Baltimore, MD Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Baltimore Crime

Is Baltimore safe?

Baltimore's safety picture is more nuanced than headlines suggest. Of the 254 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 70% earned a Grade A or B, meaning the majority of the city's residential areas carry a relatively low crime burden. Specifically, 29.1% of neighborhoods scored an A and 40.6% scored a B. On the other end, only 13% of neighborhoods fall into the D or F range — though those areas do require meaningful caution. Neighborhoods like Johns Hopkins Homewood (A+, median income $62,995), Guilford (A+, median income $218,742), and Blythewood (A+, median income $252,471) consistently rank among the safest. Contrast those with Oldtown (Grade F) and Poppleton (Grade F+), where crime rates are significantly elevated. The city-wide safety rating lands at a moderate C, and the overall crime grade is D+, reflecting the drag that a concentrated set of high-crime neighborhoods places on the citywide average.

What is the crime rate in Baltimore?

Baltimore's overall crime grade for 2026 is D+, though the city-wide neighborhood safety rating averages out to a moderate C across all 254 neighborhoods studied. Breaking that down: 29.1% of neighborhoods (74 total) received an A, and 40.6% (103 neighborhoods) received a B — together accounting for seven in ten Baltimore neighborhoods. A further 17.3% (44 neighborhoods) sit at a C, indicating moderate crime levels. At the lower end, 11% of neighborhoods (28 total) graded D, and a notable 5 neighborhoods (2%) received an F. The highest-crime areas include Oldtown (F), Madison Park (F+), Perkins Homes (F+), and Poppleton (F+). Baltimore's 7.6% unemployment rate and 20% poverty rate are consistent with research linking economic stress to elevated property and violent crime in specific corridors, which helps explain why grade disparities between wealthier neighborhoods like Wyndhurst (A+, median income $184,224) and lower-income areas are so pronounced.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore?

Ten Baltimore neighborhoods earned the top A+ safety grade in 2026, spanning a range of community types. Blythewood leads with the highest median household income among safe neighborhoods at $252,471 and a population of 977. Guilford is notable for combining a large population (3,784 residents) with an A+ grade and a $218,742 median income. Loyola / Notre Dame (pop. 1,157, income $191,145) and Wyndhurst (pop. 894, income $184,224) also rank at the top. For those seeking A+ safety at more accessible income levels, Johns Hopkins Homewood (income $62,995) demonstrates that top safety grades aren't exclusive to the wealthiest zip codes. Other A+ neighborhoods include Bellona / Gittings ($171,203), The Orchards ($170,456), Evergreen ($107,012), Locust Point ($151,514), and the notable outlier Penn / Fallsway (pop. 6,027, income $17,053) — which earns an A+ despite a very low median income, suggesting strong community or institutional factors at play. Combined, these neighborhoods represent the upper tier of Baltimore's 74 Grade-A neighborhoods (29.1% of all analyzed areas).

Is Baltimore a good place to live?

Whether Baltimore is a good fit depends heavily on neighborhood selection. The city's median household income of $52,164, median home value of $167,452, and median rent of $1,094 make it comparatively affordable for a major East Coast metro — particularly relevant given that 70% of its 254 analyzed neighborhoods grade A or B for safety. However, a 20% poverty rate and 7.6% unemployment rate create real economic headwinds in certain corridors, and neighborhoods like Charles North (D-) and Madison Park (F+) reflect those pressures in their crime grades. For families, professionals, and students, areas such as Guilford, Blythewood, and Loyola / Notre Dame — all graded A+ — offer strong safety profiles alongside Baltimore's well-documented cultural assets, including its waterfront, universities, and medical institutions. The city's overall crime grade of D+ is weighed down by a concentrated group of high-crime neighborhoods that account for just 13% of the total, meaning that informed neighborhood selection can put most residents in a B or better safety environment. As with any large city, due diligence using current crime map data is essential before committing to a specific address.

Which Baltimore neighborhoods have the highest crime?

Five neighborhoods in Baltimore received a Grade F in 2026, representing the 2% of analyzed areas with the most elevated crime levels. Oldtown is the only neighborhood to receive a straight F — the lowest possible grade. Madison Park, Perkins Homes, and Poppleton each received an F+, indicating serious but marginally less severe conditions than Oldtown. Charles North grades at D-, placing it just above the F tier but still among the 13% of Baltimore neighborhoods classified as higher-crime (combined D and F grades). These five neighborhoods, while representing a small fraction of the city's 254 analyzed areas, contribute disproportionately to Baltimore's overall D+ crime grade. Residents and visitors to these areas should consult the most current crime map data and exercise heightened situational awareness. It's worth noting that even within higher-crime ZIP codes, block-level conditions can vary, and the crime map's street-level detail is the most reliable tool for granular assessment.