Why Did You Move Out Of Maryland.... (Baltimore, Towson: crimes, construction)

[lj42660]

The cost of living does tend to adjust but it just depends on what field you are in. I can make the same amount of money living in the south.

[Ms. New Haven]

I heard about Raleigh when my now 15 year old was a baby. Heard it was a nice place to live, lot of jobs, sort of "southern" but not the real country. Main reason I moved here was for the education opportunities for my kids. 2 now in college, 1 in high school.

Now that I'm here, seems like most of the jobs are in health care or you must have a degree or connection to get something. Pay is lower than up north but not as hectic. If I had it to do all over again, I would only move here because of the education for my kids not because of jobs. I like it here but haven't been anywhere I've loved to hang out at.

[cory81]

Originally Posted by wulfbourne

My husband and I are trying to get out of Maryland right now. It's just not for us. Both of us spent a good deal of our childhood growing up in mountains, myself in upstate NY and him in the mountains of CA. We want to get back to that to raise our children. I miss snow. I know we get a little bit at times, but not like I'm used to. Both of us have problems with the humidity in Maryland as well. For me its a trigger for my migraines, so I can't go out much in the summer. Also, I don't like my husband having an hour + commute from work in horrible traffic so that he's stressed when he gets home. And we would like to live in a place where a six figure salary allows us to get more than a small 2 bedroom townhouse, especially since we have a second child on the way. We are looking at the possibility of Colorado. They have jobs in his field that he can apply for there.

Maryland can be a great place for those who like it. My in laws like it, and they can afford it too. They have the big house, the boat to go out on the Chesapeak, the jet ski's to go have fun with too. They like the crabs and the seafood that go with living in Maryland too.
There are some things that I'll miss, but I figure I can get a little taste of it when we come back for visits. Everybody has to figure out where they will be happy. For us that's not Maryland, but I know that a lot of people wouldn't want the snow that we'll get in Colorado too. Each person had to figure out where they are happiest. I am just thankful that we live in a country that has such diverse places to live so that everyone has that choice.

I moved straight from Montgomery County to Denver, CO. It does snow more here, but the cool thing is the snow doesn't stick around long because Colorado gets 300+ days of sunshine a year and the snow melts quick. Colorado snow is nothing like upstate NY snow though, in fact I think Colorado isn't terribly more snowy than Maryland when you consider how fast the snow comes and goes in Colorado. Colorado does have a longer winter usually spanning from late October to April.

As for cost of living, Colorado crushes Maryland. Expect to pay 60% of what you'd pay in Maryland for similar quality housing.

If you are from upstate NY, one thing you'll probably dislike about Colorado is the lack of vegetation. It's a prairie in all directions, very brown, not a bunch of those full, broad-leaf trees you get up there. Don't let the mountain hype fool you, most of us Coloradans live in a prairie unless you choose to live right in the city of Denver itself, which is designed very much like the east coast (tall, broad leaf trees, leaves changing color, brick, Victorian homes lining every street, etc.). In fact the city of Denver and the rest of metropolitan Colorado...very, VERY different styles. Also, no lake life here in Colorado. Zip, zero, zilch. Google may not represent this, but if you live here you'll know it doesn't have anything like your finger lakes.

I miss Maryland though. While the DC area (where I lived) is snobby (Colorado is 100% the opposite BTW, which is great), I do like the Baltimore and Eastern Shore people in the state. The rural eastern Marylander is similar to the Coloradan. Plus you have the Bay, the beach, lots of vegetation (unlike Denver metro which is a high plains prairie in all directions, sprinkled with coniferous trees and mountains in the distance).

[sweetpotater58]

taxes, too much for a state that gives back so little to those who work. Terrible schools in DC metro area. Used to be a nice state.

[wazmlp]

for the record I still live in MD but will be going out of state when I finish school and heres why...

our state government's priorities are way outta whack
our governor is a tax raising douche
our culture & history is slowly being washed away by everything being built up
crime is skyrocketing thanks to people moving out of DC and into the suburbs
not to be racist but it seems that each year more and more immigrants (some of which are illegal) are moving to MD
traffic is getting worse and worse
politically bias and very partisan
special interest groups THRIVE in MD
much of Marylands character has been lost, only place you will find it is in historical districts and MD's countryside
and much much more

[WannaComeHome]

Like the previous poster, I too am currently stuck in MD - for another 4 years until DH retires and we get the heck out of here!!

