Find solution
How many automotive industries are there in Baltimore?

Should I be moving to Baltimore MD?

  • Ok, I just got my green card recently and I'm considering a permanent move to the US with my wife at one point, for personal reasons I'd prefer to be in #Baltimore or a nearby city, however, I'm not sure this is the best move for my career and life plans. Today, I'm a Digital Marketing Analyst, ideally, the plan is to be founder/CEO of my own successful tech business in 3-5 years, I want to know how doable that is in Baltimore, and, if not, which nearby city is a better choice? Here's a few points I'm curious about: I'm not interested in tech branding and I don't want to live in a "Silicon Valley", however, how available are investors, other tech companies, digital marketing agencies, incubators, and tech media in a city like Baltimore? Crime rates? Education? State revenue? how cheap is the city? Population? Unemployment rates? And anything else you feel of relevance here. How hard did Baltimore take the recession? I see a lot of abandoned houses and shops around, not a welcoming image for a new comer. What's the story here? On a scale of 1-10, how expensive do you think it is to start a business here? What's a fair salary that a couple can live on in Baltimore? I'm asking about the average here. PS: Did I mention that I'm currently in Baltimore, and will be here for three more weeks, so if you're reading this and you're up to taking a stranger out for coffee, inbox me, I'm usually good company :)

  • Answer:

    John has parts of the equation. I am an ex-New Yorker. Been in Bmore 20+ years. Baltimore is a city and crime does exist, but it is avoidable. It is true about private school. However, the charter and parochial schools are very good. My kids went to public and private. Maryland is a rich state and Baltimore is inexpensive and easy to navigate. If you want tech info, put your post up on the Facebook page: Baltimore Tech and subscribe to Startup Digest Baltimore. Also, check out http://technicallybaltimore.com We do have angel investor groups as well. Check out Craigslist for rents in the neighborhoods that John mentioned and for houses cbmove/com and http://liveBaltimore.com The big incubator is: http://betamore.com but there are many others. Talk to Mike. Baltimore is a good ed and medical hub for startups. UnderArmour and Johns Hopkins are big employers. A lot of small companies do a lot of business with NY and DC. It is best to pay us a visit: http://airbnb.com Cities are the future. The suburbs are dying. If you are young and you can engage people. Now is your time.

Gordon Steen at Quora Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

I've lived in Baltimore for almost a decade now. I personally really like the city, and specifically my neighborhood (Mt. Vernon). However, I am currently a student and not in the tech sector, so I can't speak in great detail in terms of those areas. The other two answers seem to have that covered, though. I can add that your Baltimore experience is very much dependent on which exact neighborhood you live in. Each neighborhood (Mt. Vernon, Fells Point, Canton, etc) has its own feel and mix of residents. Mt. Vernon is almost all students and young professionals, I think there a few families, but they are not the majority. Other neighborhoods, like Canton are more built around families. Every neighborhood has its own unique feel and pros and cons. To get a sense of this, check this out: http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2011/3/the-ultimate-neighborhood-guide?p=features%2F2011%2F04%2Fthe-ultimate-neighborhood-guide Although I have no personal experience in the tech sector, I do know that there is a up and coming tech scene in and around the city. Biotech startups are also big, both University of Maryland and Hopkins have biotech parks that have attracted several small companies.

Ayon Nandi

I just moved my companies Mindgrub and viaPlace into the city because it is a really thriving tech community.  I live in the suburbs with my family though where the public schools are better.  If would honestly consider the East Coast vs. the West Coast of the US, plus Austin, Denver and Chicago.  If you like the East Coast more, apply to jobs in Boston, NYC, Baltimore, DC and Raleigh and see where you get picked up.

Todd Marks

AOL subsidiary http://Advertising.com is in Baltimore, which answers one of your questions.  But -- I mean this in a friendly way -- if you haven't figured this out and you're in digital marketing, and haven't found the other tech companies in Baltimore, are you in the right field, or suited to management/entrepreneurialism?  Likewise with other questions that are easily Google-able or would be better answered by exploring different neighborhoods versus asking the internet.  Maybe you've done other research that you're not presenting here, but if so that doesn't seem reflected in the way you've asked your questions.  That said, I do think there's a lot of value in trying to start a career that has your industry but is not THE hub -- like Baltimore or Austin over SF/Seattle for Tech, Charlotte or Atlanta over NYC for Finance, etc.  There are still opportunities, but less competition and lower cost of living, especially if you're concerned about job availability and income (not sure if your wife wants to work/will be able to work without her own visa).  Just food for thought.

Molly O'Rourke

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.