Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Just that most people who live in PG can't afford to live somewhere better, or need they need to live there to be close to their work or school.
Not true for this person here. Personally, I think PG has a lot to offer and I love my neighborhood. Not really trying to leave. There's no need. PG has all I need. I think you're incorrect in your assessment. PG is far from a hell hole. Try living in Detroit and see what a real hell hole looks like. I think people sometimes get it twisted about PG because they are comparing it to three of the wealthiest counties in the country. Well gee, I guess PG does look shabby in that regard. But PG is doing a whole heck of a lot better than most counties in the country and it's getting better.
I didn't say PG was a Hellhole, but, it is what it is. Meaning that the county reflects the wants and needs of those who reside there-- no differently than that of those who live in Montgomey or Prince William.
Not true for this person here. Personally, I think PG has a lot to offer and I love my neighborhood. Not really trying to leave. There's no need. PG has all I need. I think you're incorrect in your assessment. PG is far from a hell hole. Try living in Detroit and see what a real hell hole looks like. I think people sometimes get it twisted about PG because they are comparing it to three of the wealthiest counties in the country. Well gee, I guess PG does look shabby in that regard. But PG is doing a whole heck of a lot better than most counties in the country and it's getting better.
I don't know if I can fully agree with this statement. Perfect example, I'm in the most northern city in PG, which was presumed safe, and I arrived home from work today to find 7 cop cars in the parking lot. While this is not the case for the whole city where I live, it is becoming increasingly prevalant here, and as a single woman, it frightens me. Like I just came off my balcony and there was a cop walking in the courtyard with a flashlight, clearly investigating something. Should I feel safe with the police presence? I don't, because I know that something very serious happened here. Just like a month ago when my portion of the complex was taped off because of an incident...just like Mother's Day weekend when another section had an incident and the police had a chopper out with the searchlight and the complex blocked off after a series of gunshots. Count them, three major incidents in less than 2 months.
I'm not comparing PG to the wealthy counties. Not entirely, except that because of the high taxes, lack of decent shopping, and the trouble with the schools, other counties become more appealing. I think people who are here probably feel the way you do. I'm sure PG is not the worst place in the world, but it is not the way it used to be, and you have to admit that. Deciding to stay in PG or move to PG would be determined by what people are comfortable with and willing to deal with. For me, I've had enough.
I don't know if I can fully agree with this statement. Perfect example, I'm in the most northern city in PG, which was presumed safe, and I arrived home from work today to find 7 cop cars in the parking lot. While this is not the case for the whole city where I live, it is becoming increasingly prevalant here, and as a single woman, it frightens me. Like I just came off my balcony and there was a cop walking in the courtyard with a flashlight, clearly investigating something. Should I feel safe with the police presence? I don't, because I know that something very serious happened here. Just like a month ago when my portion of the complex was taped off because of an incident...just like Mother's Day weekend when another section had an incident and the police had a chopper out with the searchlight and the complex blocked off after a series of gunshots. Count them, three major incidents in less than 2 months.
I'm not comparing PG to the wealthy counties. Not entirely, except that because of the high taxes, lack of decent shopping, and the trouble with the schools, other counties become more appealing. I think people who are here probably feel the way you do. I'm sure PG is not the worst place in the world, but it is not the way it used to be, and you have to admit that. Deciding to stay in PG or move to PG would be determined by what people are comfortable with and willing to deal with. For me, I've had enough.
I'm not sure why cops investigating something scares you. At least they are there. And crime happens everywhere, not just in PG. People think they move to a safe neighborhood and find out there's a home invader stalking innocent women. We had 10 cop cars in front of my house a few years back. It happens. Especially near an urban city like D.C. You think there are no criminal search in Montgomery, Howard, or Fairfax counties? I understand it makes you feel uneasy and you have every right to feel that way. I always say safety is what you make it. Crime happens everywhere. Better to be aware of it and vigilant than to feel a false sense of safety and leave your guard down.
To each his own I guess. I hope everything is okay where you are.
I didn't say PG was a Hellhole, but, it is what it is. Meaning that the county reflects the wants and needs of those who reside there-- no differently than that of those who live in Montgomey or Prince William.
Danbo,
I don't agree with the assertion that "most people who live in PG can't afford to live somewhere better, or they need to live there to be close to their work or school."
People who live in Prince George's County have the same opportunities to choose as anyone else. Almost 38.8% of households in PG County earned over $100,000 in 2008. That is enough to live in pretty much any city or county they want, although it might require living in a smaller house or even renting. The median income for a household in PG County was around $72,000 compared to about $66,000 in Prince William County Virginia. So presumably the median resident of PG County could live in Prince William County but chooses not to do so. I do think that being close to work or school plays a role in why many choose PG County, but that is their choice, not something they have to do. Check out the NoVa board. Plenty of people on that board routinely commute for hours from places like Prince William County. That's their choice.
Just that most people who live in PG can't afford to live somewhere better, or need they need to live there to be close to their work or school.
I concur. When I graduated undergrad, I did not want to move back here and I briefly moved out of the county, but because I had to go to graduate school instead of working, I had to move back to a more affordable location close to my grad school (Howard). I've been basically kind of stuck here since, but I have every plan in my mind to move in the next year or so. Many of my friends have already left. I think what it really comes down to, it's not that PG is so bad, as much as if you live in another area for a while, you start to realize you can do better. If you would have asked me before I graduated from undergrad, I was probably going to spend the rest of my life here, but once I lived out in Northern VA for a while and realized that there some nicer places to be had, my mind was made up.
