Buying in Southern PG County or Fairfax County (Washington: crime, buying a house)

[Doel35]

I am in the process of purchasing a new townhome , either in the PG area or Fairfax. I found a great deal on a development being build that offers a 3 bedroom townhome for $315,000 with a 2 car garage near Andrews AFB MD. All other places offer similiar townhomes for about $50000 more. Is that a great deal and does anyone know about the Clinton MD area.

[VEIK]

So same house in Fairfax is 500K?

[TechlawyerinPG]

I don't live too far from there...I am in Ft. Washington...I've gone to Clinton to go to Lowes or Walmart but thats about it. Seems very rural...too rural for me...but it depends of if you like more a suburbia, rural or urban living environment. I would probably choose based on the best commuting time first and foremost.

[Tone509]

Sounds like a great deal if you're working at Andrews or elsewhere in Southern PG. On the other hand, if you're working in NOVA or even DC, prepare for Purgatory on Earth as you embark on your daily commute. There are many reasons why housing in NOVA, especially Fairfax County, is more expensive than in PG: some of them legitimate, some of them dubious. What is commonly agreed on is the resilient strength of NOVA's job market as well as the overall reputation of its schools.

All of that said, if you don't have school-age children and you enjoy listening to audiobooks or satellite radio, then buying a house in Clinton may be worth the discount.

[ChristineVA]

I used to live in Clinton. Due to crime and poor schools, I left in 1994. It hasn't gotten any better. It's cheap for a reason. PG County schools are some of the worst. They were bad when I went to them and the CANNOT improve for some reason. I had a lot of crime in my townhouse neighborhood back in 1994. Lots of single parents who did not watch their kids. They were running the streets constantly, harrassing other homeowners. The day that I looked out my front window and saw one of them pull a gun out of his pants was the deciding factor for me. I just didn't need that crap. My mom lived in an older neighborhood there (with homes) and she didn't have nearly the problems. She ended up staying another 3 years and then, she too, fled Clinton and moved to Virginia.

I still have friends from high school that live over there. They don't put their kids in the public schools but go private. They also pretty much hate it but stay for reasons of being close to aging parents.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

[bowian]

I used to live in Upper Marlboro, fairly close to Clinton. The quality of the area appears to go neighborhood by neighborhood, so you will have to research the crime stats near that TH. In fact, you really have to look at all of PG County in that way. Area by area. In the neighborhood where I used to live, the biggest problem was teens who were not well-controlled. And some crime and inconsiderate neighbors. I have very few of those problems now where I live, knock on faux wood.

[ThePiedPiper]

Have to agree with Christine. The Fairfax schools are among the best in the nation; the PG county schools are among the worst. Crime statistics reflect it, too. You can find nice neighborhoods in PG, but you have to run a few gauntlets here and there. By contrast, you'd have to search to find rough areas in Fairfax. Everything is convenient. Police are responsive. And you have the amenities there. Worth the extra.