Is The Orchards safe?
Baltimore, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates The Orchards as “Go”.
Gogo's take on The Orchards
“Go. The Orchards is an exceptionally quiet, safe, and affluent residential enclave in North Baltimore. While standard urban precautions against opportunistic property crime are always recommended, violent crime here is exceedingly rare.”
About the area
The Orchards is a tranquil, historic neighborhood characterized by picturesque single-family homes, mature trees, and manicured lawns. Located just south of the Baltimore County line and adjacent to affluent communities like Cedarcroft and Homeland, it offers a distinctly suburban feel within city limits.
- Affluent Enclave
- Tree-Lined
- Quiet Suburban
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in The Orchards
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 52/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes on internal roads, but traffic is light enough for easy riding; the Stony Run Walking Path and Lake Roland trails are reachable nearby by bike.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Substantially lower violent crime rates than city and national averages
- High homeownership rate with median household incomes well exceeding $120,000
- Well-maintained historic housing stock on peaceful, low-traffic residential streets
- Close proximity to cultural amenities and higher education campuses like Loyola and Notre Dame
Cons
- Bordering York Road corridor experiences occasional spillover property crimes and car break-ins
- Primarily residential with very limited commercial or dining options within the neighborhood bounds
- Car-dependent for most daily errands, groceries, and nightlife
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the interior residential streets of The Orchards, though occasional panhandling may be observed along commercial segments of the York Road corridor.
What The Orchards is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with neighbors walking dogs and joggers taking advantage of low-traffic streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very calm and safe with clear visibility and pleasant residential activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and dark with minimal vehicular traffic; walking is generally very comfortable.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely low activity with occasional vehicle movement; safe, though standard caution regarding property checks is advised.
Transit, parking and getting around
MTA Maryland operates several bus routes nearby, notably the CityLink Red and LocalLink 53 along York Road, while the closest Light RailLink station is Falls Road (about a 10-minute drive northwest).
Street parking throughout The Orchards is free, plentiful, and unrestricted on almost all residential streets, with no commercial meters or parking garages needed.
Things to do in The Orchards
- Stroll the shaded residential streets to admire early 20th-century architectural styles
- Visit the nearby historic campus grounds and arboretum of Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Explore the nature trails, birdwatching spots, and lake views at Lake Roland just minutes north
Local favorites
- The Corner Pantry · British Cafe & Bakery · 4.7★ (510)Modern cafe serving creative British-inspired breakfast, lunch, and specialty pastries just north on Lake Avenue.
- Pratt Library - Govans Branch · Public Library · 4.5★ (110)Historic branch offering community reading spaces, local history resources, and community events.
- Swallow at the Hollow · Tavern & Pub · 4.4★ (780)Longstanding neighborhood tavern on nearby York Road famous for craft beers, wings, and comfort pub grub.
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.