Best places to live in the Baltimore metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
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Best places to live in the Baltimore metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Baltimore metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Cockeysville

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 23,265

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#24. Eldersburg

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 30,626

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#23. Pikesville

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 34,253

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#22. Cape St. Claire

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 9,016

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#21. Sykesville

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 4,346

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#20. Severna Park

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 39,499

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#19. Perry Hall

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 28,908

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#18. Savage

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 8,284

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#17. White Marsh

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 10,480

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#16. Odenton

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 45,585

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#15. Arnold

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 23,866

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#14. Catonsville

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 42,717

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#13. North Laurel

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 25,201

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#12. Crofton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 29,878

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#11. Mays Chapel

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 15,616

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#10. Hampton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 5,138

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#9. Elkridge

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 26,183

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#8. Timonium

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 10,880

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#7. Towson

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 57,683

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#6. Ilchester

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 27,552

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#5. Scaggsville

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 10,441

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#4. Columbia

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 105,871

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#3. Lutherville

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 6,670

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#2. Ellicott City

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 73,737

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#1. Fulton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 5,946

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