I lived there for a few years before moving back to Bmore. It isn't that bad. The quality of life was fine, I just got bored in Harford County.

Ideally you want to be on the west side of Rt.40. That said if you are in a house I don't think you would really have any problems with anyone. Some of the apartment complexes on the east side of 40 in Aberdeen are sketchy but its mostly drug related stuff that won't effect you if you aren't in that scene. There's some sections of Aberdeen that are really nice and up there with the better sections of Bel Air and Havre de Grace. I lived off W. Bel Air Ave and never had issues with porch pirates or feeling unsafe, my neighbors were all decent middle class people.

Make sure to grab food at Georgia's Carryout. Their soups are incredible. There's some decent shopping centers with a food store (Shoprite), Target, and Home Depot all very close to each other.