Apt renting close to Columbia Mall and Wild Lake High (Silver Spring: sex offenders, violent crime)

[Niubee43V3R]

I've been trying to find a spot as a good compromise for both my wife and I, she works in JHMI and I'm in FDA. She came upon this info that there were commuter bus from Dillion that can take her to the JHMI (route 310)directly, also the same to Silver Spring (route 915/929). They have stops in Columbia Mall and also it ain't bad for me to drive to White Oak.

Anyways, I'm checking a few different resources and may go up there to look around, as mentioned above, my target area is the Columbia mall area, best with possiblity to walk to the commuter bus stops. I found a few POIs on Twin rivers road close to Wild Lake High, also the Harpers Forest apt. My budget is $1300 and below for a 2b1b place.

My Qs:

1. Is the area around Columbia Mall generally safe. Checked crime report, saw a few registered sex offenders pretty close, but did not see any violent crimes.

2. Anyone with the experience of those Dillion commuter buses, especially 310/915/929, where is the closest stop to my target area (Twin rivers rd or turnabout ln). I checked the schedule PDF files but they did not mark down the stop location at all.

3. What other places worth considering? We want to have more of a equal transit to JHMI and White Oak.

Thanks a lot.

[lavonjohn]

So what did you decide? I'm considering the Columbia area and was curious about other newbies.