MD vs VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland will be cheaper. Virginia has personal property tax. You can get cheaper housing within reasonable commuting distance to DC in Charles County, PG County, Howard, and Montgomery than you’ll find in Fairfax, Loudoun, city of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Arlington.

Maryland has higher income tax and higher real property taxes, so not sure why you claim it will be cheaper.

As a longtime DC resident who is in the process of figuring out which suburb we will be moving to, I do think Maryland comes out cheaper overall, though you're correct about the taxes.

It might depend on the individual, though. When we run the numbers based on cost of housing in our preferred school boundaries, our tax rates, and commuting costs, Maryland is the clear winner. The things that push VA higher are the car tax (especially if you have two newer, nicer cars) and housing costs. VA suburbs are much more aggressively tearing down old housing stock to put up massive, expensive new builds, and that seems to drive up prices overall. Montgomery County has a lot more affordable homes (well, affordable to us) with good schools.

One exception might be Annandale -- we really like the housing stock there and it's affordable, but the school's are less popular and it doesn't get around the personal property tax. We also like Alexandria but housing costs are through the roof there and again, the reviews on the schools are just okay.

People are making way too much over the personal property tax. The tax on a new car might be $1000 a year, which is pricey, but not compared to higher income taxes in MD. It wouldn't make or break my decision to live in either state.

[Anonymous]

After moving from MoCo to Fairfax, my annual tax burden dropped by $6K. Similar housing.

Basically, moving from MoCo to Fairfax bought me one additional family vacation per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland will be cheaper. Virginia has personal property tax. You can get cheaper housing within reasonable commuting distance to DC in Charles County, PG County, Howard, and Montgomery than you’ll find in Fairfax, Loudoun, city of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Arlington.

Maryland has higher income tax and higher real property taxes, so not sure why you claim it will be cheaper.

Housing is cheaper because the tax rates are so high. You ended paying a lot more. And inside the beltway on the MD side does not mean the same as it does on the Virginia side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland will be cheaper. Virginia has personal property tax. You can get cheaper housing within reasonable commuting distance to DC in Charles County, PG County, Howard, and Montgomery than you’ll find in Fairfax, Loudoun, city of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Arlington.

Maryland has higher income tax and higher real property taxes, so not sure why you claim it will be cheaper.

As a longtime DC resident who is in the process of figuring out which suburb we will be moving to, I do think Maryland comes out cheaper overall, though you're correct about the taxes.

It might depend on the individual, though. When we run the numbers based on cost of housing in our preferred school boundaries, our tax rates, and commuting costs, Maryland is the clear winner. The things that push VA higher are the car tax (especially if you have two newer, nicer cars) and housing costs. VA suburbs are much more aggressively tearing down old housing stock to put up massive, expensive new builds, and that seems to drive up prices overall. Montgomery County has a lot more affordable homes (well, affordable to us) with good schools.

One exception might be Annandale -- we really like the housing stock there and it's affordable, but the school's are less popular and it doesn't get around the personal property tax. We also like Alexandria but housing costs are through the roof there and again, the reviews on the schools are just okay.

Alexandria is a no. You need to go to private schools and they have ONE high school. And it is terrible.

Annandale is changing in demographic and the schools are actually quite good. Woodson is fantastic and draws from a lot of Annandale. Annandale HS is rapidly turning around and has an amazing principal. They have a good IB program for high performers.

[Anonymous]

We recently had friends leave Bethesda for Oakton, Virginia. They did it because their kids are getting older and the Universities in Virginia (UVA, GMU, Tech, JMU, William &Mary, etc.) are a great deal for in state and preference is given. There are a lot of schools and it will give their kids a good place to land.

As for green space in Virginia - in Fairfax County there are trails, streams and wildlife that are protected all throughout the County. Which I prefer to traditional parks. We have running/biking trails everywhere that are easy to get to from so many neighborhoods. The W&OD trail is amazing if you are Vienna/Oakton area.

[Anonymous]

VA if you think your kids will go to college. No brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After moving from MoCo to Fairfax, my annual tax burden dropped by $6K. Similar housing.

Basically, moving from MoCo to Fairfax bought me one additional family vacation per year.

Imagine moving over the cost of a budget OBX vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently had friends leave Bethesda for Oakton, Virginia. They did it because their kids are getting older and the Universities in Virginia (UVA, GMU, Tech, JMU, William &Mary, etc.) are a great deal for in state and preference is given. There are a lot of schools and it will give their kids a good place to land.

As for green space in Virginia - in Fairfax County there are trails, streams and wildlife that are protected all throughout the County. Which I prefer to traditional parks. We have running/biking trails everywhere that are easy to get to from so many neighborhoods. The W&OD trail is amazing if you are Vienna/Oakton area.

UMDCP, UMBC, ST Mary's of MD, Towson, Salsbury, Frostburg...

[Anonymous]

VA is less pedestrian and transit friendly in many places than MD which has better bus routes, side walks overall although neighborhoods can vary

[Anonymous]

I just reviewed an analysis for work where the COL for the 50 states was reviewed for retirements planning and Maryland is definitely more expensive than Virginia, primarily because of their higher income taxes which are significant in many cases vs Virginia. Added issue if you want to have access to a larger variety of good public colleges, Virginia wins over Maryland. Virginia's personal property or "car tax" was taken into consideration when ranking.

I would speak to a real estate agent re relocation about what personal things your family wants (access to transit, access to the highway, larger yard, community pools, good public schools, sidewalks, hiking and biking trails, etc). People can debate on here which of those is better but everyone has different priorities so for your own family I'd speak to a relo specialist (I am not one).

[Anonymous]

The biggest decider is/are the commute(s) and where are the potential commutes.

Also, what is your housing budget?
What are the ages of children (if any)?

It is easier to make recommendations with more information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just reviewed an analysis for work where the COL for the 50 states was reviewed for retirements planning and Maryland is definitely more expensive than Virginia, primarily because of their higher income taxes which are significant in many cases vs Virginia. Added issue if you want to have access to a larger variety of good public colleges, Virginia wins over Maryland. Virginia's personal property or "car tax" was taken into consideration when ranking.

I would speak to a real estate agent re relocation about what personal things your family wants (access to transit, access to the highway, larger yard, community pools, good public schools, sidewalks, hiking and biking trails, etc). People can debate on here which of those is better but everyone has different priorities so for your own family I'd speak to a relo specialist (I am not one).

Did they look into the higher cost of the ACA in Virginia? Or did they assume retirement after 65?

[Anonymous]

The blueness of MD is intolerable.

[Anonymous]

VA is more diverse than MD which is 10000% Dems. And when I say that I mean they are annoying and I have a ton of MD Dem friends and I am a Dem a well. I really like them - I find MD people to be truly nicer than VA. I live in VA but always seem to work with MD people. All my bosses are MD based but I would throw up if I lived in MD.

VA is very "easy" in that geographically, every town has their own culture. I get so confused in MD and I mean driving around there in circles literally is hard for me - I like straight roads that we have in VA.

VA is closer to the airports and there's a lot of money in VA. It's very cut and dry in VA. Living inside the beltway is no joke $$. MD offers more complexity and I think they have definitely nicer people. I think there's old money there but the I find the job market much harder in MD than VA on the whole.

I don't know how to explain it - I love the MD people but I think VA is more habitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an outsider considering moving my family to the DMV. I want to live somewhere family friendly and affordable on $300k income. Can someone run down the differences between MD and VA? Is one going to be cheaper?

Why are you moving here? Just pick whichever gives you a better commute because traffic here is a nightmare and will make you miserable.