I am an ex-pat from MoCo (Colesville/Cloverly area) been in Balt city for nearly 40 yrs. Bolton hill is a great place to land. It can be a bit snooty, but there are also many regular people there. Many people who commute to DC live there as it is an easy walk to the train station.

Still you have to learn that you are in the city not the magic kingdom of MoCo. Crazy is everywhere here. Some funny, some sad, some scary. One thing I learned about Bolton Hill, from a friend who lived there for many decades. There are eyes everywhere. Don't be surprised to see a guy pushing a grocery cart down the alley full of patio furniture, on July 3d. He is just getting more chairs for a party in a nearby neighborhood. Chain your patio furniture to a tree. If you place furniture in the alley it will probably will be gone by the end of the day. Keep your car free from goodies, Parking is precious so get a permit for your area. Tickets and booting cars is the only thing the city does fast.

There are many many great sights to see and places to visit. Don't stay only in your neighborhood. Do some sight seeing. Find someone who will act as a tour guide.

Unlike MoCo. you will encounter MANY people from Baltimore City and the county, not as many from other counties or out of state, though they are here.

There exists friction between the City and the County. Local TV shows only the bad side of the city, which has tainted people in the county. Many in the county are 1st & 2nd generation expats from the city to the county. They hold a grudge against the city, claiming their old family neighborhood was like heaven until "those" people" moved in. In reality the city was very beat up after WWII and government rules aided whites who wanted to mover to the new suburbs, and walled off the poor blacks from moving to the suburbs or money & loans for renovation. Many Many non city residents own the derelict buildings, and not the poor in those areas. Hopkins Medical, Hopkins Uni, Uni of MD, and about 3 other business ventures are juggernauts in the city and get free land and do what they want, including being slum property owners and getting city leaders to carry their water.

Good luck and welcome to Charm City . It is a very quirky place.