Thinking of moving from MASS to Urbana (Frederick: transplants, to rent)

[coachd0rkn]

Any thoughts? Are the people in VOU more friendly than up north ?!
How about the high schools ? (I am a teacher....)

[westsideboy]

What does VOU mean?

Urbana is a quickly growing suburb. 5 or 6 years ago Urbana was farms and some low density subdevelopments. It looks more like a small city now. It serves as a bedroom community for the inner suburbs in Montgomery County and D.C. The highschools in Frederick County, MD are pretty good. Urbana is one of the better ones. A new Liganore HS is being built in the area as well.

[coachd0rkn]

Sorry, trying to get the "lingo" down !

[RPJ]

I'm also planning a move to the Frederick area some time in the next 6 months. I'll be looking to rent a single family home and am concerned about utility estimates. I've heard the local power compey is sticking to everyone with a major price hike. Can you give me some advice on what to plan for utility expenses on a 3brm house with 2 young kids (4yrs and 6 yrs old)?

I'm also a native from Mass (Worcester/Millbury)....

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by RPJ

Can you give me some advice on what to plan for utility expenses on a 3brm house with 2 young kids (4yrs and 6 yrs old)?

RPJ, we have a 3BR/2BA home in Frederick City, built in '55. The power company is Allegheny Power; our elect. bill avg's about $80/mo. Oil heat runs about $150/mo Dec through Feb @ current oil prices, maybe $100 ea. for Nov and Mar. Water/sewer about $60/quarterly.

The home is pretty modest; larger homes would of course be more expensive.

[RPJ]

Thanks, that sounds alot better than some of the prices I've read (+$250), but they may be running the AC on max and/or electric heat. I'd like to find a place in the $1500 range and don't need/want to be "in" the city. There appear to be some pretty decent smaller town in the surrounding area.

[Tim Rankin]

Just to clarify, RPJ - by "in the city" I meant within city boundaries. We're sandwiched between Detrick and Rt.15, but there are numerous similar areas within city limits that are similar to ours. If you're looking for smaller towns outside city limits but within the county, there are lots of choices.

[coachd0rkn]

ANy comments on the "friendliness" of the area and residents ... especially in the Villages of Urbana ? One reason we want to leave MASS is we are tired of the rudeness, etc of the people around us ! We also have a 4 year old and a 6 year old and feel that the time is right for a better quality of life. Any thoughts ? thanks !

[westsideboy]

Urbana pretty much sprang up from nowhere, so nearly all the residents are transplants, many from Montgomery County who moved further out from D.C. As far I know the area doesn't have a reputation of rudeness, but it is certainly not a place where neighbors have lived together for decades or generations. I think it would be similar to any other upper-middle class suburb of D.C.

[Tim Rankin]

I second what WSB says, and it's hard to know how that would play out. It could mean that as transplants, newcomers will reach out to make friends. Or not. Our own experience inside Frederick city limits was a really good one, with great neighbors and a nice sense of community. I'm sure pockets of this can be found all around the city, and perhaps in Urbana too.