.
• Smith Island – Only accessible by boat, this island settled by the British in the 7th century, is known for its distinctive Elizabethan accents and Maryland’s official dessert, the many-layered Smith Island cake.
• Downtown Frederick – More than 200 specialty shops, restaurants, and art galleries make up this historic district.
• Antietam National Battlefield – It is the site of the bloodiest single day of battle from the Civil War.  This battle, where over 23,000 soldiers gave their lives, was the precursor to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
• Six Flags America – Tap into your rollercoaster junkie self with some of the tallest, fastest, and scariest rollercoasters around!
• Maryland International Raceway – Racing fans find themselves again at the heart of a track.  Hosting more than 100 events during the warmer months, the Maryland International Speedway provides seating capacity for 11,000 fans!

Sports in Baltimore: