Nicest Area for Meade/D.C. Commutes (Baltimore, Columbia: for sale, rentals)

[Hercules331]

Hi everyone. I am looking for the nicest area near Fort Meade that also allows easy access to D.C. (via train), money is no concern. I will be working at Fort Meade and my wife will be going to school in D.C. My main constraint is that I would like no more than a 30 minute drive to Meade (including days with moderate traffic, I will be going in early for PT and coming home in the evening rush-hour). The length of my wife's commute is more flexible.

We are looking for the nicest area based on crime, schools, shopping, the whole lot- we will most likely be buying but money is not really a concern. I assume we should live somewhere near the Camden MARC line or a Metro station for my wife's commute but it's hard to determine which places are 1) very nice and 2) within 30 minute to Meade. Are there really nice areas south of Meade that are close to a MARC or Metro line? Is seems like if we live closer to Meade than D.C., then my wife will have a longish commute on the train- so we'd like to live near a station so there's not too much of a drive added to the commute.

We don't really care whether its N,S,E, or W of Meade but we want the nicest area, preferably suburbanish, within 30 minutes of Meade and close to a station to get to D.C.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[goldenage1]

If money is really no concern, I'd look at houses in the Chapel Grove subdivision around Star Stella, Lodi and Seneca Streets in Odenton. I don't know who the builder was, but they sell in the upper ranges, like this one: 743 Seneca Dr, Odenton, MD 21113 is For Sale - Zillow

[cjmeck]

For commuting to Fort Meade in less than 30 minutes... Most families who are needing to split between DC and Meade will consider the town of Crofton, Odenton (Piney Orchard area is a planned community), Laurel (the north part, zip code 20723 is the Maple Lawn area, another planned community) for example. There are nice areas in Montgomery County that will get you closer to the train but further from Meade. Will she be on the east or west side of DC? That might factor in my decision as well. You'll want to search greatschools.org and spotcrime.org for your own specific criteria. If you'll consider being like 20 minutes or so from the train station, I've got more suggestions to the west and north of Meade.

[Hercules331]

Thanks for the info guys. I forgot to mention in my original post that we don't have any kids (yet) and we're both late 20s.

Now I heard that Odenton suffers from the "town-right-outside-a-military-installation" syndrome- is that not true? Odenton and Crofton seem a bit more rural (neither have a Best Buy- I know its not the most scientific way to determine whether a place is rural or suburban, but its a start). I see some nice houses in those areas but how is the shopping, restaurants, nightlife (if any), things to do, etc.?

She will be going to school on the West side of D.C., so probably taking a MARC to Union Station then getting on a Metro train.

What do you recommend in Montgomery County? And is Columbia the area west and north you recommend? I hear the commute to Meade from Columbia is under 30 min, is this true? However, it seems the closest MARC (Savage station) is a bit of a drive from Columbia.

Thanks again.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Hercules331

Now I heard that Odenton suffers from the "town-right-outside-a-military-installation" syndrome- is that not true?

The Piney Green community in Odenton is very nice. Certainly there are places around Fort Meade that cater to the enlisted men, but most of the people who work at Fort Meade are middle class professionals. In other words, it won't look like Fayetteville.

I'd suggest Columbia for its convenience, but don't expect much night-life. You will probably go to DC or Baltimore anyway if you want more night-life.

BTW, you wife is not restricted to using the MARC train to get to DC. There are decent express buses from Columbia and Jessup to DC. (Google MTA Maryland for the express buses.) Then she can hop on the metro to GW or American U. Georgetown will require another bus ride. She could also drive to the park-and-ride stop in Burtonsville, and get a DC metrobus to the city.

If you want to look at Montgomery County, I'd suggest downtown Silver Spring, especially if you want some night-life and to be around other young people.

[cjmeck]

Originally Posted by Hercules331

Now I heard that Odenton suffers from the "town-right-outside-a-military-installation" syndrome- is that not true? Odenton and Crofton seem a bit more rural (neither have a Best Buy- I know its not the most scientific way to determine whether a place is rural or suburban, but its a start). I see some nice houses in those areas but how is the shopping, restaurants, nightlife (if any), things to do, etc.?

She will be going to school on the West side of D.C., so probably taking a MARC to Union Station then getting on a Metro train.

What do you recommend in Montgomery County? And is Columbia the area west and north you recommend? I hear the commute to Meade from Columbia is under 30 min, is this true? However, it seems the closest MARC (Savage station) is a bit of a drive from Columbia.

Thanks again.

Columbia would be good as far as a commute to Meade; its pretty spread out so some areas you could get there in 10-15 minutes, others might be 20. Ellicott City is a bit further north from Columbia and my husband can make it to Meade in 20 minutes from our house. Crofton and the Piney Orchard area of Odenton (which are not rural at all, but definitely suburbs) have a great shopping center called the Village at Waugh Chapel (google it, see what you think), although I think it may technically be in Gambrills. There is a part of Anne Arundel County where Crofton, Gambrills and Odenton all meet and that whole area is pretty similar. There are parts of Odenton that border Meade and might be what you'd expect to find just outside a base, the Piney Orchard area of Odenton does not border the base however. I understand your Best Buy comparison; I always look to see how far I'll live from a Target, lol Okay, west side of DC, Montgomery County will be hard with your 30 minute to Meade requirement but Rockville maybe. Bethesda is nice but it use to take me 45 minutes in traffic to get from Meade to the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. Possibly Silver Spring as well. Another area in Anne Arundel County close to the base that has lots going on will be Hanover; Arundel Mills Mall and the casino are there. There are some really nice homes in that area. Everyone has a budget though, and if you aren't familiar with the housing prices here, you'll find that your money goes further in certain areas.

[Hercules331]

Thanks for the help guys.

I've had success finding places in pretty much all the areas you recommend. I've decided to actually find a place to rent for 6 months or so I can investigate the whole area to find the perfect location. My wife will not be with me yet so the rental place only needs to be close to Meade.

Has anyone heard anything about the Russett Community? It seems to be a planned community but maybe in the non-north Laurel part of Laurel. It's close to post and has some available rentals. As long as its not the sketchiest place on Earth it should work for 6 months or so?

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Hercules331

Has anyone heard anything about the Russett Community? It seems to be a planned community but maybe in the non-north Laurel part of Laurel. It's close to post and has some available rentals. As long as its not the sketchiest place on Earth it should work for 6 months or so?

Sure, Russett is a nice area.

[newhart]

Russett is definitely fine for renting. Good luck!

[pokeable]

We rented in Russett when we first moved to the area. Not bad place to live. Convenient both to Fort Meade and DC.