Studying @ UMD.. where to stay (with family) (Silver Spring, Bethesda: section 8, apartment complex)

[cattwl]

I will be moving to Maryland (with my spouse and a pre-k child), attending Graduate school at UMD.

Can I have some recommendations on where I should stay? I will be renting an apartment (~1K). I do not mind a ~20 minute drive.

Some places I have in mind
Beltsville
Bowie
South Laurel
North Bethesda
Rockville
Gaithersburg

Thanks so much!

[khelawanj]

Bowie doesn't have a lot of apartments, the closest apartments near UMD are not that nice. I would NOT rent in Greenbelt or beltsville, but downtown Silver Spring is nice and has more upscale apartments. Rockville, Bethesda and especially Laurel and Gaithersburg are pretty far.

[cattwl]

I thought Beltsville is a nice place? (I read). I rather not stay in Silver Spring.. will prefer some place off the city area. Is it really bad to drive from Montgomery County? I understand that my classes shouldn't start that early and some are actually in the evenings.

I have seen apts in Gaithersburg/Bethesda and they look really nice.

Thanks

[khelawanj]

Bethesda is really nice. When you say stay off the city, what do you mean? Because there is not much difference between Silver Spring and Bethesda and other places you mention. Basically PG and Montgomery County border DC so it is still very city-ish. It depends where in Montgomery County you are commuting from. The drive can be 10 minutes or it can be an hour. If you are on the highway 495, traffic is always an issue. Where are you coming from? Beltsville has some nice parts, but I certainly would not rent there. I know the areas where UMD students rent in Beltsville and they are not very nice, and pretty much in the ghetto. I used to live near there and there was always a lot of crime. Do you have specific apartments you are looking at? I can probably be of better help that way.

[lscalder]

Beltsville is nice what are you talking about. People tend to give advice about where they used to live 5-10 yrs ago and donot realize that places change. Bethesday is very expensive to rent. I donot think you will find any apts in Bethesda for 1k a month. Bowie is not know for renting but if you do rent the apartments are very upscale and nice. You might be able to find something in that price range in Bowie. Gaithersburg is fr from the university. Living in Gaithersburg while commuting to the University would be a big mistake. Gaithersburg is know for traffic so is Bethesda,Rockville. Try GreenBelt

[laurelengineer]

Try to rent a house in berwyn heights. Good school for your young one and peaceful secluded atmoshphere for you and your wife. All single-family ranchers plus public tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, lots of trails and lake artemesia. If that's too pricey, hands-down the best apartment complex nearby is University square in old-town greenbelt - also close to trails, tennis courts, ball fields, and beach volleyball courts, greenbelt lake, greenbelt park, etc. You'll be extremely happy and safe at either place and both are close to the university. The latter is further away but there is a UM shuttlebus that goes there. Having lived/visited both places often, always found both areas very mellow and easy to live in.

[khelawanj]

Originally Posted by lscalder

Beltsville is nice what are you talking about. People tend to give advice about where they used to live 5-10 yrs ago and donot realize that places change. Bethesday is very expensive to rent. I donot think you will find any apts in Bethesda for 1k a month. Bowie is not know for renting but if you do rent the apartments are very upscale and nice. You might be able to find something in that price range in Bowie. Gaithersburg is fr from the university. Living in Gaithersburg while commuting to the University would be a big mistake. Gaithersburg is know for traffic so is Bethesda,Rockville. Try GreenBelt

Where in Beltsville are you talking about? As I said in my earlier statement, some areas of Beltsville are nice. However, this person is trying to rent an apartment and the area where someUMD students rent is not that nice. The corner of Powder Mille Rd,and Cherry Hill Rd. and in that general area is not really nice to me. But I guess everyone has different taste. And I lived there 3 months ago. Not 5 years.
Bethesda is expensive to rent. Silver Spring I think is moderately priced. I live in Bowie and Bowie is very nice but I have not seen any apartments that are within 20 minutes to UMD.

[cattwl]

Any comments on Hampton Point Apartments and Hampton Hollow Apartments or Knights Bridge? Are these places nice / safe?

Thanks!

[khelawanj]

My friend lived in Knight's Bridge and didnt have any problems but that area does have a lot of crime. I dont know about the other ones though...they might be in the same area. They sound familiar. That area is called Briggs Chaney is in northern Silver Spring which is an easy commute to UMD. I think that safer apartments would be located in the heart of Silver Spring. I used to live about 5 minutes from there, and there was always some sort of crime off of Castle Blvd...which is where Knights Bridge is located.

[lscalder]

Knights Bridge is drug infested because majority of the apartments are section8. I use to visit Briggs Chaney alot and its a lot of people hanging out. not everyone living on section 8 are bad people but it was some house hold where no one works.