is the Kentlands area of Gaithersburg, MD all it's cracked up to be? (Germantown: transplants, apartments)

[garine]

My family might be moving to suburban Maryland later this year. I've heard about a "walkable community" called the Kentlands in the middle of Gaithersburg, MD. Online, everything is presented as rosy, but is it?

I like the idea of an artsy, tree-hugger type community (wholes foods market noted) with some economic and ethnic diversity, but have found in my travels that those places are usually not the best for kids. I was thrown by the idea of townhouses/condos in the suburbs, which is traditionally is a sign of suburban decline. But I don't want to raise my 3 school age kids in a serile, sprawling suburb either.

How's the crime rate? the public schools? the housing? is there any gang activity? suicide rate? drug use/sales? true community connections?? are the people friendly and good-hearted?

Please clue me in.
Thanks

PS - education is very important to us and prefer to send our kids to public schools
PPS - we are college grad professionals, but not rich and mixed ethnicity--- me:caucasian, husband:hispanic

[soymabelen]

Originally Posted by garine

My family might be moving to suburban Maryland later this year. I've heard about a "walkable community" called the Kentlands in the middle of Gaithersburg, MD. Online, everything is presented as rosy, but is it?

I like the idea of an artsy, tree-hugger type community (wholes foods market noted) with some economic and ethnic diversity, but have found in my travels that those places are usually not the best for kids. I was thrown by the idea of townhouses/condos in the suburbs, which is traditionally is a sign of suburban decline. But I don't want to raise my 3 school age kids in a serile, sprawling suburb either.

How's the crime rate? the public schools? the housing? is there any gang activity? suicide rate? drug use/sales? true community connections?? are the people friendly and good-hearted?

Please clue me in.
Thanks

PS - education is very important to us and prefer to send our kids to public schools
PPS - we are college grad professionals, but not rich and mixed ethnicity--- me:caucasian, husband:hispanic

Since no one has replied yet I will give you my input. I lived in Germantown for 10 years and visited the Kentlands regularly for certain family activities, such as My Gym (little kids gymnastic place), Color Me Mine, shopping, going out for dinner and the movies etc. Overall it is a nice area and we always saw plenty of relaxed people walking around going places. As far as I know, there is a good mix of families, singles and couples, that would account for the townhouses and the condos.

I can't speak about the schools, but I think given the demographics they should be fine. I knew families who lived there whose kids went to private school, but that doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the public schools in the area, just that these families wanted smaller class sizes or a religious education for their children.

As far as diversity, there is definitely ethnic and religious diversity, not so sure about economic diversity, it is a pretty expensive area. We are also of mixed ethnicity. I am a white Hispanic and my husband is South Asian, we found many mixed race couples in the area.

Regarding crime, I don't think that is an issue in the Kentlands, not that is nonexistant, but not a problem.

I hope somebody with better knowledge of this area replies and you are able to get a better picture.

Good luck with the move.

[cpterp]

The Kentlands is probably one of the best places to live in the Germantown/Gaithersburg area. Quince Orchard HS (which I think serves most of the area) is one of the top schools in the county and the country at large. Crime is virtually non-existent. However, it is traditionally (albeit wealthy) suburbia, and be prepared to bring truckloads of cash. The area is very expensive (think $500K townhomes). I've noticed that even gas is more expensive there.

"I was thrown by the idea of townhouses/condos in the suburbs, which is traditionally is a sign of suburban decline"

In Maryland that is definitely not a sign of suburban decline. In fact Montgomery County is trying very hard to restrict growth to urbanized communites to preserve the little farmland left and reign in sprawl.

[dkf747]

I live close to there and often go to the stores there. This morning I drove through there and thought for millionth time, "This is a really nice place!" Sure wish I could afford on of those homes. It's not all townhomes. There are plenty of Single Family homes there too.

My kids go to Quince Orchard High and Ridgeview Middle School. Ridgeview is okay, and QOHS is a pretty good school. I think you won't have a problem with the schools. There are higher rated schools, but these schools are still very good.

