Good places to live between Ft. Meade and Waldorf (Bowie: home, neighborhood)

[zxbane]

Hello all,

I am making this post to get any advice on good places to live between Ft. Meade and Waldorf. The reason I say these two locations is because I will be working at Ft. Meade and my wife is teaching in Waldorf. After reading tons of posts on this forum I am pretty confident we would prefer to live in Anne Arundel County rather than PG, especially since we have a young daughter and plan to have more children who will eventually attend public schools most likely. I wouldn't necessarily rule out PG county because I know it can be nice and we do have a little bit of time before we have to worry about schools since my daughter is less than a year old but I am just thinking long term.

We currently live in La Plata but would be looking to move somewhere in between Meade and Waldorf, somewhere that offers a similar feel to La Plata in the sense that it is a little more rural but also still offers things such as a gym, grocery stores, and other things to do within a reasonable distance.

Anne Arundel seems to have some rural areas that are very beautiful and housing seems to be more reasonable than in some of the areas closer to DC. Could anyone give me any insight into good places to live that would offer both of us a reasonable commute to our jobs and also a nice place to live for a young family? I am 28 and she is 25.

Thanks to everyone in advance for any useful help!

[North Beach Person]

Dunkirk area in Calvert.

[rdflk]

What's your budget?
What's your 'reasonable distance (how close or far) for stores and amenities?
Do you want to be close to water?
How 'rural' are you willing to be? Or do you want walkable streets or some newer home 'development?'
Also IF you can't be centrally located who are you both wiling to let have the longest commute...and how long to do want the LONGER commute to be.

I ask because Dunkirk in Calvert is a lot closer to Waldorf than Fort Meade. Not an even commute at all.
It fits the bill for the other things you mentioned. So North Beach Person's suggestion is absolutely right on that score though.

How about Lothian or Harwood? I like the Davidsonville area, but it's a little bit closer to Fort Meade than it is to Waldorf.

[North Beach Person]

It's an almost straight shot to Meade while Waldorf is a "can't get there from here" situation. You go one way and then have to reverse direction.

I've done both and the time is similar.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Crofton was the first place I thought of.

[cjmeck]

I agree with Dave on his Crofton recommendation. There are many military families in the Crofton area; google it and see if the schools and neighborhood are what you have in mind. Its going to be closer to Fort Meade than Waldorf, but still, distance wise it is quite doable. I have friends who are happy in Lothian as well; its cheaper than Crofton, but more rural if that's what you're looking for.

[mapmd]

Rough stretch there. That's basically all of PG county.
Bowie? Even then that's a maybe.

[bande1102]

Crofton. I'd also check nearby Gambrills.

[TheCaliforniaMarylandPers]

Crofton, Davidsonville, Edgewater, Harwood, and Shady Side are all places to look at.

[rdflk]

Crofton/Gambrils has lots more shopping close by. Gambrils is north of Crofton so much closer to Fort Meade than Waldorf. So the Fort Meade person would have the shorter commute.

The other places are much more 'rural' with stores (or at least major shopping) farther away. And more than likely no sidewalks, they're not necessarily walking communities. So schools and playmates are likely driving distance. And a car is a necessity.

I'll say again these considerations would help our suggestions....
- budget?
- What's your 'reasonable distance (how close or far) for stores and amenities?
- close to water?
- How 'rural' are you willing to be? Or do you want walkable streets or some newer home 'development?'
- Also IF you can't be centrally located who are you both wiling to let have the longest commute...and how long to do want the LONGER commute to be.

Good luck.