Williamsport MD or Hagerstown MD? (Baltimore, Frederick: fit in, for sale, apartments)
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My husband and I are looking into both places. Someone told me that the high school in Williamsport is much better. We are moving to MD from NV...again, I've posted on the Maryland threads before, but to recap the info: my hubby will be working out of the house and traveling to Philli, DC, VA, Baltimore, etc...
Where we live is not a comuting problem b/c it's not a regular 9-5 job where he will commute daily, but rather on ocasion. We have elementary and highschool age children and want to make the best decision for them.
What's the difference between Williamsport and Hagerstown? Population, traffic, rent, schools, things to do on weekends, child molestors, etc...
There really isn't much difference. Williamsport is much smaller, but borders Hagerstown. You would hardly know where one town stops and the next starts. Schools are good in Williamsport. Traffic is the same, and lots to do in the area, especially if you like the outdoors.
In my opinion, you need to come out for a visit and look around. Find a company that will rent you an apartment on a month to month lease, leave your big furniture in storage, and look around. Now is a great time to buy around here, lots of properties for sale at low prices.
Htownterp: Thanks so much. Yes, we will be going to MD in a few weeks. We are sooooo excited!!! I cannot wait to get out of this NV weather. We had 40 degrees weather this past saturday and it really upset me b/c my hubby was throwing me a bday party and the weather ruined it. We had to get the fire pit going and we were all huddling around basically hugging the fire! I don't mind snow, but this is ridiculous. We had snow about 3 weeks ago----still.
We are looking into the Brookemead apts because they are extremely big and we have a 3 bedroom 2 bath right now with a huge garage so our stuff needs to fit into wherever we are going. I am also looking at the Southview Townhomes in Hagerstown's SE area.
Do you know anything about those two places? positive or negative? The S.View townhomes are right across the street from the elem and middle school....is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Thanks again for your info. I think I've beaten this dead horse to a pulp so this will be my last question on the threads. I am sooooo greatful for everyone who has responded!
South View.....right across from elementary, middle, and high school, and no that is not a bad thing at all. I know teachers at all three schools and they all seem to like it there, say the schools are fine. Don't know much about the townhomes, but they seem ok. Close to shopping and restaurants (same exit off of I-70 as the outlets, opposite the turn for Antietam Battlefield).
Brookemead seems like a quiet complex even though it is off of I-81. Brookemead is pretty new, as in only a few years old if I am correct. Again, you are pretty close to a lot. I don't think either one of these places are bad, you will be fine. Good Luck.
Yes, based on the population, i kind of figured that one was a city and the other a small town. I am accustomed to living in both. Heck, we don't even have a wal-mart where I live now. The closest one is about 4 hrs away so any of those two places are going to be a welcoming sight. LOL
Hello
I am planning on moving to Hagerstown for a job. I am 22 and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to live or any comments on the area. I am kind of nervous about meeting people my age and such. Also, I love to bike and was wondering how bikable the city is. Thank you!
Hello
I am planning on moving to Hagerstown for a job. I am 22 and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to live or any comments on the area. I am kind of nervous about meeting people my age and such. Also, I love to bike and was wondering how bikable the city is. Thank you!
I'm assuming you are going to be looking to rent immediately upon arrival. Here is a link to a few apartments in the Hagerstown area. Hagerstown doesn't have an overwhelming amount of apartments and rental communities but that is good because the ones that are there are generally tidy and the lack of a proliferation of rental units keeps up the overall property values if you ever decide to buy.
I'm not overwhelmingly familiar with the younger crowd's stomping grounds. Hagerstown has a neat little gentrified downtown but the bar scene is not like what you would find in downtown Frederick which is like twenty-something minutes away. Hagerstown kind of is at the crossroads of colleges like Shepherd, Hood, and Frostburg State and has a lot of college age students but not a trendy college campus and surrounding scene like Shepherdstown, WV or Frederick and Frostburg. Hagerstown in and of itself is kind of a great place to raise a family. I know that sounds like a "girl with great personality" analogy but keep in mind West Virginia is right across the Potomac River and Shepherdstown, Charlestown, and Martinsburg are also within a 20-something minute drive.
West Virginia gets a bad rap nationally but one thing about WV is that pretty much anything goes there. There are some pretty wild hangout spots for an early 20s crowd (if you are into that kind of thing) but you have the benefit of those clubs, bars, and casinos not being directly in your backyard by living in MD. Hagerstown has really low crime but definitely don't expect a trendy social scene like you would see down in NW Washington DC (especially over in WV). It's just not that kind of environment in Western Maryland. But I wouldn't worry about meeting people in Hagerstown. Strangers have a tendency to strike up random conversations everywhere you go. For example, if you are wearing a sports jersey or an article of clothing that connotes a specialized interest (i.e. biking, fishing, whatever) a person with that similar interest will strike up a conversation with you about it. From my experience that is pretty much guaranteed.
Hagerstown is a very compact, high-density city that is mostly quite walkable. I'm not certain if it's the greatest for biking (but appears easy to navigate). However, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Park is just to the south of Hagerstown along the Potomac River and it seems to be the place for biking and everything else outdoors. Biking down Sharpsburg Pike to Antietam National Battlefield seems like a stretch bikers would enjoy but I just haven't seen them like I have seen in Frederick. Good luck on your new job and move!
Steelers10 is pretty spot on, but I would add that biking is a growing sport (as are most outdoor sports in Western MD) in popularity. I love the Western MD rail trail which runs for 22 miles or so west of town, and is supposed to be extended. The canal, Antietam Battlefield, and many of the country roads are good for biking. I know Hagerstown just added an urban bike trail called Hub City Bike Route which is marked, and the city is adding bike lanes to some of the roads to encourage biking. Just had a big bike race in the city a month or so ago. Also, the Cumberland Valley Cycle Club would be worth googling and tying to hook up with. I know they do rides at least once a week around the area.
As far as meeting people, I don't really know what you are in to. Join a church, get a gym membership, hit the bars, etc. You will find plenty of women are around. Sheperdstown (smaller) and Frederick (larger) are popular places for a night out, and Baltimore/DC are a little over an hour away.
Just moved to Hagerstown last year, and I by the South View apartments/townhomes, by the schools.
Good spot to be - next to the interstate, but also able to easily get to other parts of the city. S Potomac Street however, is a busy main road... only downside to that spot... I don't know what kind of people live in that complex also.
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