From nv to hagerstown, md (Baltimore, Frederick: to rent, hotel, house)

[Flchic]

My hubby just got a job offer in the tri state area: dc, va, md and will be traveling in those areas for work. We are looking to move to Hagerstown and have lived in major cities like Miami, FL and rural areas like Ely, NV. This is not an issue. What I'm wondering is about the schools. One of our kids is in h.s. and the other in elem. Any areas to steer clear of b/c of the bad schools? We are looking to rent first and get a feel for the are to then possibly buy a home in the rural area or outskirts of Hagerstown. Any ideas?

Also, i'm wondering about the weather. We live in nevada where it snows 7-8 months out of the year and it's killing this poor florida girl. I love the snow, but maybe for a few months only..... not most of the year.

Is there any particular area of Hagerstown (besides downtown) that we should stay away from? We will be a two income home and need proper afterschool for our youngest (at least) so that's another problem for us. Please, any insight would be helpful. Last time we moved blindly...we ended up here in redneck town where they don't even have a walmart. We dont mind the redneck stuff, but the lack of stores is horrendous. I have having to drive 3-4 hours to buy decent groceries.

I worked at the hospital billing office here and want to know how the hospital is in Hagerstown as well. I am also a medical assistant and have worked as an executive assistant for the last few years. How's the job market in the surrounding areas? I may have to travel to dc or baltimore for work, but that's okay.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

I love Ely! It is my favorite town in Nevada. I've stayed at the Hotel Nevada on two seperate cross-country roadtrips, traveling U.S. 50 the "Lonelist Road in America."

I live in Baltimore so I'm not an expert on Western Md. but my in-laws live in between Hagerstown and Federick so I know some. Hagerstown is not nearly as remote, "hick" or economically depressed as Ely. But it is also lacking a lot of development by comparison to it's neighbor city on the other side of the mountain, Frederick. A lot of people who live in Hagerstown seem to be people who have been priced out of Frederick (by Washington DC commuters and their higher salaries). Anyway, Hagerstown has all the important stores and Frederick isn't too far for other needs.

The question is whether you or your husband want to make the drive from Hagerstown to DC or Baltimore. Not too many do it from Hagerstown. Frederick to DC is a common commute due to mass transit (buses and commuter trains) but there is no public tranist option from Frederick to Baltimore (why, I have no idea).

http://mta.maryland.gov/services/commuterbus/schedulesSystemMaps/991CommuterLine10.pdf (broken link)

If you work in DC, this is a commuter bus which connects Hagerstown to Shady Grove metro station in Montgomery County. The bus takes a little over an hour, then you'd have to factor in your wait time for the Metro, ride time, and your walk to your jobsite. It could take 2 hours each way. Too much for me, but some don't mind.

Driving to DC or Baltimore - both well over an hour WITHOUT traffic ... which is a pretty unusual scenerio, I think. I hear that I-270 backs up every morning and evening. It once took me 2 hours to travel the 45 miles from west Baltimore to Middletown on a Memorial Day weekend along I-70.

Plus, the weekend traveller traffic on I-70 can be extremely thick on holiday weekends (everyone in DC has every federal holiday off) and summer Fridays (westbound) and Sundays (eastbound). Plus, there are two mountains to cross on I-70 before you get to Frederick - no problem in dry weather, might be difficult in snow.

About snow: This season was a fluke. There usually isn't nearly as much as Ely. The mid-atlantic is has mild winters. Humid summers, though.

About schools: The general consensus (and keep in mind that I am not really a local) is that Frederick County MD schools are better than Washington County's (where Hagerstown is). This may just be a perception based on the relative affluence of Frederick County.

I don't know much about the job market in your field.

[westsideboy]

Western Maryland Lesson #1 - Frederick and Hagerstown are NOT Western Maryland. Both cities and their surrounding counties have more in common geographically, economically, and demographically with the farm/exurban counties of central Maryland like Carroll and Harford. All of these counties are on the edge of the Washington/Baltimore metro area and offer rural farm life and suburban conviences in close proximity to each other.

Western Maryland starts at Sideling Hill. The two counties of the region (Allegany and Garrett) have more in common with their neighbors in WV and SW. PA than the rest of the state of Maryland.

[Flchic]

HANDS UP THUMBS DOWN: What? We have to take buses and not drive our vehicles? WTH is that? Holy Moley!!! Please explain further. =0( One thing is to drive and another is to have to sit and wait for your transportation. I can see the difference in the school system b/c it's usually based on the economic growth of the area to begin with. AND...u like Ely? Well, it' s a nice place to visit, but living here totally sucks! LOL

Westside boy....where would u recommend I move to? I'm not stuck on Hagerstown or Frederick's for that matter. Anywhere that's affordable, has good schools, and is not ghetto will work just fine. We will be renting first so that will give us an idea as to where to move to when we purchase our home.

You all mentioned the snow and mountains...I live in a town where we still have 70 degrees weather today (June 11th) during midday so snow is not a problem. It ain't my fave, but I can deal with a little snow. Is the commute from Hagerstown to DC that bad and long?

Let me word it differently...if you all had to travel a lot to neighboring states, where the heck in MD would u move to and is it true MD has that extra stinkin' income tax?

[htownterp]

I think HandsUp did a pretty good job with his summary. Wouldn't necessarily say Frederick Schools are better though. Washington County had every school make AYP and their superintendent was the national winner this year (she was a finalist with the Clark County, NV superintendent). I think it depends on the school itself, not just the entire district. City schools in both towns have issues with poverty, etc., and those in the country seem to be wealthier. Either way, Maryland and PA schools in the area have a good reputation and get pretty good results.

Hagerstown has tons of shopping and dining, so that shouldn't be a problem. I think you will find everything you need here.

They are building a new hospital, will open in December. Don't know much else.

I would look to the North and East end. In general, those are more affluent and have many options. Other parts of town a more of a mix between well kept and well worn properties. I think this is a great area, as is surrounding PA and WV.

[2 live]

Originally Posted by Flchic

Is the commute from Hagerstown to DC that bad and long?

Holy crap...that's a ridiculous commute. DC has the worst traffic in the country. It will be probably 2 hours each way and even worse if you have to go to northern Virginia. Also, if its raining than the commute will be 2+ hours easy I would say

[Flchic]

Thank you all for your insight. I appreciate your input.

2live...he won't be commuting every day b/c he will be working out of the house mostly and making trips to those areas once in a while. It's not like he will be comuting to DC/Baltimore every day with a 9-5 job.

What about all those little towns in between Frederick and Hagerstown?

[firefightermom]

If you're looking for a little more rural but with shopping, etc nearby, you should look at the area just across the state line of MD into PA...housing prices drop significantly. Hagerstown would be a quick 10-15 minute trip for shopping.

[Flchic]

Thanks firefightermom! I am now looking into PA and Virginia. Maryland seems extremely expensive and seems like Florida too much. I won't make any final decisions until I visit the area, but it's not looking very promising for Maryland. I'm just kind of checking out my options.

[quaintpancake]

Originally Posted by Flchic

Thank you all for your insight. I appreciate your input.

2live...he won't be commuting every day b/c he will be working out of the house mostly and making trips to those areas once in a while. It's not like he will be comuting to DC/Baltimore every day with a 9-5 job.

What about all those little towns in between Frederick and Hagerstown?

Check out Middletown Valley in Frederick County. The commute would be a little easier on your husband.

The public school is a blue ribbon school.

It's very rural and very safe. There are a lot of metro-area commuters living there.