Living in Maryland (sales, insurance, neighborhoods)

[rrm1012]

Hello all,

I am currently living in Pa and have been seriously considering moving to Maryland. What are some of the pros and cons of living in Maryland? I am not sure as to what area I want to be in but just the overall pros and cons.

Thank you for all of your help and information,

Rich

[North Beach Person]

PA public school systems are generally better than MD. So is the PA system of state universities. They're also cheaper (it was less expensive for my oldest daughter to go to Slippery Rock as an out of state student than go in state to a MD state university).

PA's income tax is less, by a lot.

Housing prices in PA are less, but property taxes are generally higher as a percentage of assessment than MD.

MD's sales tax is the same but covers more items.

MD car license fees are more, as is insurance depending on where you locate.

MD probably has a milder winter, again depending on where you are in either state.

MD has better roads.

[rsh56]

+ Lots of history
+ Different cultures in different regions
+ Lots of nice towns and cities
+ Diverse (at least in the DC suburbs)
+ Good school systems

- Kind of expensive depending on where you are
- Taxes are a little high
- Traffic congestion in the major metro areas
- Some bad school systems

[Peggy Anne]

Maryland was great in the 60's and before that, but when I go back to visit, I find the people in The beltway region to be obsessed with shopping, stressed out, and paying way too much for just about everything. I got tired of watching the spread of urban blight to neighborhoods that were formerly the ideal American hangouts. I treasure the way it used to be.

[Mr. Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by rrm1012

Hello all,

I am currently living in Pa and have been seriously considering moving to Maryland. What are some of the pros and cons of living in Maryland? I am not sure as to what area I want to be in but just the overall pros and cons.

Thank you for all of your help and information,

Rich

The biggest con to me is the population density. The suburbs also tend to blur into one another these days, and that's getting worse. There aren't many towns in central Md. with their own distinct character.

There are other cons too.

[rrm1012]

Thank you very much everyone so far for your opinions. Maybe Maryland isn't the place to be. I may think about a different state on the east coast. I just want a change in my life.

[sobo16]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wanderlust

The biggest con to me is the population density. The suburbs also tend to blur into one another these days, and that's getting worse. There aren't many towns in central Md. with their own distinct character.

There are other cons too.

This. Pennsylvania had different zoning, and it has many more traditional towns with individual character.

I would look into the northeast - upstate NY or anywhere in New England.

[westsideboy]

OP, what kind of area are you looking for? Rural, urban, suburban? Mountains, beach? What is your price point?

Don't discount Maryland just yet. The advice above is accurate, but it doesn't apply to every part of the state.