Elkridge vs Catonsville vs Arbutus - which would you choose? (Baltimore: 2015, rental)

[Tiger Beer]

Elkridge vs Catonsville vs Arbutus - which would you choose?

In an effort to understand these communities better. If you were to choose one in which to live, which would you choose? Why? If there is one you definitely would not live in, why not?

Also from my understanding, Arbutus includes Halethorpe and Relay? Is that right? Reading the census, it apparently does.

I'll also create a poll for this one.

[carroll4628]

If I had kids, I'd pick Elkridge (in the area by the Timbers at Troy golf course) because of the schools in Howard County and the best little preschool at Grace Episcopal. A new elementary school in 2013 and a new Middle school in 2015 in that part of the county.

If I had kids and was rich, I'd pick a large lot in Catonsville (down the street from the Patapsco state park or around the area of Oella) send them to Trinity/St. John's in EC or some other private school.

[goldenage1]

I'd pick Catonsvile because of the character of the houses and access to facilities like the library and pools. It also has the one of the best rated high schools in baltimore County.

[End-User]

I've worked with schools in both Arbutus and Catonsville. If you have a kid with special needs, Arbutus is the easy choice. If you have a kid who needs more challenging work I'd go with Catonsville. If schools aren't the driving concern, Catonsville is probably the most lively suburb and has better amenities, but it doesn't have the transit to DC that Arbutus does.

[BlondeLocks]

Elkridge

[Mike from back east]

I'm familiar with all those areas....lived all over Arbutus, Relay, Halethorpe (and Lansdowne) and went to HS in Catonsville (class of 66).

There's quite a variety of housing and neighborhoods in all three, so it's really hard to say which is better.

Arbutus zip code is 21227 which includes Relay, St Denis, Halethorpe, Lansdowne, Riverview and Baltimore Highlands, the latter 3 I'd forget as they are a bit rougher and less desirable.

My favorite is Relay...it's like a place that time forgot...you can walk down to the MARC Camden Line stop and be in Arbutus, Halethorpe or even old Elkridge (on US-1) in 2-4 minutes via local roads.

Arbutus is also in a bit of a time warp as its access to both the Beltway and I-95 are a bit limited, considered a saving grace by many. I was there in March and visited my favorite eats (Snyder's in Linthicum for crab cakes) and Mike's in Arbutus for the Italian Cold Cut sub (with everything!).

Both Arbutus and Halethorpe are a great location for anyone needing the MARC Penn Line, with a huge lot on SW Blvd (Alt US-1). Both areas have lots of big old 2-story homes (Craftsman and/or Bunaglow styles) that people like to modernize. Catonsville has even bigger nicer old homes too.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I'm familiar with all those areas....lived all over Arbutus, Relay, Halethorpe (and Lansdowne) and went to HS in Catonsville.

There's quite a variety of housing and neighborhoods in all three, so it's really hard to say which is better.

On the variety of housing and neighborhoods in all three. I quite like the Oella area of Catonsville. I did like the downtown too of Catonsville, but for looking at housing, the hills of Catonsville certainly won out, particularly closer to the Ellicott City border.

Is there anything quite like that in Arbutus, Relay, Halethorpe, or Elkridge? I'm going to guess that Arbutus and Halethorpe are a bit too built up. Already close together with homes (which I like too, but in a different way).

However, Elkridge, even the name implies there are ridges where elk must have once roamed. Are there some parts of Elkridge that has a bit of Oella look and feel - meaning the hills, with some houses built into them a bit.

[Mike from back east]

Tiger, yes, there are small parts of Arbutus that have the hills, more so in Relay and Halethorpe.

I know Oella, and Frederick Road west of Rolling Road, and they are the better place for the hilly look. The areas along Rolling Road, north and west of Catonsville HS, also fit that description.

Among the places I suggested, Relay is the place that really comes closest, just north of the CSX Railroad line, where MARC's Camden Line trains run. In addition to the streets just north of the CSX tracks, there is a big hill there along Francis Avenue, from the same Rolling Road and going east towards Halethorpe and Arbutus. Lots of big old homes there on wooded lots.

Halethorpe has some hills too, but although the old houses can be big, they don't have quite the character of Catonsville. If you can visualize, think of Catonsville as having larger lots, more trees and dark cedar shake shingles on the exterior (cozy looking) and for Halethorpe try to visualize smaller lots, fewer and smaller trees, and light-colored asbestos shingles on the exterior (more old-school upper working class utilitarian looking).

There are some areas of Elkridge that have the hills too, but again, I give Catonsville the edge. Elkridge takes in a lot of area and there are all sorts of choices.

[UWS08]

I would choose catonsville, because this is where I plan to move

[BMoreJuice]

I don't live too far from Catonsville or Arbutus. If you want to spend allot of money for a rental or a home then Catonsville is for you. Parts of Catonsville are gorgeous. Arbutus is a little bit cheaper and less pretty, but it might be the best bet. I live just in the city on the West side because its significantly cheaper and still close to everything.