Commuting to Ft. Meade possible? (Baltimore, Columbia: apartment, condos, crime rates)

[swallowthstars]

It looks like I'll be working at Ft. Meade later this year (military) and really, really do NOT want to live in the surrounding area (I keep hearing about abysmal crime rates and general discontent and generally don't like living around military). I'd rather live somewhere urban so I can walk more than have to drive. I was thinking of living in Baltimore and just commute (I'm from CA and used to commute 2 hrs one way) but I want to know if would be possible via train or how bad traffic is on the freeways? Anyone ever done this before? Thanks.

[WannaComeHome]

abysmal crime ratesin the surrounding areas, but you'd rather live in Baltimore? roftl. sorry, had to let that out.

crime rates in Baltimore are so much worse than Laurel, it's not comparable. Yes, Baltimore is very urban and has a lot of public transit. for in baltimore, and lightrail for some places around the baltimore beltway (695).

I've never heard of any metro or lightrail that goes to Ft Meade (but then I also haven't paid attention). But seriously, if you're concerned about crime, don't live in Baltimore! if you're military, why not stay on the base?

[Chadro77]

Whats wrong with Odenton or Gambrills? Maybe even Crofton, I've never really heard about any crime issues in these places. I haven't lived in Md for a long time though.

[trying2moveup]

The B/W parkway (295) will take you straight from baltimore down to NSA/Fort Meade (Rt. 32 east exit). I don't know what the traffic is like in the mornings or afternoons, but you will be driving with everyone else who live north and works in DC and comes down that way and returning with the same people. Mileage wise, it is not too far (maybe 30 miles, if that from that exit to downtown Baltimore).

But I agree with the other posters that Baltimore is going to be much more crime ridden than the area immediately around Ft. Meade- it is NOT very good - but Chadro77 pointed out some other good options for you.

Interesting how you are military but don't want to live around military, is the military culture that bad - shoot, I'd kill to live within spitting distance of where I work! Isn't it more beneficial for you to live on base, if you can, and bank your $$$

[BigDragon]

I commute to the area every day from PA. 695's west side bottleneck is the worst. Between 795 and Edmondson Ave can be a real pain in the ass sometimes particularly if the backup spills onto 795. People are very poor drivers in that area. 95 is normally nice and very fast, but sometimes it has issues right around 175. It always has problems at 495. 295 can be nice, but it suffers from people who love to drive off the side of the road and switches between 2 and 3 lanes causing problems. 70, 29, and 32 are normally good. 100 is good except east of 95. It seems to always jam up.

Have you considered Frederick? It's safer and nicer than Baltimore. It's about an hour away, but 70, 29, and 32 are normally in decent shape. If a Republican govenor gets elected, 32 might actually get extended. That's been on the back burners for a long time. Prices have started coming down in Frederick it looks like. Prices around Ft. Meade are still grossly overpriced.

Don't discount the base housing. It looks like they built new garage townhouses recently. It may not be ideal, but it'll give you a year or two to wait out price drops in the surrounding area.

[gumbo31]

I'm stationed on Fort Meade. I don't think the area is that bad. Home prices have gone down from where they were 3 or 4 years ago. You can get a nice Townhouse closeby for about $240,000. Traffic in this area is horrible. Unless you're commuting before 0630 and before 1530 you'll run into some back-ups on 295. I live in Elkridge which is only about 5 miles from Fort Meade and sometimes it takes up to 20-30 minutes to commute home from Fort Meade around 1600.

Personally I would try to live in one of the surronding areas and avoid 95, 295 .... Columbia, Howard County section of Laurel, Crofton. Prices aren't that bad and will probably continue to drop until BRAC kicks in.

[MarthaBrown]

The Piney Orchard area of Odenton is very nice and a quick commute to Ft. Meade. It is a planned community with single family homes, townhouses, condos and apartment, shopping in the community and nearby. Lots of walking and nature trails, 3 pools, community and fitness center too. may be worth checking into.