What's the Word on Gaithersburg?

[Anonymous]

And yes, I used the wrong type of there in my first paragraph, I haven't finished my morning coffee yet! That sentence should read, "know their friends, and teach them..."

[Anonymous]

OP- We live in Gaithersburg and honestly I think some of the negative comments are just ridiculous. My husband works for the gov't and commutes into DC everyday From our house to his work taking the SG metro, his commute is an hour door to door. Sometimes more if there are delays. I would say that that is the biggest complaint we have about where we live. In terms of what I think of the neighborhood- I tell you that our community (a new housing development) is fantastic. Lots of professionals, young families with small children. Everyone is really friendly and on a typical summer afternoon, you'll see neighborhood kids playing with one another and parents chatting with each other. That said, the area around our community (Lakeforest mall/Old Town Gaithersburg) is not that great due to low income housing and some of the reported crimes but I honestly have not felt unsafe going to the mall or the shops around the area during the day. It's just not as big of a deal as some people are making it out to be. I think my bigger gripe with that area is that there just aren't a lot of shops/restaurants that I like to go to. The mall in itself sucks compared to Montgomery Mall or Tysons Corner for instance. There is a Trader Joe's nearby which is a plus, and having HMART around the corner is great. On the weekends, we like going to Rio (The Washingtonian) which is closer to 370 and about an 8-10 minute drive from us. Lots of restaurants, shops and a lake + playground which the kids just love. Rockville is also not that far (10 min drive) where there are better places to eat/shop. On a positive note Old Town Gaithersburg is undergoing a revitalization project and in a few years, will really lift up the reputation of that area.

Now for the schools, luckily we are zoned in for a good elementary school. As for the Middle School and HS, well their reputations are not so great but we have a long way to go before that time comes. Who knows what these schools will be like 10 years from now when my first child will be in MS. We can always move before then or go the private route. As the PP said, definitely check out the schools and see what you think. Personally I think the fact that there's a lot of diversity in the schools is a plus as I want to raise my kids to be exposed to different types of people and to feel comfortable interacting with them and to realize there's more to the world than the little bubble that some people want to raise their kids in.

Also note that I 've been talking about the Lakeforest/Montgomery Village area which is what definitely gives Gaithersburg a bad rep. The 20878 zip code area has better schools and should not be seen as a bad place to live. Check out Kentlands and its surrounding neigborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And yes, I used the wrong type of there in my first paragraph, I haven't finished my morning coffee yet! That sentence should read, "know their friends, and teach them..."

Also, "And for what its worth, many of my students are taller then I am and outweigh me,..." should be "... taller THAN me..."

[Anonymous]

We live in King Farm and yes MANY are pissed about the split of schools (1/2 in RM and 1/2 to Gaithersburg HS). However, RM is overcrowded and will not rezone to allow all of KF students to go to it. So either half get to keep their students at RM or everyone loses and all of KF has to have their kids attend GHS. If you live on the good side, you could give a crap about the saps on the other side. Sad, but true.

But back to your orignal question, Gaithersburg isn't that bad. A lot less expensive than parts of Rockville and Bethesda. But the schools are spotty and there is really no city "center." Rio, Old Town Gaithersburg and Lakeforest couldn't be more spread out.

[Anonymous]

Gaithersburg is for poors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg is for poors.

While there are lower-income housing areas in Gaithersburg, I'd have to say overall it's solidly middle-class. Several PPs have already given detailed information which I won't repeat, but I will say this - if you have to commute using 270 south in the morning and north in the evening, do NOT move to gaithersburg. If you can take MARC or metro, then it's fine, and if you want to pay a ton of money to get over to PG, once the Intercounty Connector is fully open, it should be a nice, empty road.

[Anonymous]

I never knew there was so much disgust for my city. We've been happy here for 13 years. Some days I'd like to be closer to DC, but other days I'm thankful to be a bit farther out as we frequently travel north. I take metro and DH drives to Bethesda so our commutes are not too taxing. We love our ES (including its diversity), and know the MS and HS could be better but hope to have magnet and other options based on feedback we've gotten from teachers.

We enjoy all the parks and open spaces. We've made great friends and have cool neighbors. Sure, we head elsewhere for some of our shopping and dining but that has never bothered me. I know there are gangs and pockets with higher crime rates but Gaithersburg is pretty big area and so far all the positives have outweighed any negatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg is for poors.

Gaithersburg resident here who gave a pretty accurate description of the area in a previous post. Gaithersburg is not for "poors." There are poor people but in general, it is very middle class, some even upper middle class especially around the Kentlands area. This quote above just shows exactly what I mean about not wanting to raise my kids in a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a pretty nasty and sad place to live and always has been (and yes, I lived there for many years). Seems more reports of gang-style violence more recently.

Yes, living in Lakelands or Kentlands or Orchard Hills is very very very sad and nasty. Are you really that stupid in real life?

[Anonymous]

I live in Gaithersburg off of Jones Lane in a multi-million dollar home. The people commenting on this thread about the "poors" in Gaithersburg and how "nasty" Gaithersburg is obviously live in a bubble and have no idea what they are talking about.

Please, stay where you are and do not move to my city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yes, I used the wrong type of there in my first paragraph, I haven't finished my morning coffee yet! That sentence should read, "know their friends, and teach them..."