I don't agree with the assertion that "most people who live in PG can't afford to live somewhere better, or they need to live there to be close to their work or school."
People who live in Prince George's County have the same opportunities to choose as anyone else. Almost 38.8% of households in PG County earned over $100,000 in 2008. That is enough to live in pretty much any city or county they want, although it might require living in a smaller house or even renting. The median income for a household in PG County was around $72,000 compared to about $66,000 in Prince William County Virginia. So presumably the median resident of PG County could live in Prince William County but chooses not to do so. I do think that being close to work or school plays a role in why many choose PG County, but that is their choice, not something they have to do. Check out the NoVa board. Plenty of people on that board routinely commute for hours from places like Prince William County. That's their choice.
I think your assertion is kind of off base. Instead of comparing the income of people, it would make a lot more sense to compare housing cost. Let me give you an example straight from Exit Realty of housing sales in our area as of June 27:
Average List Price || Median List Price || Average Days On Market
Prince Georges County, MD Single Family under $500K $228,369 $209,999 143 Single Family over $500K$714,390 $629,990 166 Condo/Townhome under $300K $139,989 $135,000 145 Condo/Townhome over $300K$416,427 $359,990 139
Anne Arundel County, MD Single Family under $500K $320,335 $315,000 140 Single Family over $500K $1,004,346 $749,891 164 Condo/Townhome under $300K $187,459 $204,990 149 Condo/Townhome over $300K $471,366 $375,000 140
Howard County, MD Single Family under $500K $366,327 $375,000 114 Single Family over $500K $821,694 $700,000 115 Condo/Townhome under $300K $207,658 $215,900 116 Condo/Townhome over $300K $394,131 $377,441 76
Montgomery County, MD Single Family under $1M $538,924 $499,500 87 Single Family over $1M $1,932,088 $1,549,000 103 Condo/Townhome under $600K $255,216 $249,000 104 Condo/Townhome over $600K $953,631 $749,900 74
Calvert County, MD Single Family under $500K $313,840 $319,000 166 Single Family over $500K $762,629 $629,900 219 Condo/Townhome under $300K $256,646 $269,000 231 Condo/Townhome over $300K $372,203 $329,900 276
Charles County, MD Single Family under $500K $284,171 $279,900 136 Single Family over $500K $796,209 $649,900 212 Condo/Townhome under $300K $156,621 $155,000 209 Condo/Townhome over $300K $324,363 $309,000 218
Arlington County, VA Single Family under $1M $693,557 $689,900 64 Single Family over $1M $1,554,626 $1,399,000 80 Condo/Townhome under $600K $348,545 $339,900 62 Condo/Townhome over $600K $1,006,528 $799,999 101
Alexandria City, VA Single Family under $1M $647,213 $649,000 67 Single Family over $1M $1,551,028 $1,325,000 108 Condo/Townhome under $600K $355,596 $335,000 69 Condo/Townhome over $600K $1,028,989 $825,000 87
Fairfax City, VA Single Family under $500K $424,997 $420,000 73 Single Family over $500K $789,688 $759,990 80 Condo/Townhome under $300K $237,814 $245,000 51 Condo/Townhome over $300K $523,960 $488,000 44
Loudoun County, VA Single Family under $1M $591,601 $579,000 103 Single Family over $1M $2,053,292 $1,600,000 162 Condo/Townhome under $350K $270,992 $285,000 62 Condo/Townhome over $350K $431,238 $395,990 90
Prince William County, VA Single Family under $500K $350,071 $362,500 103 Single Family over $500K $693,867 $619,900 163 Condo/Townhome under $300K $202,254 $209,900 85 Condo/Townhome over $300K $390,726 $349,900 117
The only county that is reasonably close to PG at this point in Charles County and perhaps PWC.
Not true for this person here. Personally, I think PG has a lot to offer and I love my neighborhood. Not really trying to leave. There's no need. PG has all I need. I think you're incorrect in your assessment. PG is far from a hell hole. Try living in Detroit and see what a real hell hole looks like. I think people sometimes get it twisted about PG because they are comparing it to three of the wealthiest counties in the country. Well gee, I guess PG does look shabby in that regard. But PG is doing a whole heck of a lot better than most counties in the country and it's getting better.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you are being a little bit defensive of PG County. I do agree that PG has a lot to offer, but it is far far from where it should be. I don't expect it to be like Montgomery County, but I also don't expect to have the worse schools in the state and the worst crime in our region. Let's put the school situation in perspective, we are a predominantly suburban county and our test score are worse than BALTIMORE CITY!!! Baltimore is a living cesspool. They have all types of issues up there and it is one of the least desirable places to live. You think kids don't value education down here, there are kids up there wondering if they are even going to survive the next day! To me I absolutely refuse to accept the level of mediocrity that this county has. It angers me, how ghetto people are here, how little people research on who represents them, how people will leave trash out on the streets when there are trash can everywhere, how parents don't care about their child's education. This is unacceptable!!! I don't care if we have a National Harbor, a Konterra, a Ritz Carlton, or whatever, this county needs to step it's game up. I know we as citizens can only do so much, but I think just saying it's not that bad is setting us up to not have much change. You know why people say negative things about PG, because most of it is true!!!! Who would want to go to awful schools!!! Who would want to move their family to a place that's on pace to have 100 homicides and it's not even as dense as a city!!! What in the world????? Who is going to move here???????????
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
