Hagerstown vs. Frederick (Baltimore, Boonsboro, Middletown: transplants, apartment, insurance)

[Kentuckyyank]

I may have a chance to get a job in Fort Detrick, Maryland and was wondering what would be the better place to live, Frederick or Hagerstown?

Could anyone please list the good and bad for both places for things such as shopping, outdoor recreation (golf mainly), cost of living, insurance, taxes, housing, etc.

I know that Frederick is much closer, but I would not mind a 30-45 minute each way commute to live in a nicer lower crime area.

Thanks.

[yamborac]

I live in Hagerstown, but I visit Frederick periodically and I think just about anyone would agree that Frederick is much nicer than Hagerstown. Hagerstown is mostly a blue collar town and the downtown area lacks the charm of downtown Frederick. My wife and I moved to Hagerstown on a lark 6 years ago from the DC area, and while we have a beautiful victorian house in an historic neighborhood, and we met some great people, we are moving to the Baltimore area to be in a more cosmopolitan place and to be closer to our kids. There just isn't much going on in Hagerstown and we hoped that it would turn into a western version of Frederick, but it never did.

As for Frederick, it has a lovely historic area with great shops and restaurants. There's a college in town and housing is cheap by DC standards there (historic homes in the city are pricey). Crime isn't a problem other than in a few isolated areas. I would recommend Frederick in a heartbeat. I believe I was in Oceanside several years back (near camp pendleton?) and Frederick compares nicely to it (other than the lack of a beach). If you get out of the downtown area, it can be a little redneck, but overall a nice city. It's definitely worth looking into.

[westsideboy]

Frederick is more gentrified and there is more to do. Hagerstown is cheaper and is less influcened by the sprawl from D.C. and Baltimore. Both places overall are a mix of urban, suburban, and rural. Of the two, I would recommend Frederick if you can afford it.

[carebear1970]

Well if you want to play with the parking lot of 70 going down South Mountain in the morning live in Hagerstown. Personally, I'm moving out of Frederick. It suks here. It's not cheap to live here trust me. I pay 1300 for a 1 bdrm apt so I dont' see how anyone can say that is cheap when a few years back you could get a 3 bdrm for the same price.

[All Downhill]

Frederick is nicer by far. Hagerstown gets junked up by WV people all the time and that alone would keep me from living there. I'd love to get a studio apartment in downtown Frederick but I can't afford it.

[carebear1970]

Hagerstown is nice. I like it better than Frederick. And Martinsburg in West Virginia is mostly transplants from Maryland because it's cheaper there and they commute all the way down the road.

[chipmunk226]

I live in Hagerstown and i like it better then Frederick. My husband was stationed at Detrick and we couldn't wait to leave. The traffic is miserable and its overcrowded. Not to mention you have to go all over to shop and sit in traffic trying to get there.

Hagerstown has a BEAUTIFUL city park and has at least 3 golf courses within a few miles of the city. We have the Prime Outlets, a Walmart SuperCenter and almost every other store you can think of. A new home in Hagerstown would be 50-100k less then what you would get in Frederick.

[cutgarden]

You could also check out Boonsboro, Middletown, etc going up Alt 40. Only if you like being out in the boonies though. A friend lives outside Sharpsburg and just loves it. It's beautiful up in the mountains. As cities go, Frederick has a lot of old, neat sections to it, and like any city will have it's problems too.

[Billiam]

Frederick is much nicer looking. More kept up than Hagerstown. Traffic is not bad like someone says. Its not like DC. Hagerstown has better traffic, but fredericks really isn't that bad. Frederick is not overcrouded. Frederick also has Great parks. it also has mountains, unlike hagerstown, where you can hike - beatuiful hike and bike rides. Lots of great shops in downtown . countless shops- downtown is amazing, hargerstown is nice, but not as nice as fredericks. Frederick has 2 golf courses. Houses cost much less in hagerstown, but theres more to do in frederick and it takes shorter if you want to go for DC for the day or baltimore or even Philly. a downer is that Frederick Towne mall sucks, but FSK mall is ok. Also., there is more history and historical sites in frederickAnd Ft Detrick is way closer its in city limits. mabey im bias though. Hagerstown isn't that bad though. Crime is nothing to worry about. Ive never had an experience here. crime has only come recently into really just 1 or 2 areas of the city btw

[trying2moveup]

If you are really serious about moving to Frederick, I literally live across the street from the base on the west side of town. Nice area. That being said, it is within the city limits and you will be paying Frederick city taxes which are not cheap.
On the flip side you are 2 miles from Baker Park and all the attractions of downtown Frederick, of which there are many.
And if you are working at Ft. Detrick, you are 5 minutes from work.

PM me if you are serious because we are considering selling our townhouse. We are the original owners and it is less than 10 years old.

Good luck!