Also, "And for what its worth, many of my students are taller then I am and outweigh me,..." should be "... taller THAN me..."

No, "taller than I" is correct.

[Anonymous]

I live in Gaithersburg off of Jones Lane in a multi-million dollar home. The people commenting on this thread about the "poors" in Gaithersburg and how "nasty" Gaithersburg is obviously live in a bubble and have no idea what they are talking about.

Please, stay where you are and do not move to my city.

Listen, I live near you off Travilah and Glen. The homes off Jones (Mountain View, Quail Run or off Buckeye) are not multi million dollar homes. They are the size of multi-million dollar homes and look like multi million dollar homes but they are selling for high 900s but not 2-3 million. Even at the high point in 2005, they did not go this high. If you picked up your house and moved it 10-15 minutes away into Potomac then you would get closer but not where you are located. In addition, all the houses around you in neighborhoods off Jones Lane go for 600K. These are nice houses, very nice people and a great option.

This is what makes this area a great place to live. Many people don't want to spend $1 million on a small house, a house that doesn't have the layout they want, on a busy street or that has a small scrubby lot. Out here you can find a beautiful house on a huge lot for 1 million. Since the upper level homes have been hit hardest by the recession, you can find this now for mid 800s to 900. For $600-$800 you can find a great a house, not a brand new McMansion, but a 2500-3000 sq feet house with a lot full of mature trees and enough room for a jungle gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I live in Gaithersburg off of Jones Lane in a multi-million dollar home. The people commenting on this thread about the "poors" in Gaithersburg and how "nasty" Gaithersburg is obviously live in a bubble and have no idea what they are talking about.

Please, stay where you are and do not move to my city.

Listen, I live near you off Travilah and Glen. The homes off Jones (Mountain View, Quail Run or off Buckeye) are not multi million dollar homes. They are the size of multi-million dollar homes and look like multi million dollar homes but they are selling for high 900s but not 2-3 million. Even at the high point in 2005, they did not go this high. If you picked up your house and moved it 10-15 minutes away into Potomac then you would get closer but not where you are located. In addition, all the houses around you in neighborhoods off Jones Lane go for 600K. These are nice houses, very nice people and a great option.

This is what makes this area a great place to live. Many people don't want to spend $1 million on a small house, a house that doesn't have the layout they want, on a busy street or that has a small scrubby lot. Out here you can find a beautiful house on a huge lot for 1 million. Since the upper level homes have been hit hardest by the recession, you can find this now for mid 800s to 900. For $600-$800 you can find a great a house, not a brand new McMansion, but a 2500-3000 sq feet house with a lot full of mature trees and enough room for a jungle gym.

Really? My house was well over a million dollars. I can find more over a million if you like... Jones & Darnestown is nowhere near Glen & Travilah. I'm out near Poolesville, you're near Wootton High School. So you listen, you have no idea what you're talking about.

http://www.homes.com/listing/139453897/7001_Cypress_Hill_Dr_GAITHERSBURG_MD_20879

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I live in Gaithersburg off of Jones Lane in a multi-million dollar home. The people commenting on this thread about the "poors" in Gaithersburg and how "nasty" Gaithersburg is obviously live in a bubble and have no idea what they are talking about.

Please, stay where you are and do not move to my city.

Listen, I live near you off Travilah and Glen. The homes off Jones (Mountain View, Quail Run or off Buckeye) are not multi million dollar homes. They are the size of multi-million dollar homes and look like multi million dollar homes but they are selling for high 900s but not 2-3 million. Even at the high point in 2005, they did not go this high. If you picked up your house and moved it 10-15 minutes away into Potomac then you would get closer but not where you are located. In addition, all the houses around you in neighborhoods off Jones Lane go for 600K. These are nice houses, very nice people and a great option.

This is what makes this area a great place to live. Many people don't want to spend $1 million on a small house, a house that doesn't have the layout they want, on a busy street or that has a small scrubby lot. Out here you can find a beautiful house on a huge lot for 1 million. Since the upper level homes have been hit hardest by the recession, you can find this now for mid 800s to 900. For $600-$800 you can find a great a house, not a brand new McMansion, but a 2500-3000 sq feet house with a lot full of mature trees and enough room for a jungle gym.

Really? My house was well over a million dollars. I can find more over a million if you like... Jones & Darnestown is nowhere near Glen & Travilah. I'm out near Poolesville, you're near Wootton High School. So you listen, you have no idea what you're talking about.

http://www.homes.com/listing/139453897/7001_Cypress_Hill_Dr_GAITHERSBURG_MD_20879

http://www.drodio.com/properties?q=20878&type=sale&state=MD&price-min=800000&price-max=2500000&beds=1&baths=1

http://www.drodio.com/maryland-real-estate/north-potomac/11306-amberlea-farm-dr-north-potomac-md-mc7023878.php

http://www.drodio.com/maryland-real-estate/gaithersburg/13428-haddonfield-ln-gaithersburg-md-mc7001666.php

http://www.drodio.com/maryland-real-estate/north-potomac/13216-squires-ct-north-potomac-md-mc7603774.php

[Anonymous]

Sorry but a little confused. You said you live off Jones Lane. The house you posted is almost 11 miles from Jones Lane off of Woodfield Road.

How is it off of Jones Lane?

Also while the house may be for sale for over a million, the zillow estimate is for $800,000.