Baltimore is widely recognized for having one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States, frequently ranking among the most dangerous cities due to high rates of homicide, robbery, and aggravated assault. Despite recent, sharp declines in homicides—recording its lowest levels in 2025 since 1975—the city maintains a reputation for a significant violent crime, often4-5 times higher than the national average. WBFF +3
Baltimore's negative reputation is the product of multiple, interacting factors: visible crime and violence, concentrated poverty and segregation, media narratives, institutional failures, and historic economic shifts. These elements combine to create perceptions that often outlive the realities on the ground.
While there are thefts and drug-related crimes, they usually do not affect tourists or the major tourist attractions. You should comfortably visit popular areas of Baltimore like the Inner Harbor area, Fells Point and Federal Hill.
Baltimore had one of the worst riots of the antebellum South in 1835, when bad investments led to the Baltimore bank riot. It was these riots that led to the city being nicknamed "Mobtown".
Are there Dangerous Neighborhoods in Baltimore City? Yes, certain neighborhoods show higher accident and crime rates. Areas of West Baltimore, Sandtown-Winchester, and parts of North Avenue often appear in safety reports.
The migrations of Southern and Appalachian African Americans between 1910 and 1970 brought thousands of African Americans to Baltimore, transforming the city into the second northernmost majority-black city in the United States after Detroit.
Longer-term crime trends in Baltimore are more mixed. Homicides for the first half of 2025 were 56% lower than the first half of 2019, but motor vehicle theft levels were 28% higher in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019.
The neighborhood acquired its name during the second half of the 19th century, when the area was the site of butcher shops and meat packing plants to process pigs transported from the Midwest on the B&O Railroad; they were herded across Ostend and Cross Streets to be slaughtered and processed.
Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. The British hoped the loss of both Washington and Baltimore would cripple the American war effort and force peace.
It's such a special place that you really won't get it until you visit. And when you do, you'll leave with a whole new perspective. Baltimore is full of surprises, steeped in history (home of the birthplace of our national anthem!) and culture, from the gritty graffiti alley to the vast collections at our art museums.
The Walters Art Museum. 4.8. (1,494) Art Museums. Mount Vernon. The Walters Art Museum is a cultural hub in the heart of Baltimore. ...
Fell's Point. 4.5. (2,814) Historic Walking Areas. Fells Point. Dating back to the 18th century, this charming Baltimore district has cobblestone streets and a thriving culture by the waterfront.
"Five years ago, before our comprehensive strategy to address gun violence, we were losing 300 people to homicide every year," said Mayor Scott. "Thanks to this strategy, and all of the individuals across our community violence intervention ecosystem, we have reduced that number by nearly 60%.
David Hasselhoff is most well-known for his roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch – two hit tv shows which helped him secure his Guinness World Record as the most watched man on tv. Hasselhoff's great-great-grandmother emigrated with her family to Baltimore from Germany in 1865, and Hasselhoff was born here in 1952!
Why do people from Baltimore talk the way they do?
People in Baltimore talk like that due to a unique mix of historical influences, including early English settlers, Hiberno-English, Scottish, Appalachian speech patterns (from internal migration), African-American vernacular English (AAVE), and Mid-Atlantic regionalisms, creating distinct white (often Irish/Philly-like) and Black (more Southern/AAVE-influenced) accents with unique vowel sounds, like the "ew" sound for "oo," and specific terms like "hon". Isolation and segregation further solidified these linguistic features.
While tourists will most likely not encounter any kind of violent crime, including drug-related activity, especially in busy areas like the Inner Harbor, Mount Vernon, Fells Point and Federal Hill, you should still use common sense and stay vigilant of your surroundings.
Is it safe to walk around Baltimore at night? While many areas in Baltimore are safe to walk at night, it's advisable to stay in well-lit, populated areas and avoid isolated pockets. What neighborhoods should I avoid in Baltimore?
Baltimore closed out 2025 with its lowest homicide total since 1975, recording 133 homicides—down sharply from 194 in 2024. The milestone marks a dramatic shift for the city that has experienced more than 200 homicides annually since the late 1970s.
*The pattern of black neighborhoods has only expanded since 2000, but, clearly, Baltimore remains a city segregated around neighborhoods of people affected by generations of concentrated poverty by structural racism.
What is the richest black neighborhood in Maryland?
Neighborhood number one is Fort Washington, Maryland. This is one of the wealthiest majority black areas in America. Over 75% of households make six figures or more.
