What's it like to live in Columbia, MD?

[Anonymous]

We just moved to the area and are trying to figure out which community to live in in MoCo downcounty (Kensington, Chevy Chase, Takoma Park). Howard county is so much cheaper and the schools are good--some friends and family are suggesting we live there, as one of us will be working in College Park. How would living in Columbia compare to the areas in MoCo that we're looking at? How important is proximity to DC? Is it worth paying a lot more for a house in MoCo? Is Columbia worth investigating? What is there to do there? We are not people who like to go to the mall, and I understand there is a mall there that is central to the town life--but maybe that's not correct? Other things to do out there? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's nice, but that depends on what you are looking for. It is far from DC, anything headed south in the morning is a nightmare.
There is a lot for kids to do, it's very active. However, things you won't find that drove me crazy; a good deli, like for italian subs and steak and cheese. It just doesn't exist there. A good Non-chain restaurant, it may exist now but it didn't 5 years ago.
Everything is based around the shopping centers or town centers, so if you don't like strip malls and lots of driving it isn't for you. This isn't to say there isnt a lot of places to walk, there are trails galore, it's just that it is for walking as an activity, not to walk to run errands
Like I said it really depends on what you are looking for but it is very suburban, but great for kids.
The schools are great, but it seems to me the teenagers are very bored, lot of them have $, so put them together and you have lots of kids with $ looking for trouble.
And hanging out at the mall seems to be what everyone does for fun a lot
The "lake" does have nice concerts in the summer, it a man-made lake surrounded by chain restaurants
You should drive there and spend the day at the different town centers to get an idea of the area

[Anonymous]

One good thing about Columbia is that there is a Trader Joe's, and the liquor store that is a couple stores down from Trader Joe's is magnificent.

Columbia is very suburban and like the previous poster said there are a lot of chain restaurants and not a lot of actually good restaurants.

Lake Elkhorn is a very nice park, though. Centennial Lake is also nice.

[Anonymous]

Kensington, chevy chase, takoma park, and silver spring (close-in to the beltway) are all great places to raise kids, but the cost of housing is very expensive. Depends on how long you want to commute, the commute from chevy chase culd be very very long if you are at the height of rush hour...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just moved to the area and are trying to figure out which community to live in in MoCo downcounty (Kensington, Chevy Chase, Takoma Park). Howard county is so much cheaper and the schools are good--some friends and family are suggesting we live there, as one of us will be working in College Park. How would living in Columbia compare to the areas in MoCo that we're looking at? How important is proximity to DC? Is it worth paying a lot more for a house in MoCo? Is Columbia worth investigating? What is there to do there? We are not people who like to go to the mall, and I understand there is a mall there that is central to the town life--but maybe that's not correct? Other things to do out there? Thanks!

What about the other one?

I find that most of my Ho Co friends up 29, close to 40 are basically Baltimore-based, not DC-based.

Schools around Columbia - with the exception of Centennial and maybe even Atholton - aren't the top picks in Ho Co

[Anonymous]

There are great schools in Howard County, but it has a MUCH more suburban feel than downcounty MoCo. You mentioned that one of you works in College Park, but if the other one works in the district, getting to the city from Columbia is a nightmare. If you are worried about the cost, you may as well cut Chevy Chase off of your list and look at Kensington, Takoma Park and some parts of Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

I grew up there. Went to a great high school. A pp stated that Columbia doesn't have great high schools, but River Hill is the best and it's in Columbia. I loved growing up there. My parents still live there. My kids love going over there. However, after living in MoCo and growing up in HoCo, I choose to live in DC. Just more to do, not as suburban. If my husband had a choice, he would live in HoCo, but I refuse. It's like when you grow up in the country you want to live in the city and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Is there a Whole Foods in Columbia?

[Anonymous]

No Whole Foods, but there is a My Organic Market and a David's Natural Market.

[Anonymous]

If one of you works in College Park, what about University Park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there. Went to a great high school. A pp stated that Columbia doesn't have great high schools, but River Hill is the best and it's in Columbia. I loved growing up there. My parents still live there. My kids love going over there. However, after living in MoCo and growing up in HoCo, I choose to live in DC. Just more to do, not as suburban. If my husband had a choice, he would live in HoCo, but I refuse. It's like when you grow up in the country you want to live in the city and vice versa.

River Hill is in Clarksville, not Columbia. It's a 21029 zip.

River Hill is like our W schools in Mo Co. Hammond and Wild Lake, for example, aren't in the same "money" league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a Whole Foods in Columbia?

I still don't understand why we have no Whole Foods!!! There is a Roots in Clarksville (I don't love MOM or Davids). We are getting a Wegmans next year I think.

I don't think River Hill is all that great - people mostly say its "great" b/c the incomes of parents whose kids go there tend to be higher. That can bring its own set of issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a Whole Foods in Columbia?

I still don't understand why we have no Whole Foods!!! There is a Roots in Clarksville (I don't love MOM or Davids). We are getting a Wegmans next year I think.

I don't think River Hill is all that great - people mostly say its "great" b/c the incomes of parents whose kids go there tend to be higher. That can bring its own set of issues.

So what schools do you recommend over River Hill?

[Anonymous]

I don't see how people live there and commute to DC. Maybe if one parent stays home, but with both parents working that seems like a really, really crappy commute.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be working at the new Wegmans in Columbia! It's a wonderful supermarket. I really hope everyone will enjoy it!

Anyways, my family and I are going to be moving. I'm wondering what the schools are like and what's recommended. What kind of activities are available? Thanks!