Affordable historic charm in Brookeville MD for young families?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Just moved back to the area for a new hybrid position in government affairs where I commute to Metro Center only 2 or 3 days a week. I have always loved living on Capitol Hill for the historic charm, but we are looking at buying outside of the city in a more affordable area. I just would like it to be historic/charming and family friendly with townhomes and single family homes available to purchase or build under $700k.

I normally gravitate to VA over MD, but recently I saw listings in Brookeville/Ashton areas and thought they were beautiful and bucolic and affordable. How are the schools? Commute times to Metro Center? And has anyone here ever taken advantage of MD's student loan forgiveness program for first time homebuyers (up to $40k forgiven when you sign the mortgage!) Insane.

Thoughts in general on Brookeville and slightly further north vs. VA hunt country and Old Town Manassas/Nokesville farm country? Trying to snag a historic charmer sfh if I'm lucky!

[Anonymous]

Brookeville covers a pretty big area. We are in the Tanterra neighborhood (close to Olney) and are very happy. The schools are all great from what I’ve heard and there are a lot of families in our neighborhood. I think you can go a few more miles north up Georgia Ave and still be in Brookeville.

[Anonymous]

Not a ton of diversity there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

Just moved back to the area for a new hybrid position in government affairs where I commute to Metro Center only 2 or 3 days a week. I have always loved living on Capitol Hill for the historic charm, but we are looking at buying outside of the city in a more affordable area. I just would like it to be historic/charming and family friendly with townhomes and single family homes available to purchase or build under $700k.

I normally gravitate to VA over MD, but recently I saw listings in Brookeville/Ashton areas and thought they were beautiful and bucolic and affordable. How are the schools? Commute times to Metro Center? And has anyone here ever taken advantage of MD's student loan forgiveness program for first time homebuyers (up to $40k forgiven when you sign the mortgage!) Insane.

Thoughts in general on Brookeville and slightly further north vs. VA hunt country and Old Town Manassas/Nokesville farm country? Trying to snag a historic charmer sfh if I'm lucky!

I think you’d love for what your needs are! Close enough to DC, bucolic, and affordable! Some may find it boring or slower paced but it sounds like you might enjoy the change of pace. I would also try posting in the education section on this forum too for more specific advice on the public schools in that area.

[Anonymous]

There are just so many better options.

What are your kids ages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

NP
http://www.justicemap.org/

[Anonymous]

Commute is horrible. GA Ave has gotten worse over the last 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

Oh, yeah, TONS of diversity if you mean hair color

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/brookeville-md#:~:text=The%205%20largest%20ethnic%20groups,(Hispanic)%20(0%25).

[Anonymous]

Which part of Brookeville are you considering? Lower part - close to Olney is more packed with houses and I'd consider those pretty solid middle class families. Upper part has bigger houses and larger lot and more close to UMC than MC families. Schools are pretty typical MCPS schools - excep W-schools/BCC/magnets. Diversity (as one of PP stated is above) is somewhat lacking compare to other parts of MC. I live very close.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add - commte, you can go to glenmont station (red) and catch metro from there. not the easiest but if you don't have to do it everyday, it maybe manageable. Rt 97 (Georgia ave) is PITA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

NP
http://www.justicemap.org/

Brookeville and Olney are pretty much the same area now they’ve grown and seemingly merged. You are surrounded by diversity although maybe not economic diversity. Parts of Brookeville have large houses and acreage, and maybe those areas are less diverse but that could vary block by block. And other parts are so far apart that really you don’t see or interact with many people. some Parts of Brookeville that are interwoven with Olney are regular suburban homes. The schools are diverse, but the commute into DC is a nightmare. The person above is correct, Georgia Avenue has become a nightmare. The Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-through has also become a sore topic because it’s always backing up traffic even more. I live in Olney and the Street right next to me is Brookeville. My kids went to a Brookeville address school. In terms of family life we love it here because it is very family friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

NP
http://www.justicemap.org/

Brookeville and Olney are pretty much the same area now they’ve grown and seemingly merged. You are surrounded by diversity although maybe not economic diversity. Parts of Brookeville have large houses and acreage, and maybe those areas are less diverse but that could vary block by block. And other parts are so far apart that really you don’t see or interact with many people. some Parts of Brookeville that are interwoven with Olney are regular suburban homes. The schools are diverse, but the commute into DC is a nightmare. The person above is correct, Georgia Avenue has become a nightmare. The Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-through has also become a sore topic because it’s always backing up traffic even more. I live in Olney and the Street right next to me is Brookeville. My kids went to a Brookeville address school. In terms of family life we love it here because it is very family friendly.

Oh man, I'd love to hang whoever approved Dunkin at that location. Total f'king idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a ton of diversity there

How do you know this? Because this is not at all my experience! Tons of diversity. You're choosing not to see it.

NP
http://www.justicemap.org/

Brookeville and Olney are pretty much the same area now they’ve grown and seemingly merged. You are surrounded by diversity although maybe not economic diversity. Parts of Brookeville have large houses and acreage, and maybe those areas are less diverse but that could vary block by block. And other parts are so far apart that really you don’t see or interact with many people. some Parts of Brookeville that are interwoven with Olney are regular suburban homes. The schools are diverse, but the commute into DC is a nightmare. The person above is correct, Georgia Avenue has become a nightmare. The Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-through has also become a sore topic because it’s always backing up traffic even more. I live in Olney and the Street right next to me is Brookeville. My kids went to a Brookeville address school. In terms of family life we love it here because it is very family friendly.

Oh man, I'd love to hang whoever approved Dunkin at that location. Total f'king idiot.

Just wait until that Kaiser Permanente building gets built right next to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brookeville covers a pretty big area. We are in the Tanterra neighborhood (close to Olney) and are very happy. The schools are all great from what I’ve heard and there are a lot of families in our neighborhood. I think you can go a few more miles north up Georgia Ave and still be in Brookeville.

NP. I know it's almost certainly not what OP is looking for, but I've long thought the Tanterra neighborhood should be preserved as a historic district. It's wild how special and unique a time capsule those houses are. For late 1960s, early 1970s construction and styles, these places are hard to beat. Things like the double front doors and all the A-frame style massing are refreshingly different amidst all the sameness of suburbia.