Re-locating to Baltimore? Consider your security along with other factors.

Relocation to Baltimore: I've been reading lots of posts on the City-Data forum site-many of which are from people re-locating to Baltimore from out of town for jobs at Hopkins and other major employers, and expressing some concerns for security. Some of the responses are a bit disconcerting. If the person expresses concerns about his/her safety, I don't think it's wise to tell them the entire city is wonderful, and they can go walking about this neighborhood or that at any time of the day or night. 

I don't know who sponsors the site, but it appears to be affected with unbridled civic boosterism and a willingness to attract people to neighborhoods in which they probably will feel uncomfortable. Now, I know there are good neighborhoods in Baltimore where the trade offs of pluses outweigh the negatives.  But Baltimore is still one of the highest crime cities in the country, and many persons living in safer areas need to be careful in where they live here.

Many relocating professionals would do well to employ the services of an independent relocation consultant to help them weigh the positives and negatives of any particular location.

And they have to weigh any potential risks of crime discomfort against other factors, such as the cost of rent, schools, quality of apartment, etc., not to mention commute times, and closeness to desirable areas.