Bowie rocks! Why isn't it more popular?
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Anonymous
| Don't be surprised. When white flight gets rolling, the changes occur pretty quickly. |
Anonymous
| I have nothing against it, a good friend from work lives there and has a very nice home. That commute, however, would definitely not be for me. I'd rather live closer in and have a smaller place. |
Anonymous
Well, I don't personally make the commute, but work with several people who do, and have to listen to them complain about it constantly. So I am imagining it is not that great for them. I'm not making the commuting issue up out of thin air. |
Anonymous
| I never realized the median income in bowie is over 100k. if that's low income ghetto, count me in lol |
Anonymous
but the median income in takoma park is only about 70k...things that make you go hmmm |
Anonymous
I think people have the perception of large majority AA population because that is what you see for the most part in the public schools. Seems a significant portion of the white population is either going to private, or empty nesters. |
Anonymous
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Money magazine did top 50 places to live in 2014. Bowie was ranked 28th and Rockville 24th. It looks like the only significant difference is Bowie kids scored better and Bowie has lower priced homes and has more diversity.
BASIC INFORMATION City: Bowie State: MD Population: 56,344 Census region: South FINANCIAL Median family income: $122,777 Cost of Living Index score (100 is national average): 110 Projected job growth 2013 – 2018: 4% HOUSING Median home price: $257,250 Average property taxes: $4,092 EDUCATION Colleges, universities, and professional schools (within 30 miles): 72 Reading test scores (% above state average): 12.8% Math test scores (% above state average): 14% % students attending public/private schools (within town limits): 83.4%/16.6% QUALITY OF LIFE Personal crime incidents (per 1,000 people): 1 Property crime incidents (per 1,000 people): 16 Median commute time (in minutes): 33 % population with commute 45 mins. or longer: 34% % population who walk or bike to work: 2% MEET THE NEIGHBORS Median age: 39.5 Residents who completed at least some college: 74% Married: 48% Divorced: 10% Racial diversity index (100 is national average): 445.3 BASIC INFORMATION City: Rockville State: MD Population: 63,633 Census region: South FINANCIAL Median family income: $119,444 Projected job growth 2013 – 2018: 4% HOUSING Median home price: $441,750 Average property taxes: $5,212 EDUCATION Colleges, universities, and professional schools (within 30 miles): 58 Reading test scores (% above state average): 9.8% Math test scores (% above state average): 12.7% % students attending public/private schools (within town limits): 90.4%/9.6% QUALITY OF LIFE Personal crime incidents (per 1,000 people): 1 Property crime incidents (per 1,000 people): 15 Median commute time (in minutes): 29 % population with commute 45 mins. or longer: 29% % population who walk or bike to work: 3% MEET THE NEIGHBORS Median age: 38.2 Residents who completed at least some college: 78% Married: 51% Divorced: 8% Racial diversity index (100 is national average): 205.2 Divorced Racial diversity index (100 is national average): 445 |
Anonymous
It's hard to compare the two cities based on only the above stats, because Rockville is almost like a tale of two cities itself. For example, Rockville has nearly double the number of people with graduate degrees as Bowie (28% vs 15%), but Rockville also has a higher number of people with no high school diploma (11% in Rockville, 6% in Bowie). For those living in the wealthiest parts of Rockville, their experience is more like those in Bethesda/Potomac, while those on the other end are closer to the experience of Silver Spring/Aspen Hill, but with higher rated (perceived better) schools. So it seems that Rockville has a bigger spread of socioeconomic groups than Bowie does, which would account for the lower average HHI in the above stats. Also, the location of Rockville is quite different from that of Bowie, in terms of proximity to several metro stops, jobs (right off 270 tech corridor) and closer to Tysons, etc., which I believe plays a role in the price of the homes as well. http://www.infoplease.com/us/census/data/maryland/rockville/social.html http://www.infoplease.com/us/census/data/maryland/bowie/social.html |
Anonymous
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This is a very interesting thread. I'm looking to relocate and I'm looking at redfin. What part of Bowie is a good? Above 50? Below? Point me to a house on the map and I can work my way around. Budget, 500K max, but ideally 300-400.
