moving... need advice on where to live! (apartment, renting)

[moving_soon]

I'm starting a new job in Silver Spring, and am moving from out of state. I'm a young professional in my mid-twenties. And will be looking for an apartment, or renting a condo. I'd like a safe area, since I'm a girl, living by myself... but I like to keep busy (going to restaurants, coffee shops, bars, parks, shopping).
My boyfriend moved a few months ago from out of state as well, and is living in Towson. Ideally I'd like to have no more than a 30-40 minute commute to work... but would still like to be within an hour or so of Towson. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!!

[silverspringer]

I would look in Silver Spring since that's where your job is. Also, it's close to the beltway which would help with your drive to Towson. You will not be an hour away at rush hour, though -- more like 2+. If living closer to Towson is really important, you might try Laurel. But you will definitely be making a tradeoff with your daily commute.

[saganista]

Towson is at the northern edge of Baltimore. Silver Spring is at the northern edge of DC. At 6:00 am on a Sunday, that's going to be about an hour's drive, so that's what you have to divide up. Since you'll be travelling to Silver Spring during rush hour, and presumably to Towson in non-rush hour, cheating to the DC side would seem to make sense. There are some pretty nice little communities tucked along Colesville Road (Rte 29) that might fit the bill. Simpsonville, Scaggsville, and Burtonsville would be three of them with B'ville being the closest to Silver Spring. These places are a little off the beaten path, as they aren't really full-fledged suburbs of either city. DC and BAL are about 45 miles apart. These places would all lie somewhere within the middle 15 miles of that stretch. They and some of their little neighbors might fit the bill on all accounts...