Ellicott City or Catonsville? (Baltimore, Columbia: for sale, rentals, crime)

[ericcha]

Hope someone has some good advice/info...

Will be working in Baltimore Inner Harbor area, but want to live in suburbs within 30min commute. Heard great things about Columbia, but it's a little far of a commute (>30min). Ellicott City seems nice but Catonsville is closer. However heard Catonsville is only so-so. How does Catonsville compare? Is Ellicott City that much better that it's worth the extra distance/housing expense?

Thanks
Eric

[Rmx Christina]

Catonsville is in Baltimore County and Ellicott City is in Howard County. They are right next to each other with Route 40 connecting. I think in terms of investment, Howard county is better and the school system is better. I used to live in Ellicott City and really liked the area.

As for commute, Catonsville is right off of Rt. 40 to I 695, but Ellicott City is accessible to I 70 which ends at I 695. Time wise, probably the same because I-40 is full of traffic lights vs. getting onto two highways.

Hope this helps...

I am an agent for Remax. You can search my website for homes for sale and school reports...or if you tell me what you are looking for, I can email you some listings.

[smash731]

I would vote for Catonsville since Baltimore County is cheaper to live in than Howard. EC is awesome, but Catonsville is right next to it, would be an easier hop onto 95 from 195, and has some gorgeous old houses.

[ericcha]

Have a wife and 7 month old, We are looking to rent for first year then buy once we get to know the Baltimore suburbs. Prefer to rent a townhome or single family home for the space. Yeah hear that Catonsville's cheaper, but is it worth it in terms of security/quality of neighborhoods? Not worried about schools just yet.

[Gabrielle]

With Catonsville you may have to worry a little more about crime and safety than in Ellicott City. Basically, the closer you are to Baltimore, the worse the crime situation tends to be. However, there are some lovely areas of Catonsville.

[Rmx Christina]

I think there might be rentals in the Ellicott City 21043 zip code ...that might compromise location and price...

[LookingBook]

Some parts of Columbia are right by Rt. 100 and woudl allow you to quickly get on Rt. 100 (Glenmont, Thunder Hill... all in the 21045 zip code). Also, some areas of Elkridge are also right by rt. 100.

[cutgarden]

I've delivered funeral flowers to Catonsville, and was pleasantly surprised. Seemed like a nice old neighborhood, lots of old houses, didn't get a nasty feeling driving through it. Really, anywhere you have more than 3 people you'll have to worry about crime to some extent. Westminster is still a small town, but the local cops keep pretty busy.

In short, I don't know what to tell ya. lol

[fishfister]

The name of Baltimore conjures up crazy thought in people's heads as does DC. It seems as if the vicinities are bad. Go downtown to the blocks surrounding Johns Hopkins hospital if you want to see something.
I worked at a large university lab near Columbia and I know that burb not to be the sweetest of places. The access in and out of the place made it a thief's dream. Check the crime reports.
I have been to the other two towns and though yes, EC is in Howard county, big deal. Catonsville gave me a Mayberry impression not found in the newer digs of EC.

[jessy0780]

There are some nice parts of Catonsville, some are not so nice. I have never seen a part of Ellicott City that's not really nice. Both have some really nice homes, it's mostly going to be a matter of preference, if the schools don't matter yet. I suggest driving through both areas, to get a feel for them.