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Anonymous
If you have the mindset of the MoCo posters, then you want north of US-50. Traditionally, the part of Bowie north of US-50 tends to be more white and the area south of US-50 tends to be more AA. That was a much more distinct difference up through the 90's but the last 20 years or so, the areas have blended much more, but there still tends to be a larger ratio white to minority north of US-50 and vice versa south of US-50. |
Anonymous
You're painting MoCo with a pretty broad brush. Let's not forget some areas of MoCo are majority minority with very happy residents of all backgrounds. |
Anonymous
If you have read this thread you will know that most of the people who have responded are more than a little racist and have really warped ideas of what "good" means. Look up the houses in the area on redfin and go visit some open houses or visit with a realtor who knows the area. Go shopping at some of the stores in the area, do some activities or something. Drive around the neighborhoods at different times of day and night and see what you think. Ask actual people you know at work. The vast, vast majority of Bowie and the surrounding towns are gloriously mundane suburbia, just with more black people. |
Anonymous
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It's hard to compare the two cities based on only the above stats, because Rockville is almost like a tale of two cities itself. For example, Rockville has nearly double the number of people with graduate degrees as Bowie (28% vs 15%), but Rockville also has a higher number of people with no high school diploma (11% in Rockville, 6% in Bowie). For those living in the wealthiest parts of Rockville, their experience is more like those in Bethesda/Potomac, while those on the other end are closer to the experience of Silver Spring/Aspen Hill, but with higher rated (perceived better) schools. So it seems that Rockville has a bigger spread of socioeconomic groups than Bowie does, which would account for the lower average HHI in the above stats. Also, the location of Rockville is quite different from that of Bowie, in terms of proximity to several metro stops, jobs (right off 270 tech corridor) and closer to Tysons, etc., which I believe plays a role in the price of the homes as well. http://www.infoplease.com/us/census/data/maryland/rockville/social.html http://www.infoplease.com/us/census/data/maryland/bowie/social.html Intersting because people on this thread are making assumptions about Bowie based on the county it is in without having information other than it is minority majority ( 48% vs. 41%). Also, I dont see people here automatically dismissing other counties. The stats above show that people who live in Bowie have similar income, education, commutes, students who test above state average in English and Math (despite others always saying how bad the schools are), and safety as parts of MoCo. I hope it makes people pause and think about the true reasons they say they would never live in Bowie. |
Anonymous
Intersting because people on this thread are making assumptions about Bowie based on the county it is in without having information other than it is minority majority ( 48% vs. 41%). Also, I dont see people here automatically dismissing other counties. The stats above show that people who live in Bowie have similar income, education, commutes, students who test above state average in English and Math (despite others always saying how bad the schools are), and safety as parts of MoCo. I hope it makes people pause and think about the true reasons they say they would never live in Bowie. The key words here are "PARTS of MoCo". The people you are referring to would likely want a specific part of MoCo (west of 270?), which is a very different place from Bowie. They probably wouldn't choose to live in Bowie even if it were all white, because it is not as wealthy and prestigious of an area. The people east of 270, who are already in a majority minority area, are probably basing their choice on school ratings (i.e., "better" schools because they are in closer proximity to mass wealth) or job location. |
Anonymous
The key words here are "PARTS of MoCo". The people you are referring to would likely want a specific part of MoCo (west of 270?), which is a very different place from Bowie. They probably wouldn't choose to live in Bowie even if it were all white, because it is not as wealthy and prestigious of an area. The people east of 270, who are already in a majority minority area, are probably basing their choice on school ratings (i.e., "better" schools because they are in closer proximity to mass wealth) or job location. Well those wealthy and presigious areas weren't included in the top 50 places to live list so I have no stats to compare. I'll end my participation in this thread by saying I'm grateful to live in a country where I can choose to live wehere I want for whatever reason I want. I believe this conversation has opened some eyes and given people the opportunity to share their thoughts as well as facts. While Bowie may not be popular on DCUM I choose to live in Bowie and it rocks! |