Aspen Hill/Olney area (Silver Spring, Rockville: rent, houses, neighborhoods)

[ATMT99]

What is the commute like to College Park from Aspen Hill? What is like like from Olney? Also, can anyone comment on what these neighborhoods are like? We have a young family with 3 children. We're looking for family friendly neighborhoods (hopefully other young families) and safe. We hope to spend between 1800-2200 in rent and eventually buy in the area. By the time we buy a home in a few years we will be able to afford more. Any comments/suggestions are appreciated

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by ATMT99

What is the commute like to College Park from Aspen Hill? What is like like from Olney? Also, can anyone comment on what these neighborhoods are like?

Both commutes are over the same congested corridor, but Olney is 5 miles further.

The housing in Aspen Hill is typically built in the 60's, with smallish houses. Housing in Olney is mostly newer, built in the 80's, 90's and 2000's. Based on this, I suspect you would find more young families in Olney.

If you are looking to buy eventually, you might consider the new Poplar Run development going up on the site of the old Indian Spring Country Club in Aspen Hill.

[Samoi137]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

Both commutes are over the same congested corridor, but Olney is 5 miles further.

The housing in Aspen Hill is typically built in the 60's, with smallish houses. Housing in Olney is mostly newer, built in the 80's, 90's and 2000's. Based on this, I suspect you would find more young families in Olney.

If you are looking to buy eventually, you might consider the new Poplar Run development going up on the site of the old Indian Spring Country Club in Aspen Hill.

What time of day? That's critical.

Aspen Hill (part of Silver Spring) is mainly small houses builg in the 60s? Aspen Hill's boundaries aren't officially defined, and some might feel it's further north, near Georgia/Connecticut, but we lived on Hathaway Dr. between Layhill and Georgia. Our 3-bedroom home was built in 1982 and there were lots of other homes of a smilar age, and a few newer. Even one brand new development (in 2000) on Layhill. A property management company could give you an idea what rents might be, as might classified ads, Craigslist, etc. I commuted on Metro (we were about a mile from the Glenmont Metro) to Southwest DC, but drove to College Park for night classes a few nights a week. Took me a bit over half an hour most days, but some days could be worse, especially on the Beltway. I think from the Beltway to CP you'd be going against the flow. I tried Metro a few times (changing from Red Line to Green Line at Ft. Totten) but it was a pain.

If you can avoid Georgia Avenue on your commute, especially from Olney, it might help. We went to Olney to get to our vet and to a Belgian restaurant.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Samoi137

Our 3-bedroom home was built in 1982 and there were lots of other homes of a smilar age, and a few newer.

I was incorrect, and there are newer homes. When you search realtor.com and ask for Aspen Hill, it gives you all of 20906. Samoi is correct that the boundaries are subject to interpretation.

I also agree that if you can avoid Georgia Avenue, or go at non-peak times, it is less congested. Perhaps the ICC will help.

[badchad]

I think you're looking at a 45 min - 1 hr+ commute from Olney. From the intersection of 97 and 108 (pretty much the center of Olney in my opinion), it takes me 30-40 min to go to white oak, and I'm on the road by 7 AM.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by badchad

I think you're looking at a 45 min - 1 hr+ commute from Olney. From the intersection of 97 and 108 (pretty much the center of Olney in my opinion), it takes me 30-40 min to go to white oak, and I'm on the road by 7 AM.

Or you could take the ICC. I think it would cost maybe $4? I know some would rather not pay. But if a quick commute is more valuable than cash, then the ICC is for you.

[PBSG]

We moved from Rockville to Olney last year and we really like it. Very friendly people, enough businesses/restaurants very close by. Overall a nice place. I suggest just spending a few hours up here on a weekend, grab lunch, check out a few open houses and go from there.