Recommendations on Annapolis Neighborhoods (Severn, Severna Park: rent, low crime, homes)

[christosoh]

I am moving to the DC-area with my wife and 2 young children and we've honed in on Annapolis as a potential place to live. Can anyone help by characterizing some of the neighborhoods we might want to focus on, and those we should probably avoid? We'll probably rent for the first year and look to buy in the $400-600k range afterwards. We're looking for white-collar, educated, family-friendly, safe neighborhoods (e.g. low crime rate, safe for family walks at night), with well-maintained homes.

A little background:

We're coming out of Southern California where 20 miles from city center, you get a semi-urban/semi-suburban feel where there is lots to do - Children's museums, art/history museums, community jazz concerts in the park, hiking, dining, movies, Trader Joe's, etc.

We searched the Broadneck Peninsula initially because of the high occurrence of rank 9 and 10 public schools (from Cape St. Claire to Severna Park and beyond) and the relatively affordable housing, but it felt "too suburban" for us as we drove through. We realized we're looking for more of an urban environment with more going on, hence the interest in Annapolis. And we found a great private Montessori school we'll probably send our kids to, so neighborhoods with good school districts aren't paramount (but are nice to have as a backup).

Thanks!!!

[Cruzincat]

Have you considered where you have to commute to for work? If into DC, you would have more options from Annapolis as far as mass transit is concerned.

Hopefully you drove through the "suburban" areas during busy times. It might not have seemed as suburban if you had.

Are you looking at walkability?

[Yipee]

As noted above, commute to work is important. Having lived in coastal SoCal (aka traffic-central) myself, DC traffic is nothing, however, as a parent, my time in the car takes away from family time, so something to keep in mind.

You mentioned Montessori. I'm not sure how familiar you are with Montessori, but I'd ask a LOT of questions before going down that road. #1, being, how many people on their staff (teachers, directors, etc.) are certified Montessori, and if certified, with which version of the teachings? One Montessori school I toured only had *one* teacher on the entire staff that was certified, and none of the management was, not even the Director! Being able to use the Montessori name has become a buzzword for some schools to charge high dollars and use a name that is not regulated by any common standards, unlike the Goddard School name and curriculum, for example, that is tightly monitored by corporate with random checks and grades for schools.

Also, keep in mind that most Montessori schools are not K-12, so another school option (or two) would be needed as the child ages, possibly splitting them up from the bonds they just created in Montessori. For some, continuity of friends, teachers, and learning environments between K-12 is paramount to success. For example, Chesapeake Montessori in Annapolis only goes through 14yo, so high school would be a completely different school with all new friends at an age that is already tough for many. Something to keep in mind.

Annapolis Public Schools are rated fairly low compared to nearby Severna Park, for example. And of course, there is a hotbed of high rated schools in Montgomery County, Howard County, etc.

Good luck in your search, and welcome to Maryland!

[BuyingAnnapolis]

If public school ratings are not a consideration for you, there are plenty of communities in the general Annapolis area that would fit but my concern is that if you found Arnold too suburban than you might find most parts of Annapolis the same way. Those communities surrounding the city of Annapolis actually strive to get more suburban because they are so close to the city!

Unfortunately city center homes (within downtown Annapolis) are going to be over the budget of $600k. You might be able to find something in that range in West Annapolis depending on the size home you are looking for. It is an up and coming neighborhood with a lot more to do now than before. Maryland Hall is close by and a couple of new restaurants are opening.

[MDaaCo]

Originally Posted by BuyingAnnapolis

If public school ratings are not a consideration for you, there are plenty of communities in the general Annapolis area that would fit but my concern is that if you found Arnold too suburban than you might find most parts of Annapolis the same way. Those communities surrounding the city of Annapolis actually strive to get more suburban because they are so close to the city!

Unfortunately city center homes (within downtown Annapolis) are going to be over the budget of $600k. You might be able to find something in that range in West Annapolis depending on the size home you are looking for. It is an up and coming neighborhood with a lot more to do now than before. Maryland Hall is close by and a couple of new restaurants are opening.

I agree; check out 21401 in Parole/West Annapolis area. Annapolis Towne Center has a Whole Foods; Trader Joe's is a short drive away near the mall (Nordstrom side).

Downtown Annapolis is a short drive away and has lots to do, including First Sunday Arts Festival. West Annapolis even has fairs and street festivals from time to time. I'd recommend visiting either to get a vibe for the town.