Grow Baltimore Brief #3: Why People Move to and from Baltimore City (2015)

As the third briefing in the Grow Baltimore Project, this report explores the motivations behind residential mobility in Baltimore. Drawing on surveys, focus groups, and migration research, it identifies the key factors that attract and retain residents—including affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods, and strong community connections—as well as the factors that encourage residents to leave, such as concerns about schools, taxes, public safety, vacant properties, and quality-of-life issues. The report concludes that migration decisions are often tied to major life transitions and shaped by a combination of economic, social, and neighborhood considerations.