What's it like to live in Columbia, MD?

[Anonymous]

People, this thread is 4 years old...presumably OP lives somewhere now.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why this was rehashed but I grew up in Columbia and would gladly move back if given the chance. I had an amazing childhood and the perks of Columbia are unparalleled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a Whole Foods in Columbia?

I still don't understand why we have no Whole Foods!!! There is a Roots in Clarksville (I don't love MOM or Davids). We are getting a Wegmans next year I think.

I don't think River Hill is all that great - people mostly say its "great" b/c the incomes of parents whose kids go there tend to be higher. That can bring its own set of issues.

Yes, you do. They just built it next to the mall on the lake!

[Anonymous]

Once again, this is a VERY OLD THREAD. That is why the pp was complaining about no Whole Foods when there is one now.

Columbia is fine. Some places are nicer than others. I grew up there and moved back to raise a family. It's not as homey as it was in the 1970s but it's still okay and the schools are really top notch.

[Anonymous]

Well, I live in Columbia, and for the 12 years I've been here, it's pretty good (schools, activities, etc.)

[Anonymous]

As long as you don't work in DC it's fine.

[Anonymous]

looking to move to Columbia for work. Need to rent an apartment and seemed to hit some sketchy areas. Am really at a lost. Can someone recommend good places/areas or communities to avoid. Got some info already online but it was several years old and i know things change…. thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:looking to move to Columbia for work. Need to rent an apartment and seemed to hit some sketchy areas. Am really at a lost. Can someone recommend good places/areas or communities to avoid. Got some info already online but it was several years old and i know things change…. thanks

The newer neighborhoods tend to be nicer. Depends on your budget. Do schools matter? River Hill, Centennial etc are considered the "best" HS.

Hickory Ridge is a decent neighborhood too, so is Town Center, Clarys Forest is ok (but older.)

Really, MOST areas are ok. Avoid all of Oakland Mills and Long Reach. Anywhere else will be fine.

[Anonymous]

schools don't matter. in my 20s. want a studio or one bedroom with a budget about $1300. going to work at John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.

was looking off Tamar not far from Long Reach the shopping area Columbia Crossing looked nice. is that whole area one to avoid?

[Anonymous]

Score, Wegmans is definitely a plus.

[Anonymous]

Please start a new thread. The extremely outdated information in the beginning of this 5-year-old thread is misleading and will smother the new question that's been asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there. Went to a great high school. A pp stated that Columbia doesn't have great high schools, but River Hill is the best and it's in Columbia. I loved growing up there. My parents still live there. My kids love going over there. However, after living in MoCo and growing up in HoCo, I choose to live in DC. Just more to do, not as suburban. If my husband had a choice, he would live in HoCo, but I refuse. It's like when you grow up in the country you want to live in the city and vice versa.

River Hill is in Clarksville, not Columbia. It's a 21029 zip.

River Hill is like our W schools in Mo Co. Hammond and Wild Lake, for example, aren't in the same "money" league.

River Hill is technically the last village in Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a Whole Foods in Columbia?

I still don't understand why we have no Whole Foods!!! There is a Roots in Clarksville (I don't love MOM or Davids). We are getting a Wegmans next year I think.

I don't think River Hill is all that great - people mostly say its "great" b/c the incomes of parents whose kids go there tend to be higher. That can bring its own set of issues.

So what schools do you recommend over River Hill?

There is Glenelg (my alma mater) and Centennial, which are both very good, but outside of Columbia in HoCo.

There aren't many restaurants and cute things in Columbia, but there are lots of things in Ellicott City. Plus, I love Baltimore and it's closer. I live in DC (having grown up in Glenelg), but it was a great place to grow up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as you don't work in DC it's fine.

Also an hour to Baltimore. But there are now companies based in the Columbia area.

[Anonymous]

ok i started a new thread. Just need to find a good community for a single person just out of college. confused at what areas to go to as several forums said avoid certain places/streets in columbia and laurel. Of course, i didn't know there were bad areas and hit many sketchy ones when i looked. I did up my budget to $1300-1350 if that helps.