New to MD: Silver Spring or College Park? (Greenbelt, Takoma Park: apartment complexes, crime)

[Horsham]

I will be starting a new job in Silver Spring. Being alone in DC (as a mid-aged professional), I am looking for a decent studio/small apt to live. Since I'll likely fly in and out of DC on a weekly basis, I am considering to live very close to a metro station so I can directly access the airport by subways (and leave my car behind). I am considering either Takome, Silver Spring or Forest Glen stations on the Red Line, OR Prince George's Plaza, College Park, or Greenbelt stations on the Green Line. Which area is generally regarded as safer and nicer? I would appreciate any advise.

[anglophile]

The Red line is nicer and I would recommend all three of the red line locations over p.g plaza and greenbelt. College Park right by the metro maybe, but I would still prefer the red line.

What is your budget?

What airport will you be flying out of? Public transit to BWI and Dulles require either metro to bus or metro to train (BWI). Only National is right on the metro. If you are flying out of Dulles I don't think that public transportation from MD will be very fun.

[Horsham]

Thanks Anglo.
From what I understand, a studio in Silver Spring near metro may be around $1200-1300 a month, which is OK with me (I prefer of course to pay less, but don't really want to sacrifice safety) . Are there substantial differences among the three red line stops in terms of neighborhood quality?

I will mostly use DCA for getting in/out of DC.

[anglophile]

The difference is not so much in safety but in feel. Downtown Silver Spring is very urban and built up. Takoma Park, particularly old town is funky. The area by Forest Glen is suburban. I would say the safety is about a wash. The red line is fine for a Reagan commute, except when you have to go really late at night or early in the morning

[NEWTOSFLA]

Originally Posted by Horsham

I will be starting a new job in Silver Spring. Being alone in DC (as a mid-aged professional), I am looking for a decent studio/small apt to live. Since I'll likely fly in and out of DC on a weekly basis, I am considering to live very close to a metro station so I can directly access the airport by subways (and leave my car behind). I am considering either Takome, Silver Spring or Forest Glen stations on the Red Line, OR Prince George's Plaza, College Park, or Greenbelt stations on the Green Line. Which area is generally regarded as safer and nicer? I would appreciate any advise.

You can find a very nice apartment near the Silver Spring or Forest Glen Metro Station......please don't even consider COLLEGE PARK,GREENBELT,PG OR TAKOMA PARK.....Silver Spring is more upscale and Forest Glen a bit suburban but really nice

[tonyc]

Originally Posted by NEWTOSFLA

You can find a very nice apartment near the Silver Spring or Forest Glen Metro Station......please don't even consider COLLEGE PARK,GREENBELT,PG OR TAKOMA PARK.....Silver Spring is more upscale and Forest Glen a bit suburban but really nice

Hey....go back to Weston/Parkland/Davie/Coral Springs and hang....

[scrapper105]

I really must object to the previous poster who steered you away from College Park, Greenbelt, PG (County) or Takoma Park.

We live in University Park, which is located in Prince George's County. My husband travels a great deal and finds it fairly easy to get to BWI or DCA. Different parts of University Park are about a mile from the Prince George's Plaza Metro Station or about a mile from the College Park metro station depending on where you live. When my husband flies out of DCA he walks to the PG Plaza metro and takes the metro to DCA. When he flies out of BWI he walks to the PG Plaza metro, takes the metro to Greenbelt and then the BWI bus to BWI. He prefers flying out of BWI - finds it is typically a quicker trip over all.

Other neighborhoods/developments with easy proximity to the green line stations you reference are:
University Town Center apartments: near PG Plaza metro
College Park: south College Park is near the College Park Metro, north College Park is near the Greenbelt metro
Berwyn Heights is not very convenient to either metro.

In all of these areas (and frankly anywhere in the DC metro region) you're going to have petty crime, like car break-ins. So I wouldn't take anybody's word for it that a particular area is safe or unsafe. Look at the specifics of the crime statistics.

[cpterp]

Originally Posted by NEWTOSFLA

You can find a very nice apartment near the Silver Spring or Forest Glen Metro Station......please don't even consider COLLEGE PARK,GREENBELT,PG OR TAKOMA PARK.....Silver Spring is more upscale and Forest Glen a bit suburban but really nice

What's wrong with College Park, Greenbelt et al? Silver Spring may be more expensive, but not all of it is more upscale. Greenbelt is one of the nicest areas to live in Maryland, and College Park isn't bad either. Granted I would live in Silver Spring if all areas cost the same to live in. Takoma Park borders Silver Spring, I used to commute there, and it's a nice community. The only community above I would try to steer clear of is PG Plaza since it may look nice, but the crime isn't worth it.

[scrapper105]

Hey cpterp, watch it. I live 1 mile from PG Plaza and my house is worth over 500K !!! But agreed, the garden style apratment complexes IMMEDIATELY to the north and east of PG Plaza are probably not wise choices.

[scrapper105]

Originally Posted by scrapper105

the garden style apratment complexes IMMEDIATELY to the north and east of PG Plaza

oops - meant to say that the garden style apartment complexes to the north and WEST of PG Plaza are likely not the safest of areas.