High COL Cities

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I had heard through the grapevine once that the docs at JHU were often escorted not only to their vehicles but other places by security guards because the crime in Baltimore was THAT bad. Because both our DD's are school age, school systems are definitely of some concern and I really don't want to fork over the dough for private school on a residents salary. We crossed Baltimore off the list entirely for the crime reason. Would you consider that foolish?

I grew up going to high school north of Baltimore. I wouldn't cross it off because of crime. There are safe areas where you can live like Fells Point which has already been mentioned. It's the schools that are the problem. Baltimore city schools are generally considered very poor and on the verge of failing. To illustrate, a few years ago they had a "Reading by 9" goal that over 50% of kids weren't achieving [not sure how it's going now, they may have ended that campaign and I don't live there anymore]. Now, I know there are some 9 year olds that can't read but I would say in most school districts kids are doing simple reading before 9. You could live where there are better schools but it would be further from the hospital or you could consider Catholic schools or something like that. Obviously JHU is a great training program in many specialties and it's certainly a diverse and manageable city for someone new [it's much smaller than NYC or Seattle for example] but you do have to weigh the issues like school.

[MDPhDWife]

I grew up going to high school north of Baltimore. I wouldn't cross it off because of crime. There are safe areas where you can live like Fells Point which has already been mentioned. It's the schools that are the problem. Baltimore city schools are generally considered very poor and on the verge of failing. To illustrate, a few years ago they had a "Reading by 9" goal that over 50% of kids weren't achieving [not sure how it's going now, they may have ended that campaign and I don't live there anymore]. Now, I know there are some 9 year olds that can't read but I would say in most school districts kids are doing simple reading before 9. You could live where there are better schools but it would be further from the hospital or you could consider Catholic schools or something like that. Obviously JHU is a great training program in many specialties and it's certainly a diverse and manageable city for someone new [it's much smaller than NYC or Seattle for example] but you do have to weigh the issues like school.

50% of the kids can't read by 9?!?! I have a nine year old and a six year old who are going into the 4th and 1st grade. I will be the first to admit our school system here isn't the best, constantly facing budget cuts, overcrowded, and on the verge of failure, but we have the kids reading on their own starting in Kindergarten! I had no idea it could be that bad!

[DCJenn]

Baltimore City Schools are bad. Baltimore was slammed by crack and also has a HUGE heroin problem and there are some ingrained institutional issues that are like other large cities- think Detroit, Akron, Allentown- Baltimore HAS pulled back from the abyss but there's still a subsection of people who live there who are marginalized at best. When the steel mills closed down, an entire generation of people were out of work.

Jenn

[Tenacious_D]

I had heard through the grapevine once that the docs at JHU were often escorted not only to their vehicles but other places by security guards because the crime in Baltimore was THAT bad.

When DH interviewed there for rads residency they told him that security was there to escort you to the car etc. once I heard that and after watching a few episodes of the wire...I was out on Baltimore...no offense to anyone who calls it home.

[NYCHoosier]

Fresh Direct in NYC!!! I am not sure about other cities but I went to the supermarket for very little things (walking distance) and we ordered groceries delivered. I actually miss that because I hate the supermarket. We also did diapers.com which was overnight delivery. I will say that living in a city and having EVERYTHING brought to you was awesome. I remember nursing little E while DH was at the hospital and not in the mood to make myself something to eat and having over 30 places to call to deliver lunch. It's that perk that made city living and the higher cost worthwhile for me.

Don't forget wash and fold!

[Sheherezade]

They will escort you to your car if you need it. DH never felt like he wanted to do that. I think the hospital is just sensitive to the reputation that Baltimore has for high crime. He actually rode his bike (!) for years with no incidents.

Now, I was mugged when I was a grad student at HUP in Philly....at 7:30 in the morning...a three blocks from the hospital when I was walking in to work from the train station. So, sometimes the areas that you think of as "safe" are actually worse than the areas you KNOW aren't safe.

Don't ever rule out Baltimore. It was honestly the best place we lived. We are always hoping to move back when the kids are out of the house.

[oceanchild]

Yeah, I was going to say something similar. I've lived in the middle of Los Angeles, the middle of Washington, DC, and in not the nicest part of the Denver metro area. But the place where the radio was stolen out of my car was on my parents' driveway in a master planned community in Reno. There's something to be said for situational awareness.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

They will escort you to your car if you need it. DH never felt like he wanted to do that. I think the hospital is just sensitive to the reputation that Baltimore has for high crime. He actually rode his bike (!) for years with no incidents.

Now, I was mugged when I was a grad student at HUP in Philly....at 7:30 in the morning...a three blocks from the hospital when I was walking in to work from the train station. So, sometimes the areas that you think of as "safe" are actually worse than the areas you KNOW aren't safe.

Don't ever rule out Baltimore. It was honestly the best place we lived. We are always hoping to move back when the kids are out of the house.

I agree! I would love to move back to Baltimore! Cleveland isn't all that sweet either for the record. I just don't think I would send my kids to those particular public schools in Baltimore or most parts of Cleveland proper.

You're dead on about Cleveland public schools - but then, it's pretty common for the public schools in urban areas not to be so hot. KC, MO schools are awful - as in, lost accreditation.

[Vishenka69]

In Manhattan the hospitals are in pretty nice areas but in the boroughs it's very mixed. As far as I know every program in NYC offers housing or some sort of assistance. We lived in student housing on UES in med school, got $300/month toward rent during internship and got housing in residency (decided not to take it because of lack of closet space). 99% of our friends who did med school/residency in NYC lived in housing that was heavily discounted from market rates.

It's been 3 years and we still miss the delivery aspect. Especially in Manhattan where you can literally get anything delivered - groceries, toiletries, food, dry cleaning, laundry, etc.

[ides]

High COL Cities

As far as I know every program in NYC offers housing or some sort of assistance. We lived in student housing on UES in med school, got $300/month toward rent during internship and got housing in residency (decided not to take it because of lack of closet space). 99% of our friends who did med school/residency in NYC lived in housing that was heavily discounted from market rates.etc.

This has been changing over the last couple of years in Manhattan. Hospitals are dropping housing & cutting stipends to help with housing. Our apt was under market rate until the housing market fell. We are at market rate currently & the hospital isn't lowering rent. In fact once we are done training our & other apts in our building will be sold.

Also unless you have children you only get a studio & up to a one bedroom with kids.

[Vishenka69]

This has been changing over the last couple of years in Manhattan. Hospitals are dropping housing & cutting stipends to help with housing. Our apt was under market rate until the housing market fell. We are at market rate currently & the hospital isn't lowering rent. In fact once we are done training our & other apts in our building will be sold.

Also unless you have children you only get a studio & up to a one bedroom with kids.

I guess that's a very recent development. We've lived in and been offered 1 bedrooms and have friends who lived in a 2 bedroom sans kids.