[psychofan]

Great area. Extremely expensive. Was looking to purchase last summer, so we took a stroll around the neighborhood looking at the open houses on several Sundays, townhouses were going above $750K while single family homes were going for $900K+. Unfortunately, even with the recessed economy and "dropping" home prices, these same townhouses and SFHs are STILL around the $550K - $1M+ range.

If you think townhomes are a sign of surburbia in decline, wait till you see these THs. $700K THs that is within 5-10yrs old as signs of decline, I would take it in a heart beat.

Very little to non-existent crimes except for the random theft/car burglaries that can happen anywhere and everywhere. Seems like the community is comprised of quite educated folks. Families are what most people would described as "yuppies" in the condos and apartments, whereas starting in the mid to late 30s to 50s for those in the actual townhomes and SFHs. Lots of racial diversity, but little in economical diversity as like previous posters have pointed out, it's EXPENSIVE! But hey, you get what you pay for in terms of the environment.

The area is extremely walkable with several huge lakes and ponds to stroll along. They've got great walking paths and sidewalks. Within the area, one of the better elementary school is Rachel Carson and the local middle school is Lakeland, another pretty good school in the county. Most feed into Quince Orchard High, a very very good school in the County as well.

[garine]

thanks for the input. Sounds like I might be priced out.

Where I am now is in Northern NJ - very expensive housing here, even for fix'r'ups. It's affluent and has good schools, but the people here are rude and are very into their cliques. It's been tough to make friends and took me a good 5 years to feel part of the scene.

Does anyone have a feel for the people there? Is there some kind of almost southern hospitality?

[Stephen 81]

Originally Posted by garine

Where I am now is in Northern NJ - very expensive housing here, even for fix'r'ups. It's affluent and has good schools, but the people here are rude and are very into their cliques. It's been tough to make friends and took me a good 5 years to feel part of the scene.

Does anyone have a feel for the people there? Is there some kind of almost southern hospitality?

I wouldn't expect much Southern hospitality in Montgomery County (or Northern Virginia, for that matter). I don't really see this, myself, but a lot of newcomers to the area say that Washingtonians are self-absorbed, materialistic, and unfriendly, and that if things keep up like this we'll soon resemble New Jersey.

I think Kentlands is a great neighborhood, personally, but I wouldn't move to the DC area expecting your new neighbors to show up with bundt cakes when you move in.

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by Stephen 81

I wouldn't expect much Southern hospitality in Montgomery County.

I disagree - Kentlands is a super safe community that welcomes newcomers that want to be community (pro) active. If you can afford the housing there - the neighbors may not bring a bundt cake - but I'll bet they wave and say Welcome.

[cpterp]

Originally Posted by garine

Does anyone have a feel for the people there? Is there some kind of almost southern hospitality?

If you're expecting "Southern Hospitality" you'll have to look elsewhere. Maryland isn't Southern, especially not Montgomery County. People in the DC Area (including some of Northern VA) are known to be almost as rude as people in NY. Of course if you go to smaller more rural towns (such as nearby Poolesville) you could expect a friendlier atmosphere, but that's probably true anywhere. Not that your neighbours will hate you, but just don't expect all of them to be outgoing.

[psychofan]

Originally Posted by cpterp

If you're expecting "Southern Hospitality" you'll have to look elsewhere. Maryland isn't Southern, especially not Montgomery County. People in the DC Area (including some of Northern VA) are known to be almost as rude as people in NY. Of course if you go to smaller more rural towns (such as nearby Poolesville) you could expect a friendlier atmosphere, but that's probably true anywhere. Not that your neighbours will hate you, but just don't expect all of them to be outgoing.

I agree. Most people living in this suburban region (especially true of MontCo) are transplants from around the country (and the world) working in the DC metro area. I would say most are from the Northeast of America, so you can expect to deal with the same people as you would in NJ, NY, Conn, MA, etc.