What are the best and worst exurbs?

[Anonymous]

I see some chatter here about various exurbs in Maryland or Virginia and debate over what is or is not an exurb. I'm just curious what are the more promising exurbs and ones people should avoid entirely and why? I'm curious about which places are worth exploring. Hopefully if there any replies this can help others as well. Thankful for any knowledge provided!

[Anonymous]

A lot of people like Frederick, MD since it has its own nice charming downtown and historic areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people like Frederick, MD since it has its own nice charming downtown and historic areas.

+1 I like Frederick downtown - old world charm, some quirky stores, nice waterfront.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never so much as been there but Poolesville MD seems to have a lot of boosters?

[Anonymous]

Yes Frederick is a good example. Basically, an exurb where a good-sized town already existed and got sort of enveloped into the metro area is a good exurb. A bad exurb is where someone built a bunch of houses in a cornfield right off a highway exit.

[Anonymous]

Ashburn or Leesburg? Ashburn now has the metro and downtown Leesburg is super cute!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashburn or Leesburg? Ashburn now has the metro and downtown Leesburg is super cute!

Ashburn is a hellscape of ugly data centers

[Anonymous]

Elliott City, MD.

[Anonymous]

Purcellville, Shepardstown and Leesburg are nice

I dislike Manassas

[Anonymous]

Best: Fairfax, Leesburg, Severna Park, Reston, Ashburn.

Worst: Columbia, Woodbridge, Calvert, Stafford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elliott City, MD.

I find downtown Ellicott City depressing. I don't understand why people like it. Frederick is much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best: Fairfax, Leesburg, Severna Park, Reston, Ashburn.

Worst: Columbia, Woodbridge, Calvert, Stafford.

Calling Fairfax an exburb is just silly. Come on now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]Best: Fairfax, Leesburg, Severna Park, Reston, Ashburn.[/b]

Worst: Columbia, Woodbridge, Calvert, Stafford.

these are not exurbs, maybe leesburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Best: Fairfax, Leesburg, Severna Park, Reston, Ashburn.[/b]

Worst: Columbia, Woodbridge, Calvert, Stafford.

these are not exurbs, maybe leesburg.

Severna Park is considered a suburb of Baltimore, not an exurb. Columbia is technically a suburb of Baltimore as well although it is in-between DC and Baltimore. But not an exurb.

Mt. Airy is not great.

[Anonymous]

Most people in this thread have no idea what an exurb is.

exurb
ĕk′sûrb″
noun
A semirural region lying just beyond the suburbs of a city.


Places like Fairfax, Leesburg, Ashburn, Frederick exurbs is just ridiculous. There’s hardly any rural land in any of these places. Those are the definition of suburb. Even Woodbridge is a suburb not exurb.