Moving to Maryland? (Woodbine: sales, apartment, renting)

[frotojk]

Hello everyone. Has anyone here in NJ recently lived in Maryland, and could give me an idea of living there compared to here. No one on the Maryland forum seems to be able to give me any input.

I'm considering taking a good job there and would be working about 20 miles south of Baltimore. I just need some idea of the living cost, and life in general there compared to NJ, or central NJ more specifically. Thanks

[gcctrumpeter]

Hi,

I grew up in MD, near Pax River Naval Air Station. Have an aunt in Columbia (between DC & Balt) and an uncle in Woodbine (45 min west of Balt). Most of the housing prices are about the same now, maybe a little cheaper. The property taxes are definitely less, and the sales tax is 5%.
If you want some info on a particular area, let me know, and I'll see if I can help you. Just be prepared to pay if you come back to Jersey to visit. Every time I visit family, it costs me $20 in tolls if I go through Baltimore

[frotojk]

Thanks gcctrumpeter. I would potentially be working in the Savage/Jessup area. I am 24 and single, and would be renting, or maybe I can find a roommate.
Also, would you know of any recreational attractions the area has to offer like beaches or state parks...

Yes, I'm well aware of the tolls. I just made a trip down this week and it must have been $20 to $30 .

[karyshannah]

Well, i lived in Mount Airy (30 miles west of Baltimore) for 12 years. I live in Brooklyn, New York now. I'm not exactly sure where 20 miles south of Bmore would be ... cause i looked on the map and there isn't really anything.

The cost of living recently went up, but its back down. an one bedroom apartment out there is probably around a grand a month. gas is about $3.15 right now. you can get anything pretty much within a 30 mile radius of pretty much anywhere you live.

unfortunately like everyone else, i can't say much else cause i've never even been to "20 miles south of baltimore" cause there's really nothing exciting there.
i'd suggest looking at frederick, ellicott city, and columbia.

[frotojk]

Thank you for your reply. Again, I'd be working in the Savage/Jessup area. I've been talking to a friend who lives in Columbia and that seems to be a good choice for me.

[ndecost]

I lived in Wash DC for 3 years and moved back up to NJ in 2005. I'm familiar with Rockville MD and always thought it was very nice, although it is very built up and filled with shopping malls/strip malls. There are plenty of nice neighborhood communities in Rockville though. I'd try to look in Montgomery County if I were you. Mont. County has the best school system in the State of MD and is comparable if not ranked better to some of our best school districts. My husbands high school there was ranked as a top 20 high school nationwide last year or two years ago. If you don't have children, then you could certainly look elsewhere. I wouldn't live in Prince George's County as there tends to be a lot more crime there. I'd also love to live near Annapolis but I don't know that would work with your scenario and working 20 miles south of Baltimore. I think that would mean you'd be close to DC, Rockville and Annapolis. Housing prices are similar in MD as they are here and in some places they will be lower and higher. If you give me specific ideas of towns/cities, I could ask my husband who grew up in Rockville. Good luck.

[ndecost]

After reading your post more carefully, I looked up where you'll be working. If I were up and 24 years old, I'd want to live in College Park, where the Univ. of MD is, or Silver Spring, MD. Silver Spring has been totally revived with young people, students, young professionals, etc. A lot of my friends in law school lived there and loved it. You might have a little bit more of a commute than in Columbia, but I think you'd find a lot more to do, friends, nightlife, entertainment. Plus, you're are within easy access and cab ride into DC for weekend entertainment. Maybe this doesn't matter to you. This is just my opinion if I were doing it as a 24 year old. College Park would be great too, although I think there is more crime around that area. The area surrounding Univ. of Maryland hasn't really improved over the years and I think there's more crime there now than when I had friends there. College Park would still be a great choice because of the college town feel of it. There's plenty of housing choices and plenty of cute suburban areas if that's what you'd want.

I'd focus on those two areas first and make Columbia a third choice. Again, this is my opinion, but I don't see anything great about Columbia MD.