People ask me all the time why I want to leave (we've been here for 28-30 years)..

the taxes are insane (and you get nothing for them, unless you're on one of the many social programs in which case you aren't paying that much)

too many of the drivers are rude and inconsiderate - the road rage is very scary.

The density of people crammed in Central MD is horrible.

The traffic (I went to see my nephew's school band in competition: only 30 min drive to get there, 2 hours to get home since I left at 5:30 on the beltway) can make you want to gnaw your arm off out of frustration.

Did I mention the taxes? MD even has a 'flush' tax!

the constant, knee-jerk liberalism I find every time I turn around! I actually have 2 friends who have said on more than one occasion that no republican should ever darken their door with their presence! And that's being said to friends!!!!! And no, I"m not really sure they're joking.

The politicians are crooks.

The state has so many nanny-laws it's a wonder you're allowed to choose your own clothes in the morning.

The taxes are horrible (a 50% piggyback tax for the county on what is already too much for the state?)

The weather: oh sometimes it's ok, but I miss having 4 seasons, and I hate the oppressive heat and humidity that goes way too long in the summer. I feel like I've stepped outside into some cosmic laundromat!

I'm really tired of not being able to understand what people on the phone or at restaurants (or stores) are saying when they can't be bothered to learn English - and some are native born (of various racial backgrounds) and can't be bothered to learn to speak so someone can understand them.

Did I mention the taxes?

I will miss my friends greatly, but MD can eat our dust in 4 years. ('~Home' is another state where we will retire to)

No place is perfect, but some places are more perfect than others and MD is way down that list IMO.

[Janipoo]

Oh and don't forget a big reason BGE , what a scam of a company. I don't know how people are paying them bills.

[WannaComeHome]

yep, and why on earth the phone bill needs to be higher in MD, I don't get. But every time I've changed providers, who advertise low rates, as soon as I say I'm in MD, they say 'oh, well that's going to be higher'.

[wazmlp]

Originally Posted by Janipoo

Oh and don't forget a big reason BGE , what a scam of a company. I don't know how people are paying them bills.

WSSC is a ***** too

[wazmlp]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

Like the previous poster, I too am currently stuck in MD - for another 4 years until DH retires and we get the heck out of here!!

People ask me all the time why I want to leave (we've been here for 28-30 years)..

the taxes are insane (and you get nothing for them, unless you're on one of the many social programs in which case you aren't paying that much)

too many of the drivers are rude and inconsiderate - the road rage is very scary.

The density of people crammed in Central MD is horrible.

The traffic (I went to see my nephew's school band in competition: only 30 min drive to get there, 2 hours to get home since I left at 5:30 on the beltway) can make you want to gnaw your arm off out of frustration.

Did I mention the taxes? MD even has a 'flush' tax!

the constant, knee-jerk liberalism I find every time I turn around! I actually have 2 friends who have said on more than one occasion that no republican should ever darken their door with their presence! And that's being said to friends!!!!! And no, I"m not really sure they're joking.

The politicians are crooks.

The state has so many nanny-laws it's a wonder you're allowed to choose your own clothes in the morning.

The taxes are horrible (a 50% piggyback tax for the county on what is already too much for the state?)

The weather: oh sometimes it's ok, but I miss having 4 seasons, and I hate the oppressive heat and humidity that goes way too long in the summer. I feel like I've stepped outside into some cosmic laundromat!

I'm really tired of not being able to understand what people on the phone or at restaurants (or stores) are saying when they can't be bothered to learn English - and some are native born (of various racial backgrounds) and can't be bothered to learn to speak so someone can understand them.

Did I mention the taxes?

I will miss my friends greatly, but MD can eat our dust in 4 years. ('~Home' is another state where we will retire to)

No place is perfect, but some places are more perfect than others and MD is way down that list IMO.

don't get me wrong, MD used to be nice but it's turning into a s**thole, slowly but surely, especially in Central MD, little towns are becoming suburban sprawls, only thing on your list I don't have problem with is the weather, I never minded the heat & humidity