Can you live on $80,000 a year in Frederick or Howard County? (Rockville: apartment, rent)

[hdasler]

Originally Posted by tercel95

There are other much more affordable places to live (Not in MD)... You should really try and send some resumes out to other places you might want to live...

You could live much more comfortably on your salary down here in Jacksonville... MD holds a lot of people back, there are a lot of other really nice places to live, you should at least look into it... You are hurting yourself by staying in MD...

Yeah I know. MD is WAY to expensive. Its ridiculous really. The biggest thing is right now I'm helping my sister while she finishes graduate school. I have my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education but I want to get my Masters degree in either Learning Disabilities or as a Reading Specialist. And as long as I can get good financial aid (grants, scholarships) I want to attend University of Maryland or American University because they have great programs.

In 3-5 years I'll probably relocate elsewhere. But for now, I'll live poor...trying to aquire the American dream *dramatic music* lol....

We'll see...I may give up and go elsewhere. It's tough living on 20-23,000 dollars a year in an area where the cost of living is so high and where everyone else around you makes 100,000 or more.

[mamaecho]

Where are you looking to move in Frederick? Have you considered Brunswick? It's sooo much less expensive than basically anywhere else in Frederick Co

[tercel95]

Originally Posted by hdasler

Yeah I know. MD is WAY to expensive. Its ridiculous really. The biggest thing is right now I'm helping my sister while she finishes graduate school. I have my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education but I want to get my Masters degree in either Learning Disabilities or as a Reading Specialist. And as long as I can get good financial aid (grants, scholarships) I want to attend University of Maryland or American University because they have great programs.

In 3-5 years I'll probably relocate elsewhere. But for now, I'll live poor...trying to aquire the American dream *dramatic music* lol....

We'll see...I may give up and go elsewhere. It's tough living on 20-23,000 dollars a year in an area where the cost of living is so high and where everyone else around you makes 100,000 or more.

I feel your pain man, I really had a rough time getting by in MD... There is a light at the end of the tunnel... Just know there are nicer, more affordable places out there waiting for you... When you do decide to make the jump, it will change your life, trust me... It was the best decision I ever made...

MD does have good schools but I would do everything in my power to get out... It took me a long time to realize that MD was holding me back...

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by convex20899

tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, the more you think, the more MD tax's you. Frederick at onetime was a great place to live. Stay away from the "golden mile" trashy neighborhoods and no one speaks English. Try ordering a double r-bar burger at the Roy rogers!

Where is the 'Golden Mile'?

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

U.S. 40, west of downtown. Home to strip malls, fast food and the Frederick Towne Mall (a.k.a. "The Old Mall")

To Frederick's credit, there are actually sidewalks in this area (unlike similar shopping districts on U.S. highways).

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

U.S. 40, west of downtown. Home to strip malls, fast food and the Frederick Towne Mall (a.k.a. "The Old Mall")

To Frederick's credit, there are actually sidewalks in this area (unlike similar shopping districts on U.S. highways).

Doesn't sound too bad actually. Is this stretch of highway also walkable to downtown itself? Meaning, could a person bike ride or walk from residential areas to this 'Golden Mile'?

Sounds like it most work...maybe.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

I consider myself to be a pretty fearless cyclist in suburban areas that are clearly not interested in cycling, but retail areas built along U.S. highways always seem to be impossible. I think I have to go to this area on Thursday so I'll report back to you my observations.

Maybe you can ride on the sidewalk, which I hate to do. But yes it's not too far from downtown Fred you can walk it. There's a bus, too.

frederick - Google Maps It's roughly the area in between U.S. 15 and the junction of W Patrick Street and Old Nat'l Pike.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

I consider myself to be a pretty fearless cyclist in suburban areas that are clearly not interested in cycling, but retail areas built along U.S. highways always seem to be impossible. I think I have to go to this area on Thursday so I'll report back to you my observations.

Maybe you can ride on the sidewalk, which I hate to do. But yes it's not too far from downtown Fred you can walk it. There's a bus, too.

frederick - Google Maps It's roughly the area in between U.S. 15 and the junction of W Patrick Street and Old Nat'l Pike.

Thanks! Yeah, I see. A sidewalk, but not as large as I had imagined. Actually looks kind of small in comparison to how many lanes are on that highway going through. Also, doesn't look to be a very particularly interesting or enjoyable place to ride a bike at all, even on the sidewalk - especially with how narrow it is (I mean, if there were walkers also using it).

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Also, doesn't look to be a very particularly interesting or enjoyable place to ride a bike at all, even on the sidewalk - especially with how narrow it is (I mean, if there were walkers also using it).

No, not at all enjoyable. There are far more enjoyable places to ride in Frederick city proper.

[(-)]

what a difference a year makes! You can find some pretty good housing deals in Frederick and Howard County now thanks to the housing collapse. Provided you have a stable job, 80K gets you a really nice new house in Howard County now.