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Old 04-20-2010, 10:07 AM
 
7 posts, read 15,739 times
Reputation: 10

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From Kansas City, living in Detroit and now relocating to Maryland!

My husband and I looking for recommendations for cities/towns to live near Hagerstown, MD where he recently got a job. We live in Detroit now - and absolutely hate it due to crime/safety issues. When we moved here two years ago we were fresh out of college and chose a location close to my husbands office which was a mistake. We live in a "rough" neighborhood and have had issues with neighbors trying to break in. We do not want to make the same mistake twice so we are hoping that the wonderful people of Virginia will help us with relocation advice and help us to find a lovely place to live!

About Us
Age: We are both 25
Activities: Running, photography, we both ride dirt-bikes, camping, canoeing, going to the movies, flea market/antiquing and traveling/road/day trips to major cities.
Pets: one dog
Lifestyle: Enjoy a variety of restaurants/hole-in-the-walls nearby, not big on nightclubs but enjoy small pubs, exercise: yoga, running clubs, gyms
Shopping: Target/Walmart, nice grocery store/market, Walgreens pharmacy, mall, movie theatres, farmers markets, etc...
Preferred Type of Community: Looking for a friendly "backyard/cookout" neighborly vibe, prefer not to be too cramped with neighbors (looking for rental houses not apartments/townhouses), safe community, parks nearby - dog-parks are a bonus too, safe to run/walk alone, looking for a town that would be "fun" to live in with plenty of events, younger crowd
Commute: Maximum hour commute from Hagerstown.

Which towns/neighborhoods should we focus our search on based on our lifestyle/needs? We drove through Hagerstown during a recent trip to DC two weeks ago and thought it was very charming. It was our first and only time in the state or area so we could use some local advice. We would really appreciate any help you can offer! Thank you!
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Old 04-20-2010, 11:26 AM
 
Location: Sterling, VA
1,059 posts, read 2,965,718 times
Reputation: 633
The only place in Virginia that I can think of that would meet your needs would be Winchester, and that may be more than an hour depending on the time of day. In Northern Virginia, Arlington or Alexandria would be way more than an hour. I can suggest a town in West Virginia, Shepardstown, that is similar to Winchester in style and atmosphere and I believe the commute would be less than an hour. Also consider Frederick, Maryland, it is much closer than the other towns I mentioned and I believe you would find your kind of neighborhoods there. You may want to post on the Maryland forum to get a better feel for Maryland.
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Old 04-20-2010, 12:15 PM
 
380 posts, read 1,063,794 times
Reputation: 203
Keyser, West Virginia? Near Potomac State College. I was looking at some cheap properties up there. BTW, it's all about money; so you should state your budget. The average person can't afford an average priced home.................
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Old 04-20-2010, 05:50 PM
 
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,781 posts, read 15,811,722 times
Reputation: 10894
Why not live right in Hagerstown? It's a nice small, city and seems to have most of the amenities you would want. Why look for another place and have a commute?
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Old 04-21-2010, 03:46 PM
 
Location: In the woods
3,315 posts, read 10,101,103 times
Reputation: 1530
I live in Winchester and think you'd really like the vibe/feel of this historic town. Plenty of amenities, shopping, great architecture, and lots of friendly folks and certainly worth a visit. I am not sure about Martinsburg, WV (about 30 mins south of you) although I believe there are alot of Washingtonians out there now and some decent housing developments. Frederick,MD is also nice.

BTW, welcome to the area! You'll find plenty do especially with nearby Frederick and Winchester, Harpers Ferry, Charlestown (races and slots), the Shenandoah Valley,as well as close proximity to Pennsylvania countrysides! Best of luck to you and hope you find a nice place!
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Old 04-21-2010, 05:59 PM
 
Location: Orange, California
1,576 posts, read 6,355,425 times
Reputation: 758
Quote:
Originally Posted by michgc View Post
Why not live right in Hagerstown? It's a nice small, city and seems to have most of the amenities you would want. Why look for another place and have a commute?
That was kinda my though too. It's a decent town, seems to fit the OP's requirements, and I cannot really think of a place that is significantly better within an hour's drive. Why not save the commute and live were you work.
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Old 04-21-2010, 07:45 PM
 
Location: Orange Hunt Estates, W. Springfield
628 posts, read 1,935,275 times
Reputation: 232
Quote:
Originally Posted by michgc View Post
Why not live right in Hagerstown? It's a nice small, city and seems to have most of the amenities you would want. Why look for another place and have a commute?
Exactly! Why create a commute for yourself when the job is in a town that meets your criteria?
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Old 04-22-2010, 07:49 AM
 
8,984 posts, read 21,190,803 times
Reputation: 3808
I agree that Hagerstown and its surroundings are generally safe and affordable. Unless there are other particular reasons that you prefer VA (e.g. lower taxes, perception of schools) then you should definitely post on the MD forum to get opinions about that area.
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