Diversity In Maryland? (Columbia, Ellicott City, Bowie: house, neighborhood, school)

[familymatters]

Originally Posted by 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.

Exactly! And that's why I'm not going to rush this process. Columbia sounds good, as does, Gaithersburg, Germantown and so many others.

This thread has been a big help!

[howsitgoingdude3]

Um Family Matters maybe this list complied by Forbes will help you figure out where you'll get the best buck for your dollar in terms of education. Most of the major Maryland Counties made the list, but you can obvioulsy guess which one did not.

Anyway enjoy hope this helps your search for a better environment

Best And Worst School Districts For The Buck - Forbes.com

[KodakMoment]

Originally Posted by familymatters

Hello Board -

We really need your help.

I've been lurking and reading your posts and it's terrific that people are "telling it like it is". Please tell us like it is. I have a family of 4 and we are currently renting a townhome in Largo, MD. This area is starting to go down hill, actually it's been going downhill for a while and we're fed up. We've been wanting to move for over a year now, luckily recently I was offered a full-time position with the company I've been contracting with for over a year! We're very excited to move on with our lives. My wife and I are both professionals who work in downtown DC so commuting is an issue.

Here's the rub. Many of the areas recommend here aren't very diverse. My wife and I want our son and daughter to not feel alienated living in an environment where no one looks like them. So ....can anyone suggest some areas where there's a good mix of race and cultures, but still safe good environments to raise a family?

Any help/suggestions/insight you can lend will be deeply appreciated

Thanks for reading!!

Have you given any thought to the silver spring suburbs?

[Smalltownmd]

Poolesville is a great and safe place to raise a family. We've lived here for four years with no problems.

[myselfdotcom]

i would suggest college park...yes is a college nearby but commuting is nice...metro is nearby

[lscalder]

Your information regarding Largo going down is 100% wrong. Largo is becoming a very wealthy,educated,family friendly and safe area. I have not to see a run down area in Largo.

[RFMD]

Originally Posted by lscalder

Your information regarding Largo going down is 100% wrong. Largo is becoming a very wealthy,educated,family friendly and safe area. I have not to see a run down area in Largo.

He clarified that in another thread and meant to say Seat Pleasant.


Been on a hiatus?

[familymatters]

Originally Posted by RFMD

He clarified that in another thread and meant to say Seat Pleasant.


Been on a hiatus?

Yes, my mistake. Thanks for clearing that up RFMD

[luvnnyc]

I am basically looking for the exact same thing this person is looking for except my kids are in middle and high school. From my internet research Germantown seems to be diverse with good schools...any comments?

[UrbanQuest]

Another exausting list I compiled using demographic profiles of the population in the k-5 age category. This will give you some idea as to where these areas are going in the future. I have taken into account; bussing, private school attendance to give to true reflection of said communities. For example alot of the kids attending public schools are bussed in and skew the demographics for the area the school is located and I remedied that with some simple equation manipulation. So these kids are the actual ones who LIVE in the towns mentioned, regardless of where they go to school.



Washington/Baltimore Metro
Population: 8,241,912
Percentage W: 57%


1. Romney, WV 99%
2. Sharpsburg, MD 98%
3. Thurmont, MD 96%
4. Myersville, MD 95%
5. New Windsor, MD 95%
6. Lovettsville, VA 95%
7. Mount Airy, MD 94%
8. Green Valley, MD 94%
9. Sykesville, MD 94%
10. Manchester, MD 94%
11. Harpers Ferry, WV 94%
12. Smithsburg, MD 93%
13. New Market, MD 93%
14. Waterford, VA* 93%
15. Severna Park, MD* 92%
16. Middletown, MD 92%
17. Williamsport, MD 92%
18. Nokesville, VA 92%
19. Stevensville, MD 91%
20. Edgewater, MD* 91%
21. Darlington, MD 91%
22. Westminster, MD 90%
23. Boyce, VA 90%
24. Hamilton, VA* 90%
25. Centreville, MD 89%
26. Front Royal, VA 88%
27. Purcellville, VA* 88%
28. Shepherdstown, WV 88%
29. Barnesville, MD* 87%
30. Round Hill, VA* 87%
31. Poolesville, MD* 86%
32. Berryville, VA 86%
33. Charles Town, WV 85%
34. Bel Air, MD 84%
35. Brunswick, MD 84%
36. Middleburg, VA* 84%
37. Adamstown, MD 83%
38. Marshall/The Plains, VA 83%
39. Chesapeake Beach, MD 82%
40. Warrenton, VA 82%






41. Crofton, MD* 81%
42. Great Falls, VA* 80%
43. St. Michaels, MD 79%
44. Stephens City, VA 79%
45. Martinsburg, WV 79%
46. Winchester, VA 78%
47. Falls Church, VA* 78%
48. Easton, MD 76%
49. Haymarket, VA* 76%
50. Potomac, MD* 75%
51. McLean, VA* 75%
52. Spotsylvania, VA 75%
53. Urbana, MD* 73%
54. La Plata, MD 73%
55. Bethesda, MD* 72%
56. Chevy Chase, MD* 71%
57. Damascus, MD 70%
58. Leesburg, VA* 70%
59. Ashburn, VA* 70%
60. Vienna, VA* 70%
61. Ellicott City, MD* 69%
62. Towson, MD* 69%
63. Culpeper, VA 69%
64. Annapolis, MD* 68%
65. North Bethesda, MD* 66%
66. Frederick, MD 65%
67. Glen Burnie, MD 65%
68. Fredericksburg, VA 65%
69. Ladysmith, VA 61%
70. Havre de Grace, MD 59%
71. Gainesville, VA* 59%
72. Reisterstown, MD 58%
73. Fairfax, VA* 57%
74. Reston, VA* 53%
75. Bowling Green, VA 53%
76. Manassas, VA 52%
77. Rockville, MD* 50%
78. Essex, MD 50%
79. Columbia, MD* 49%
80. Arlington, VA* 48%
81. Lorton, VA 45%
82. Bowie, MD* 44%
83. Germantown, MD 35%
84. Takoma Park, MD 34%
85. Alexandria, VA* 34%
86. Woodbridge, VA 33%
87. Silver Spring, MD 27%


* indicates community has a per capita income > than 30,000 per year : The threshold in which a community would be solid upper-middle class and up