Crofton, Odenton, Serverna Park, Laurel??? (Baltimore, Annapolis: crime, homes, transfer)

[autiger01]

Spoke with our relocation agent today and these were the 4 areas he recommend we focus on, based on what we are looking for (single family home with finished basement in a family friendly area, safe, good elementary schools, for around $550k).

Could anyone who lives in Crofton, Odenton, Serverna Park or Laural please give me a description and pros/cons of any which you are familiar with?

Trying to determine what each town looks like, small town feel or not, good shopping/restaurants, children activities/play grounds/parks, good hospitals, what the ppl are like as far as being friendly/attitude, which are more family oriented, safest area, best bang for your buck, etc.

We are heading up next week to meet with an agent and want to try to narrow it down to 1 or 2 areas. Thanks so much!!!!

[mbieber1029]

personal rankings:

1. SP
2. crofton
3. Odenton
4. Laurel

[NJ2MDdude]

Odenton is a transient community with many federal employees and military personnel. I believe its two largest subdivisions are Piney Orchard and Seven Oaks, with the former being considered more "upscale." It lacks a small town feel, because there is no true center. Essentially, it's a series of subdivisions held together by the military base. The strip shopping centers along Route 175 across from the base look slum-like and suffer from deterioration. There are several boarded store fronts. The residents don't appear friendly, but that is very typical throughout the DC area.

[bande1102]

1) Crofton--especially along the Parkway (not really a parkway, but a small circular road), small town feel, old towne has its own small police department, parks, active community for the kids, across rt 3 (main artery) lots of shopping at Waugh Chapel--new elementary school just opened this year. Easy access to a small medical center as well as an urgent care center.

2) Severna Park--haven't lived there, do drive through, ok but lots of traffic congestion

3) Odenton--lived there before Crofton and don't like the strip malls; but did like Piney Orchard shopping center and some of the neighborhoods. Very transient.

4) Laurel--used to live there years ago and not a fan

Hospitals: if you stay in AA county (Crofton, SP, Odenton) you'll have access to Anne Arundel Med Center, Baltimore Washington Medical Center. I like these hospitals alot--especially AAMC. If you're in Laurel--nearest hospital would probably be Laurel Regional Hospital. My personal experience--I don't care for this hospital very much. I much prefer AAMC or BWMC.

Just my 2 cents.

[minntwins5]

Severna Park is a great city. Most people who live in SP commute to either Baltimore/DC or Annapolis. Severna Park is known as an "upscale area" - average home around 572,000. Many nice new neighborhoods and older neighborhoods. The Severna Park public school system is outstanding from elementary to high school and the private schools (Severn School -very pricy and St Johns (K-8?) are also very good. Severna Park High school has a reputation of being one of the top schools in the state with very high test scores. I know when I graduated from SP, my senior class of 400+ had 99% graduation rate, and a 99% of the seniors went on to 4 year colleges. It is also known as having outstanding sports programs, very competitive.

Odenton has some very nice areas around Piney Orchard Parkway, lots of nice, good size homes.

Laurel is a bit more transient. It would be last on my list of the four. Crofton is also a nice community, but I have heard crime is on the rise in Crofton.

Take a peak at Crownsville too, thats a great community with some beautiful homes.

[wickednoodle]

Severna Park, without hesitation. We've lived here for two and a half years and have loved it! The schools are fantastic. The prices on homes have come down enough that you should be able to find something (ours is going on the market in the next week for $539...lol...my husband was transferred or we wouldn't be moving). It's also nice to be so close to Annapolis; we go there for dinner often.

Good luck!

[engine750wife]

Severna Park, hands down. For your price range you're going to find something for sure. My only down fall for Severna Park is that it's busy and has terrible traffic all the time due to the amount of people who live there and the ample shopping. My husband is a firefighter for Earleigh Heights in Severna Park so I spend quite a bit of time there.

[Njrover0216]

I too have to push for Severna Park. Beautiful area, great schools, local shopping, close to everything, great community center. The person that said traffic, there is not traffic here? Maybe a little bit on Benfield Rd during rush hour, but maybe adding an extra 10 minutes onto your drive, only because it brings you straight through SP. If you dont already have an agent we used this one married couple and they were awesome. Not pushy but on the ball.

[Neno1212]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

I too have to push for Severna Park. Beautiful area, great schools, local shopping, close to everything, great community center. The person that said traffic, there is not traffic here? Maybe a little bit on Benfield Rd during rush hour, but maybe adding an extra 10 minutes onto your drive, only because it brings you straight through SP. If you dont already have an agent we used this one married couple and they were awesome. Not pushy but on the ball.

Can you provide the name of the agent who is not pushy.
Thank you,
Neno1212

[engine750wife]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

I too have to push for Severna Park. Beautiful area, great schools, local shopping, close to everything, great community center. The person that said traffic, there is not traffic here? Maybe a little bit on Benfield Rd during rush hour, but maybe adding an extra 10 minutes onto your drive, only because it brings you straight through SP. If you dont already have an agent we used this one married couple and they were awesome. Not pushy but on the ball.

Severna Park runs right between Route 2 (Ritchie Hwy) and Vetrans Hwy. Good luck NOT finding bumper to bumper traffic on both at ALL times of the day . Benfield Blvd. runs through part of Severna Park and is very busy as well because of all the housing and its proximity to I-97. From a Fire Department point of view, the intersection of Vetrans Hwy. and Benfield Blvd. in Severna Park is one of the deadliest intersections in the state.