Is Loyola/Notre Dame safe?
Baltimore, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Loyola/Notre Dame as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Loyola/Notre Dame
“Go. The Loyola/Notre Dame area is one of the safest and most picturesque institutional enclaves in Baltimore, heavily buffered by university security forces and affluent adjoining neighborhoods. Visitors can freely enjoy the historic collegiate grounds and leafy residential avenues, requiring only basic urban awareness along the eastern commercial edge.”
About the area
Anchored by Loyola University Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland University, this North Baltimore neighborhood is defined by collegiate Gothic and Georgian brick architecture, manicured lawns, and mature tree canopies. It offers a calm, intellectual atmosphere flanked by some of the city's most architecturally preserved residential districts.
- Collegiate
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Quiet & Green
- Suburban Feel
Walking and biking in Loyola/Notre Dame
Walk score: 65/100 · Bike score: 58/100
On-street cycling is common along neighborhood side streets, with direct access to the nearby Stony Run Trail and Jones Falls Trail just to the west.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Dedicated 24/7 university campus police and security patrols maintain low violent crime rates.
- High surrounding median household incomes and low residential vacancy rates foster exceptional neighborhood stability.
- Well-tended green spaces, arboretum grounds, and pedestrian-friendly campus paths.
Cons
- Opportunistic vehicle break-ins and porch package thefts occur on perimeter residential streets.
- Property crime and transient foot traffic increase toward the commercial corridor along York Road.
- Late-night amenities within immediate walking distance are relatively limited.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within the campus core, though minor panhandling occasionally occurs near commercial retail plazas along York Road.
What Loyola/Notre Dame is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Vibrant and very safe as students, professors, and neighborhood joggers traverse illuminated campus walkways and tree-lined sidewalks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and secure with steady campus foot traffic, open athletic facilities, and bustling neighborhood cafes.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and well-lit with active campus shuttles and private security vehicles maintaining a visible presence.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and generally safe on campus grounds, though solo walking along unlit side streets near York Road requires basic awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
MTA Maryland provides direct bus connections via the CityLink Red along York Road and the LocalLink 51 along North Charles Street. The closest MTA Light Rail station is Cold Spring Lane, located about 1.5 miles west.
Free and metered street parking is available along perimeter streets, though some residential blocks require permits during university hours; visitors can also use paid campus parking decks.
Things to do in Loyola/Notre Dame
- Walk through the scenic arboretum grounds and historic Peace Quad at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
- Catch a Division I collegiate lacrosse or soccer game at the nearby Ridley Athletic Complex.
- Take an architectural walking tour through the adjacent historic residential streets of Homeland and Guilford.
Local favorites
- Alonso's · American Restaurant & Pub · 4.4★ (1150)Historic, casual neighborhood tavern famous for its hefty half-pound burgers and laid-back community vibe.
- Zen West · Tex-Mex Restaurant · 4.3★ (750)Relaxed roadhouse-style eatery serving burritos, tacos, and craft beers with occasional live music.
- Clark Burger · Burger Joint · 4.5★ (680)Casual spot serving gourmet smash burgers, Canadian poutine, and craft milkshakes near the campus edge.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.