Gaithersburg, Maryland (Kentlands)...awesome place to live (objective post) (Baltimore: apartment, rental market)

[cory81]

Just so you know my background, I've grown up in areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, upstate New York and even in England. I've visited family in the Midwest (Illinois) and along the southern Atlantic coast (North Carolina). I've traveled many points in between. I currently live in Denver.

Maryland, specifically the Gaithersburg/North Potomac area is probably the best place out of all those places that I've lived...in my personal opinion.

It should be noted I lived in the Kentlands from 6th grade through college (living in College Park, Salisbury and Ocean City on my own too), so I was not forced to afford the lifestyle in which I grew up in. To this day, I'd have a hard time affording it.

However, if you can afford to live in the Kentlands, do it. That entire community is so well-planned and so beautiful that it crushes - CRUSHES - anywhere else I've ever lived. The people who built and planned that area did an absolutely outstanding job, and you'll see what I mean if you ever even drive through there - they don't do it justice really).

Now, the negatives:

If you are from the midwest or the south, there is no "hospitality" really. The people don't necessarily come across as warm. That doesn't mean they are mean, BUT it does mean they are less comfortable with total strangers. The people, while being wealthier than most Americans, are also more insecure, because the DC area is a very materialistic place to live so it's on the top of their mind.

For example, if you get invited to a dinner party in the Kentlands, expect to hear about how their kid was accepted into Duke and how their other one wants to be a marine biologist one day. They may say it with a warm smile, but you can't help but feel "inferior" to your neighbors at times.

The other downside to this area is the cost of living, mainly the housing and rental markets. To put this into perspective, the people in Denver think that $700+ for a *NICE* single bedroom apartment is expensive. I laugh. In the DC area, to get comparable quality, you'd pay ALMOST double that. Not quite double, but close. And again, people from the midwest think Colorado is expensive, so just imagine how they would regard Montgomery County! If you're from California or New York, Maryland will be a cakewalk for you.

However, there are lots of positives about this area. There's a lot to do. With DC and Baltimore right nearby, there's plenty of nightlife and culture all around. Higher education is abundant (Univ. of Maryland, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Virginia). Sports are big. The Redskins are the state's favorite team but the Ravens have the more rabid "hardcore" fans (I've been to both stadiums multiple times, trust me on this, the Ravens fanbase - per capita - is more diehard.) The Orioles, Nationals, Wizards, Capitals and Terps all offer great sports. Crabcakes really are awesome there. The restaurants are excellent. The shopping is diverse and excellent. There's lakes and beach all within 3 hours of you or less. Ocean City is awesome for young, single people who love to party. Philly and New York are in a manageable traveling distance away.

I could go on, but I'd be here all day. There are a lot of things I like about other parts of the U.S., but The DC Metro/Maryland area is a great place to live if:

a) you can afford it, and
b) you know you can deal with the latent smugness of the area