Quaint MD town (Baltimore, Ellicott City, Annapolis: low crime, houses, buying)

[njmom8]

Hi! We are heading to DC in a couple of weeks to begin a house hunt. I am looking to see if there is something we have missed...

Are there any towns, commutable to DC and Baltimore, that have a nice downtown area, a selection of nice older colonials & victorians, and a great school district?

I like downtown Annapolis- schools are no good, I like Easton- too far.

Any help would be appreciated....

[Alanboy395]

if you need schools then PG county is definitely out of the question. Try Howard County Right in btwn DC and B-more everything you want at a good price for Washimore.

[njmom8]

I don't know MD at all, is there a particular town/ city that has a downtown & older quaint homes?

Thanks for the info...

[md to nc]

In Howard County, there is Ellicott City. It is a larger suburb but has a downtown historic main street. In Carroll County, you have Westminster or New Windsor. New Windsor is a great town, very rural with a main street historic area. Many people are buying them and revamping them so some have already be updated and remodeled but some have not.

[Blaine]

Id say go for carroll County, like Westminster. Medium sized town, great older houses in the area, low crime, good schools (im proud to be a product of them.) Your only downfall of Westminster is that it has become pricey. You could go for some of the surrounding areas and save a lot of money.
I personally LOVE Mt. Airey. Old town, old homes, gorgeous countryside. There isnt a whole lot to do there, but Westminster is only about 20 mins away if you want to go out and about.

[md to nc]

You recommended Mt Airy, they are even more pricey than Westminster. The lower prices would be north and east of Westminster.

[Stormcrow73]

Mt. Airy is much easier commute to either Balto or Wash. Westminster commute to Balto isn't too bad but to DC proper is a bit much. I live there and commute to PG county and I hate it. LOVE Westminster, hate my commute. Old town Sykesville might be something to look at too. It's very small though so there probably aren't many homes available.

[Blaine]

good call on Sykesville. I grew up there as a child, and loved every minute of it. Very small town, but very safe. Im moving to WVA, but am looking for the same feel as I grew up with in Sykesville. I want to offer my kids the same childhood that I enjoyed in Sykesville.

Mt Airy is pricey, but you can sometimes find good deals on some older homes around there...and the beauty is worth the money.

Westminster to DC is a bit of a hike, but if you need a town with a bit to do in it, its definately a great place to look into.

Ellicott City and Howard County in general, that someone had mentioned, are great areas, but holy moley are they expensive!! Howard County is one of the most $$$ counties youll find in MD, but for that, you DO get the best school systems, if thats a concern for you.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Blaine

Ellicott City and Howard County in general, that someone had mentioned, are great areas, but holy moley are they expensive!! Howard County is one of the most $$$ counties youll find in MD, but for that, you DO get the best school systems, if thats a concern for you.

From what I've heard about some of the programs offered at some Montgomery county schools, I don't think I'd conclude Howard's are the BEST. In my mind, Howard merely has the best PR system. Schools are still an individual thing, there's good and bad in any county.