Baltimore

Best Baltimore suburbs for families

Ranked on a families weighting: schools at 30%, amenities within two miles at 20%, and the four poll questions about children, safety and sidewalks at 20%. Cost still counts, at 15%. The full weighting is shown at the bottom, and it is not the same as the overall score.

Updated Sep 2026·58 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Aerial View of Columbia, MD. Merriweather Post Pavilion in center top of image.
Columbia$497k median · 27.9 min commute
Schools AAmenities BResidents inactive
77
Family score
overall 71 B−
2
Main Street and Church Lane in Ellicott City
Ellicott City$662k median · 28.2 min commute
Schools A−Amenities B+Residents inactive
76
Family score
overall 72 B−
3
Aerial view of the US 29/MD 216 interchange in September 2018
Scaggsville$669k median · 29.6 min commute
Schools AAmenities CResidents inactive
73
Family score
overall 74 B
4
North Laurel, Maryland in August 1998. All Saints Road looking southwest from approximately Whiskey Bottom Road (not shown). Apparently, from bottom: Whiskey Bo
North Laurel$450k median · 27.7 min commute
Schools AAmenities CResidents inactive
71
Family score
overall 69 B−
5
Buildings in Westminster, Maryland.
Westminster$338k median · 28.5 min commute
Schools B+Amenities BResidents inactive
71
Family score
overall 61 C
6
Intersection of Beechwood Road and Bonnie Branch Road
Ilchester$532k median · 27.6 min commute
Schools AAmenities C−Residents inactive
71
Family score
overall 71 B−
7
annapolis, boutiques, restaurants and cafes are located. the weather was crappy Location: Annapolis
Annapolis$549k median · 29.5 min commute
Schools C+Amenities A−Residents inactive
71
Family score
overall 67 C+
8
Eldersburg$494k median · 34.2 min commute
Schools B+Amenities C+Residents inactive
70
Family score
overall 65 C+
9
Elkridge Furnace Inn on Furnace Avenue in Elkridge, MD.
Elkridge$454k median · 27.4 min commute
Schools AAmenities D+Residents inactive
70
Family score
overall 67 C+
10
Sign, Welcome to Glen Burnie, Maryland, with plaques for local civic organizations.
Glen Burnie$349k median · 27.3 min commute
Schools C+Amenities BResidents inactive
69
Family score
overall 63 C+
This list's weighting
Schools 30%Amenities 20%Resident poll (Q2, Q5, Q6, Q8) 20%Cost of living 15%Housing 10%Commute 5%

Poll components only count for places with eight or more resident responses; for the others the remaining weights re-normalise to 100%.

Other Baltimore lists
Most affordable Baltimore suburbsBest Baltimore suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown BaltimoreMost walkable Baltimore suburbsBest Baltimore suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Baltimore suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Columbia (Powerhawk5k · CC0); Ellicott City (Scott Saghirian · CC BY 2.0); Scaggsville (Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0); North Laurel (FlugKerl2 · CC BY-SA 3.0); Westminster (Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0); Ilchester (Scott218 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Annapolis (Flickr user: high limitzz https://www.flickr.com/people/highlimitstudio/ · CC BY 2.0); Elkridge (Scott Saghirian · CC BY 2.0); Glen Burnie (Djembayz · CC BY-SA 3.0).