Family friendly towns near Gaithersburg (Baltimore, Germantown: sale, crime, homes)

[bargainmom]

I still disagree, I do NOT think Montgomery County is a good place to raise children unless you are ultra-rich. If you can afford to pay $800,000 for a single family house in a decent area, then maybe. You will still spend more time in traffic that you will not be able to spend with your family.

[Acts16chick]

Originally Posted by EDBMom

Hi,
I find all your input really valuable as someone who might be moving to the area. My husband is considering taking a job in Gaithersburg. We would need to find a home somewhat close to that city but as I have looked at the areas and the homes for sale, it's hard to guage what towns would be best for us. We'd like to buy a newer 4-bedroom home in the $550K-$650 price range. We would like a somewhat rural town (not with homes that are within a few feet of one another.) Schools are very important and safety is extremely important to us. So, as the experts in the area, where would you suggest we look? Thank you in advance for your recommendations!

I have lived in the Gaithersburg area for the last 22 years. It is a GREAT place to live! It is about 25 minutes North of D.C. and 30 minutes south of Frederick. Frederick used to be kinda icky but in the last few years it has exploded and now the commute from Frederick to D.C. down I-270 in the morning can take up to 2 hours. I-270 is a nasty beast that is pretty impossible to avoid commuting to D.C. but commuting to Gaithersburg from Frederick there are many back roads you could take. I would recommend these areas near Gaitherburg:

Germantown
Darnestown
North Potomac
Clarksburg
Damascus
Dickinson
Hyattstown
Frederick

With the exception of North Potomac & Germantown all these areas are more rural (that being a good thing!) than Gaithersburg and you will get more for your money.

[Chuckinmd]

I lived in Mississippi 15 years. People down there talk about black folk the way some of you crackers talk about Hispanics in Gaithersburg. What the heck's the matter with you? I agree with the writer who said racism and bigotry are alive and well in the Gaithersburg area. Slums and barrios? I've seen those places all around the world, and Gaithersburg is a mecca and panacea of privilege by comparison. Not only is bigotry and racism alive and well, but it seems white privilege is too.

[lind1550]

For those who are not familiar with Gaithersburg at all, just know that like most cities in the DC metro area, it can vary dramatically by neighborhood. There is a HUGE difference between Old Towne Gaithersburg and the "RIO" area for example (feeds into Wooton H.S., widely regarded as one of the best high schools in the area from what I have heard). Also, some of the less desirable areas such as Old Towne are very heavily patrolled (if you drive around for 20 minutes you will see at least one police car), so while it may not be the best area it is far from lawless.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Gaithersburg has a mix of neighborhoods. I would stay away from the downtown area and especially Gaithersburg HS which is very ghetto and run-down. There are a lot of low-income housing in the area filled with illegal immigrants and ghetto people.

The area closer to Watkins Mill and Quince Orchards H.S. are very safe but its just typical suburbia if that's your thing. Montgomery Village is also a nice area with a good sense of community and nice pools.

You can also try farther up Interstate 270 in Frederick County. I've heard Urbana, Middletown, and Walkersville are nice places. Closer in in Montgomery, Damascus and Poolesville still maintain some small town feeling but the enchroachment of the suburbs is heavily affecting them.

[Tom Lennox 70]

And yeah, Montgomery County is not a good place to raise children. For one thing, the public schools teach about birth control in sex ed when they should be teaching about moral values and abstinence. Your children will have a lot of bad influences from both the snotty New Jersey and New York transplants and from the ghetto mentality of illegal aliens, which are increasingly due to our county's welcoming policies toward those ppl.

[Billiam]

Frederick is an amazing place for families. On a perfectly clear day like today, Frederick seems a little 'too' perfect. People in parks, friendly people on the streets, great resturants, Really cool shops everywhere, historic architecture everywhere you look. I think it is a great place for a family , theres always festivles here - the other day was 'indian festival' - lots of culture for some reason here too. I would recomend Frederick!

[flowerlady9]

You might want to consider Laytonsville or Damascus. More rural and you'll get more for your money. The commute during the am/pm rush would probably be 30-45 minutes. An hour on a bad day.

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by Chuckinmd

I lived in Mississippi 15 years. People down there talk about black folk the way some of you crackers talk about Hispanics in Gaithersburg. What the heck's the matter with you? I agree with the writer who said racism and bigotry are alive and well in the Gaithersburg area. Slums and barrios? I've seen those places all around the world, and Gaithersburg is a mecca and panacea of privilege by comparison. Not only is bigotry and racism alive and well, but it seems white privilege is too.

I have news for you - the black folks in Gaithersburg are none too thrilled to share what should have been a solid middle class neighborhood with non-English speaking families who are sharing single family homes with MULTIPLE family occupants.

It is not racist to comment on the sociological make-up of an area - it is simply a statement of fact.

If you wish to send your children to elementary schools where up to 80% of the children spend a large portion of their day in ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) - where the non-English speaking parents do not participate in PTA because they can't speak English - and there are high birth rates in addition to the multiple family households so the schools are even MORE crowded than they demographically SHOULD be - AND you wish to pay MONTGOMERY COUNTY rates for such a living situation you are welcome to it.

[Florida-Mder]

Frederick is an amazing place for families. On a perfectly clear day like today, Frederick seems a little 'too' perfect. People in parks, friendly people on the streets, great resturants, Really cool shops everywhere, historic architecture everywhere you look. I think it is a great place for a family , theres always festivles here - the other day was 'indian festival' - lots of culture for some reason here too. I would recomend Frederick![

I second that notion. Frederick has a lot going for it.

However, the commute may get a little dicey - over an hour on 270. But it will very on a day to day basis.