Calvert/Anne Arundel County to Camp Springs, suggestions? (Annapolis, Shady Side: homes, school)

[MiamiCommuter]

Looking for advice/suggestions on living in Calvert or Anne Arundel County with my job being in Camp Springs, MD. My job will be right across from the Branch Avenue Metro Station in Camp Springs, MD.

Where would you recommend living in MD and why? We are considering Calvert or AA county. What are the pros and cons of living out there?

Many of the homes in North Calvert seem much more affordable...is there a catch? Seems the biggest downside is lack of close amenities (have to drive to Annapolis).

Thanks and I'm open to all suggestions.

[slowlane3]

Most of southern Anne Arundel County such as around Davidsonville is zoned for very rural density, including horse farms. There are small, developed waterfront communities around Deale, Churchton, and Shady Side. And trailer parks around Waysons Corner. The nearest department stores, drugstores, or groceries to there, I believe are located some miles away in either Edgewater, Dunkirk, or Upper Marlboro, Md.

I get the impression that Northern Calvert County such as Dunkirk, has many mega-mansions scattered out over a large area. Dunkirk also has a WalMart. There are also the adjacent larger towns of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach, with more average housing. The Calvert County school system is top-rated.

There's a regular poster on this forum called "North Beach Person" who can advise you very well on this. He's a retired teacher.

[MiamiCommuter]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Most of southern Anne Arundel County such as around Davidsonville is zoned for very rural density, including horse farms. There are small, developed waterfront communities around Deale, Churchton, and Shady Side. And trailer parks around Waysons Corner. The nearest department stores, drugstores, or groceries to there, I believe are located some miles away in either Edgewater, Dunkirk, or Upper Marlboro, Md.

I get the impression that Northern Calvert County such as Dunkirk, has many mega-mansions scattered out over a large area. Dunkirk also has a WalMart. There are also the adjacent larger towns of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach, with more average housing. The Calvert County school system is top-rated.

There's a regular poster on this forum called "North Beach Person" who can advise you very well on this. He's a retired teacher.

Thanks so much slow lane! Any drawbacks to the area that you'd suggest being aware of?

[Violet654]

Originally Posted by MiamiCommuter

Thanks so much slow lane! Any drawbacks to the area that you'd suggest being aware of?

I know I'm not slowlane or north beach person, but being from the area I'd be happy to give you my two cents. When you say drawbacks, are you referring to Anne Arundel or Calvert Counties or both?

[MiamiCommuter]

Originally Posted by Violet654

I know I'm not slowlane or north beach person, but being from the area I'd be happy to give you my two cents. When you say drawbacks, are you referring to Anne Arundel or Calvert Counties or both?

Referring to both. But I'm more concerned with Northern Calvert County...Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Dunkirk, and Huntingtown areas.

Thanks!

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MiamiCommuter

Referring to both. But I'm more concerned with Northern Calvert County...Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Dunkirk, and Huntingtown areas.

Thanks!

Define drawbacks.

[MiamiCommuter]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Define drawbacks.

Textbook definition should suffice on this one. Something that makes the area less desirable than others.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MiamiCommuter

Textbook definition should suffice on this one. Something that makes the area less desirable than others.

Doesn't help.

You may find the lack of a Home Depot a drawback (that happens to be the current Whine Du Jour for the rural pioneers) but normal people have no problem not having one.

You may want a Trader Joe's or Aldi's but neither one will come here, nor will Home Depot, because the demographics aren't what they want.

If you live near the Bay or Patuxent you may be offended by the watermen legally doing their thing.

Or you may get upset, like one rural pioneer did recently, when the owner of the woodlot next to her cut some trees down at the State Forester's recommendation.

Or you could be like some of my neighbors who live 2 ft. above Mean Low Water and can't figure out why they flood when we have a 4 ft. above normal high tide.

[MiamiCommuter]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Doesn't help.

You may find the lack of a Home Depot a drawback (that happens to be the current Whine Du Jour for the rural pioneers) but normal people have no problem not having one.

You may want a Trader Joe's or Aldi's but neither one will come here, nor will Home Depot, because the demographics aren't what they want.

If you live near the Bay or Patuxent you may be offended by the watermen legally doing their thing.

Or you may get upset, like one rural pioneer did recently, when the owner of the woodlot next to her cut some trees down at the State Forester's recommendation.

Or you could be like some of my neighbors who live 2 ft. above Mean Low Water and can't figure out why they flood when we have a 4 ft. above normal high tide.

Any idea how restrictive the HOAs are...in particular the one in The Highlands?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MiamiCommuter

Any idea how restrictive the HOAs are...in particular the one in The Highlands?

I know several, well dozens, of people who live there and not one has ever complained. The thing you have to watch there is part of it is within Chesapeake Beach and part of it is in the unincorporated part of Calvert County. Your property taxes will be a bit higher in the Chesapeake Beach part.