Is Silver Spring a perfect match in-between NoVa and Baltimore? (Aspen Hill: apartments, townhouse)

[pichalka]

Hi Everyone,

Here is our problem. My friend and I are moving to DC area due to job relocation: I will be working in Tyson's Corner and she is going the University of Maryland grad school, which is in Downtown Baltimore. Our initial thought was to stay in NoVa (McLean, Va to be exact) and she would be travelling to school three times a week (tue, thr and sat). Now, we are looking into getting a place somewhere in-between and our choice felt on Silver Spring, MD. How is it commute-wise both ways? Is it worth it, or we are better off staying at NoVa? Is it a safe area? If all answers are yes, what neighborhoods should we look at (the only place we've been so far is Downtown Silver Spring)?

Appreciate all comments. Thanks.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by pichalka

How is it commute-wise both ways? Is it worth it, or we are better off staying at NoVa? Is it a safe area?

My husband and I lived in Silver Spring for 30 years with one of us going either to Baltimore or Northern Virginia. That location gave us the most job flexibility. The commute to Northern Virginia is horrible on the Beltway- 35 minutes if you are early, up to an hour and a half if the traffic or weather is bad. You could also travel through DC down Rock Creek Parkway and across a bridge to Route 66. The times is about equal, but I found it easier on the nerves.

The commute to Baltimore is relatively easy as it is normally a reverse commute up 29 or I-95. I can't say what's best for you, but it worked for us.

We lived in houses in Four Corners and Kemp Mill and never had a problem with safety. The Metros attract some iffy characters, but you would be using cars, so that's no problem. There are plenty of apartments in more suburban parts of Silver Spring like Aspen Hill. Kensington is also a good area.

[Samoi137]

Where in Silver Spring? It's not actually a town but a large swath of unincorporated territory in Montgomery County. I lived in two different places in SS: a townhouse on East-West Highway near "downtown" SS, inside the Beltway and near the SS Metro, and a single family dwelling a few miles away, outside the Beltway up near the Glenmont Metro.

I assume you'd take Metro and your friend would drive. Your sitaution seems not ideal, but SS seems not a bad choice, especially if you can find a place either within walking distance of, or a short bus ride from, a Metro rail station. When we lived near Glenmont, we did not go south to the Beltway, but cut over to Hwy. 198 to get to I-95, whether we were going to BWI or Baltimore.