Diversity In Maryland? (Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring: renting, townhome, safe area)

[familymatters]

I've been reading that Accokeek's schools are pretty bad. It sounded too good to be true and maybe it was. If you have to pay for private school you might as well move somewhere with better schools and pay the higher mortgage/lease instead?

There's always a catch lol

[alido]

Western Montgomery County Md (Montgomery Village, Germantown, newer developments in Clarksburg) was very diverse. It had good schools, a good commute, and was financially obtainable a few years ago. My spouse drove to PG County for a job, I took the metro to DC. Gradually, we found work closer to home. We enjoyed the beighborhoods in Montgomery Village, which is like a mini planned community next to Gaithersburg. It had the same concept as Columbia Md but on a tiny scale. It is between Germantown and Gaithersburg.

We moved to Washington County Md. There are pockets of old timers here, some progressive, some not. In our area all our neighbors are nonjudgemental to anyone living in the neighborhood. They are too busy working hard themselves. In this area we find folks are busy working stiffs. Our kids attend North Hagerstown High which is integrated. One child is in advanced classes, the other is in a more high-end technical program at a magnet or tech high. Friends tell us the Smithsburg High School area in Wash CO is booming w/ development. It is a diverse area. Everywhere up here is growing, pockets of very old neighborhoods next to new developments. Demographics are constantly shifting.

There are areas that are diverse and areas that are not. We aimed for safety.We then sought a place with good home values and good schools. It all geled nicely. Our kids feel the pace is a little slow but heck that is life as a teen. Different strokes for different folks, it works for us. Good Luck and have fun looking.

[familymatters]

Thanks for the suggestions Alido!

Have fun looking? Heck, my wife was up very late last night going thru all the home ads.

i wish she was this excited about me...

I'm getting jealous lol

[tiffan28]

Columbia is the most culturally diverse place in Maryland. Residents are well-educated, areas are safe, and schools are great!! I think the median income per household is $80,000 but you can get buy on $60,000 easily if you live in the older sections of Columbia (owen brown village, oakland mills village)

[morganjames]

Greetings:

It appears that no matter where you go, commute will be a great issue in the metro area, especially with you and your spouse working in DC. Columbia will make your commute special for sure!!!! Just depends on what you feel is most important at the time - commute, school, housing location.......

Good Luck...

[alido]

Agree w/ Tiffin about Columbia. Worth looking into.
Like Montgomery Village in Mont County Md there r pockets that have not aged as nicely as other areas. Some older neighborhoods r great, some have slipped a little as far as getting run down. So, the buyer has to check out the home values, safety/crime, and school quality for each neighborhood. It varies. But that is true all over after a period of time.

Definitely check out Columbia Md, I'd forgotten about it. Friends have always told us it has a lot to offer (Diversity/Good Housing Values). They liked: Dorsey Search, Kings Contrivance, Hickory Ridge or River Hill villages.

Of course, Columbia's main arteries (Is it Rt 29?) to the job hubs get pretty congested. That is why I also mentioned Germantown/Gaithersburg, it might be a little shorter commute via the metro.

What am saying, I commute from Washington County to Kensington, Md. What do I know?(LOL)
Good luck, it can be tiring but fun.

[VanDurr]

Each time a question like this or similar to this comes up I always recommend Lake Arbor. Should you like to get a real honest opinion of Lake Arbor then come out to the Community Day festivities July 7. The activities (ALL FREE) goes on from about 12:00 until ending with fireworks at 9:30 pm. There is something for everyone – and bring your swimwear. Look me up and I will glad to show you around -- ask for Van.

[howsitgoingdude3]

What's with this "diversity" kick that everyone is on? Familymatters why does it matter that your child go to school with kids that "look like her"? Is this "diversity trip" going to maker he/she smarter, better able to cope with the majority, is it going to maker her better able to handle real world situations? Is it going to raise her SAT scores?

I mean I do not see the point in getting on a diversity trip. I mean you live in the DC metro area every county you go to in this area is diverse by mainstream american standards. Hell, you want to see what it looks like to have slim to very little diversity come to the Northeast or better yet move to the midwest.

People have given you a number of places to live. Hell, you could live in Potomac and that would be diverse. It is DC there are blacks, asians, hispanic, and etc minority types all over that area no matter where you go.

Closing point diversity doesn't make anyone better or worse it is not an alph or omega to higher self-esteem, better grades, or a safer neighborhood its just the biggest catch phrase farce ever!

You can live in an all minority neighborhood if you choose and have good schools, safe environment, etc or you could live in a predominately white/asian/hispanic environment and have the same lifestyle.

[jessy0780]

On the howard county public school website, you can check out the ethnic makeup of each school, as well and look at test scores and the school's website.

[alido]

Jessy that is a good point, each county breaks down a lot of helpful statistics. The test scores and type of extras such as IB or magnet programs was also good to know.

Good to know about communities before moving, we all have unique financial and family needs. Ugh, hate the process of moving. The websites for schools, counties, towns, and real estate make it so much easier.

It is your money and family's happiness so reasearch what you can, you will know best what will be good for your family and pocketbook. Our kids are only kids once, and might as well be happy, safe, and feel comfortable. If that means being an educated consumer about demographics, schools, jobs, worship options, recreation, so much the better. I researched. Would hate to invest and find my kids hated the area or were at risk, or my spouse was miserable. Investing in a home is hard work. Picking up and relocating would be difficult.