Relocating...Annapolis vs edge water, arnold

[westsideboy]

The whole central part of Maryland is crammed with people, including the Annapolis area. The city itself is gorgeous, and there are some very high-end developments around the Severn River.

There are also places where the locals still live. There are also places you wouldn't want to live because of crime, congestion, etc.

You can't paint with broad brushstrokes here. Just because some poster complains about one little corner of the "Annapolis area" doesn't mean it is all like that.

[Enzo_Guy]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

The whole central part of Maryland is crammed with people, including the Annapolis area. The city itself is gorgeous, and there are some very high-end developments around the Severn River.

There are also places where the locals still live. There are also places you wouldn't want to live because of crime, congestion, etc.

You can't paint with broad brushstrokes here. Just because some poster complains about one little corner of the "Annapolis area" doesn't mean it is all like that.

Oh, I probably made it sound a bit worse than it really is, but comparing Glen Burnie to Edgewater is kind of interesting. They are both more blue collar, working class type areas packed full of what most people around Annapolis refer to as rednecks. There is a pretty large truck driving good ol' boy network in both areas, but Glen Burnie also has those geniuses in their sports cars that roll around on Ritchie Raceway at night.

The only reason I personally would move to either of those areas is because, myself being from deeper into southern AA county, I have no problem getting along with rednecks and in fact those two areas are where most of my friends live. But I wouldn't raise a family in either. If I were raising a family in the Annapolis area I would be more interested in Arnold or Glen Burnie.

[powerwalker]

The Edgewater area has many different cultural backgrounds. I can say this because I live in one of the local communities that always takes a hit from others (we live on what some say is the wrong side of the road). The neighborhood we live in has many "white" and "blue" collar workers. Does that mean one is better than the other? I have to say that we both have parents that were "blue" collar workers and made a good and honest living in what they trained to be. Does it really matter if your neighbor does work with their hands and another works behind a desk? I don't think so. If anything I would think we would all want the best for our children.

We have three children and all attended the local public schools in elementary, middle and high school. All three graduated high school with above average scores, received a few scholarships and grants for higher education and had really hard working teachers! When we pass judgment on people or particular areas of a county and state, we need to meet the people that we are talking about. I know there are some locals that can be a bit much ... I guess they're called the "rednecks" ... I have to wonder what some of the different writers call themselves. In the Edgewater area, you will have people who have a lot (material/money) and others that are just making it due to many different reasons (good and I guess bad). I would also like to say that I am a teacher in the system and have taught in both the Edgewater and Arnold area. Both schools had parents that wanted the best for their children (participated in extra school activities, completed homework, etc.) and there were also the parents that were too busy for whatever reason.

If you do decide to move to Maryland (Anne Arundel County), check out the schools, local businesses and drive around the communities you are thinking about. Maybe Edgewater has more drugs and crime ... I really don't know. I take my grandchildren on walks, to the community parks and even our local beach and haven't been shot at yet. Have I seen or heard of things that I wish hadn't happened ... yes, but I have also seen some really good things where neighbors still take care of neighbors. I am not sure but there are probably some Annapolis and Glen Burnie folks that might feel the same way about their areas of the county. If you and your family visit the Arnold area and find that it is the right choice for everyone, then you will hopefully be happy and have a lot of wonderful neighbors and things to do. We have friends that live in the Arnold area and they like it. We also have friends that live in the Edgewater area and they like it too. Good luck on your move if you decide to come East.

[ardita]

We visited this past weekend and found neighborhoods to be epsecially social in Severna Park and south of Annapolis in the Hillsmere/Bay Ridge areas.. Neighborhood cookouts and social events abounded. Doesnt seem so snobby to me...

[Richard Martin]

Really, as long as you stay out of Woodland Beach in Edgewater you'll be fine. The population there is becoming very ethnically diverse and it shows in the real estate prices. The cheapest priced houses in Edgewater will be found in Woodland Beach.

[Cruzincat]

I 97/US 50 approaching Annapolis gets jammed every day about 4:30 to 6:00. Coming down Rt 2 would be your best bet - most of the time. That would make Arnold the best bet. Pasadena is not a bad area either, especially if you can afford a nicer area on or near the water. Pasadena is a mix of suburban redneck and upper middle working class people. Arnold has very few "bad" areas though. Great thing about Arnold (I used to live there) is you can commute to Baltimore or Washington easily by using Rt 2 or Rt 50 respectively. It also has a very good Community College.

[Nonna2trips]

There is plenty of culture here locally and in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Downtown Annapolis has tons of bars, restaurants, live music and an art gallery and two theatres for plays. There are museums, symphony, plays, art galleries, etc. in both Balt. and Washington DC. which are about 40-45 minutes from Arnold, Annapolis, and Severna Park if traffic is not too heavy. All the schools in Severna Park and Arnold are good. Glen Burnie is not as prestigious and has higher crime rate though some parts are considered safer than others.