Good Schools? Nice neighborhoods? (Baltimore, Columbia: house, private school, contractor)

[goingeast]

Hi my family and I are thinking of relocating to Maryland after living out west for a few years.

We have 3 kids under the age of 5 and wanted any suggestions for decent neighborhoods to live in in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County?

We're looking for a place that is fairly safe, schools are doing above average, and the people are friendly...am I asking for too much? I don't want to live in too snooty snoot of a neighborhood...would rather be around down to earth folks..also we can't afford private school so a public school with lots of parent involvement would be great!

Thank you for your help!

[tercel95]

I don't know if it is a possibility for you but you should check out Calvert county. It would be much cheaper than any of the areas you mentioned, the schools are consistently ranked some of the best in the state, it is very laid back, there is very little crime. Check out the statistics on Patuxent High school. Its one of the best in the state. Great staff, facilities, marching band, football team, the NJROTC unit was ranked 3rd in the nation.

[goingeast]

thank you for the reply, yes I thought it may be asking too much..we really have our heart set on baltimore county and howard county....more specifically catonsville and maybe towson...but I've been reading posts on places like columbia and ellicott city where the schools are great the people may be alittle snooty(no offense)...calvert county seems to far for us...
I actually lived in baltimore city for a few years when I was young and didn't have kids....so now it's a different ballgame when you have little ones! have to think about schools, safety, etc...ugh

thanks again and any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[tercel95]

Columbia is a little too crowded for my taste. Ellicott city is nice though, just much more expensive than Calvert county. Just out of curiosity what would you be "too far" from in Calvert county? Do you just like living in the city? I am originally from Olney (just north of Silver Spring) and I would much rather live down south. There is so much less congestion and crime. There are plenty of jobs down here, I'm not sure what you and your husband do for a living but there is a Navy base within close proximity. I work for a defense contractor down here.

For what its worth I don't think it gets any safer in MD than down here. From going to school in Montgomery county and going to school in Calvert county, there are so many less fights and other nonsense that I had to deal with in Mo county. I am still young (21) but if I had kids I would much rather raise them down here. Look at the statistics for Calvert County and I think you will be impressed. Its not quite the best kept secret it used to be but its still much less crowded than up north. Think about this, for the same amount of money you could get a bigger house down here with more land and a huge yard for your kids to play in. (sorry I try to sell the area, its really nice down here)