Detailed reasons for why you wouldn't live in Prince Georges County...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ILS live in PG Co., and have for 35+ years. They live near the Orange line and Route 50, which is great for commuting. That's about it on the "plus" list for their house.

On their street there is VERY bad crime (stolen cars, car vandalism, house break ins, muggings, drive by shootings, etc.) Just a window into how unsafe it is - our kids aren't allowed to go to their house.

The houses on their street look terrible. Very run down, trash in the yard, etc.

The neighborhood school are atrocious and unsafe. They send DH to parochial school to get him out of the neighborhood schools - and that was 30 years ago - and they could scarecly afford it.

Most of the nearby shopping consists of pawn shops, liquor stores, convenience stores, and check cashing.

We have been begging them to move for at least a decade. They have some pretty severe inertia.

A major construction project is starting near the New Carrolton Metro. You neighborhood is about to get much worse for the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any areas with major construction.

For the next 10 months or so, the worst area is live in is Lanham-Sebrook near the $100 Turkish-American Community Center site at 9704 Good Luck Road. Noise, shockwaves and pollution 7 days a week. Utility disruption without notice to the residents. Inspectors, and local officials are of no hope to the residents. Dozens of Turkish workers are occupying houses as the residents are moving out. There's been a slight increase in local crime but the police are slow to respond to resident complaints unless it involves the protection of the site. Either someone is taking bribes, or they are interested in kissing up to the Turkish Prime Minister.

Hmm, I drive past there twice a day for school drop off/pick up and it's not a problem traffic-wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Old Greenbelt for years. It's a great community, especially if you have kids. The crime that gets talked about in PG County for the most part doesn't apply to that neighborhood, though it's not without issues. Local grocery store (plus Giant, Safeway and Wegman's a short drive away), little movie theater, a couple restaurants, farmers market, aquatic center, library. Parks and playgrounds all over the place.

We paid about $250k for a 2.5 bedroom townhouse with a big yard in 2007. Our neighbors mostly sent their kids to the neighborhood schools, including the middle school (though they agreed that it wasn't great).

We actually moved into the city when DD was a year old for various reasons, mostly the commute, which was about an hour in and an houraand a half out from our house to Foggy Bottom. The neighborhood, taxes, race (we're both white), crime and available shopping were not on the list of reasons we left.

Whaatt?? I lived in Old Greenbelt and commuted to Courthouse in less time (via car or via Metro) than that.

We moved to MoCo only because we didn't like the housing stock in Greenbelt.

[Anonymous]

Hello All,
Thank you for reading my comment on the original post. PG County what can I say.
When I first relocated, here PG County was the first place I looked for housing and the last place I would consider living. Considering first impressions normally hold better than others do. I was informed that I would love PG County as an AA. Wow! Not sure how the informer concluded that. Anyway every place I looked for housing it was plain ratchet, keep in mind I had no knowledge of the schools or other community issues. The apartments had questionable management yet alone what I saw of the so-called tenants that lived there. When I met the so-called community manager, I got back in my car and drove away as fast as I could. It was broad daylight and when I drove through parts of PG County with my then 10-year-old daughter I had to say sit back honey, lock your door and make sure your seat belt is on tight. The way the gang looking young men or thugs were hanging out on the corners and posted up on the bus stops merely me want to dial 911 from the mere sight of looking at them. I moved to NOVA and had a fantastic experience. Due to price points and affordability, I moved a little further into Fairfax County but I felt safe and my daughter had a great school experience, including a camping trip for all 6th graders that parents paid for. The parents who did not have the funding to cover the costs the school and other parents contributed to ensure that all students could attend. Nobody was embarrassed or made to feel less important due to socioeconomic status that is what I consider public education equality. Granted I did not live in a million dollar home I rented an apartment in a local area and felt safe allowing my child to ride the bus with the other students who were well behaved and went to school with an anticipation to learn. Class size was about 16-17 students per teacher. The educators were highly qualified and I loved the Administration and how the school was operated. I am sure fights may have occurred here or there but it was a rather unusual occurrence. Also, I worked in Fairfax County Public Schools for 1.5 years and the standards for Public Education is exceptionally high!
After 2 years I started working in DC and wanted have a shorter commute and I moved to Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County. Again, the schools were Fabulous! My daughter attended Middle School there and it was the best school in Montgomery County. The teachers were professional, creative, and respectful and wanted students to not only learn but Master the subject content. The field trips the students went on were unbelievable; I wish I had that kind of opportunity when I was in school. The last remark that I would like to give is that both Montgomery County and Fairfax County have “ AFFORDABLE” housing programs for lower income citizens and residents. The market rents are approximately 50% less and it does not take forever to rent an affordable place to live, mainly apartments. In Montgomery County, it is called the MPDU program, which stands for Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program, and the county has a website through the HOC (Housing Opportunities Commission) that details every property that participates in this program. There is also a tax credit property program that is similar to MPDU and these are not ghetto living areas by any means. I had a brand new one bedroom in downtown silver spring for $1100 month on a tax credit dwelling unit and a girlfriend of mine had a two bedroom for $1250. In Fairfax County, the program is called ADU that means Affordable Dwelling Unit program. Please if you are in a quandary and feel the need to improve your quality of life and relocate from PG County please look into these programs and find a safer place to house your family and provide your children with an acceptable quality of public school education.
There are other public resources I’d be glad to share if anyone is interested but will defer to asking that if you would like that information to send me a confidential email at: [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

PG County is big and there are some awesome communities within it. I live in AACo, but work in PG County. Old Greenbelt, parts of Bowie, University Park - there are lots of perfectly lovely suburban neighborhoods where you'll get a "whole" lot more house than you would in MoCo or Virginia.

I'm also really confused about the comments about a crappy commute. There is absolutely no way in hell it takes someone an hour and a half to get to Foggy Bottom. You can easily hop on the New Carollton or Greenbelt metros to hear into DC, and you're right near 50 and the Beltway to get other places. I suppose if you are working in NoVa the commute is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello All,
Thank you for reading my comment on the original post. PG County what can I say.
When I first relocated, here PG County was the first place I looked for housing and the last place I would consider living. Considering first impressions normally hold better than others do. I was informed that I would love PG County as an AA. Wow! Not sure how the informer concluded that. Anyway every place I looked for housing it was plain ratchet, keep in mind I had no knowledge of the schools or other community issues. The apartments had questionable management yet alone what I saw of the so-called tenants that lived there. When I met the so-called community manager, I got back in my car and drove away as fast as I could. It was broad daylight and when I drove through parts of PG County with my then 10-year-old daughter I had to say sit back honey, lock your door and make sure your seat belt is on tight. The way the gang looking young men or thugs were hanging out on the corners and posted up on the bus stops merely me want to dial 911 from the mere sight of looking at them. I moved to NOVA and had a fantastic experience. Due to price points and affordability, I moved a little further into Fairfax County but I felt safe and my daughter had a great school experience, including a camping trip for all 6th graders that parents paid for. The parents who did not have the funding to cover the costs the school and other parents contributed to ensure that all students could attend. Nobody was embarrassed or made to feel less important due to socioeconomic status that is what I consider public education equality. Granted I did not live in a million dollar home I rented an apartment in a local area and felt safe allowing my child to ride the bus with the other students who were well behaved and went to school with an anticipation to learn. Class size was about 16-17 students per teacher. The educators were highly qualified and I loved the Administration and how the school was operated. I am sure fights may have occurred here or there but it was a rather unusual occurrence. Also, I worked in Fairfax County Public Schools for 1.5 years and the standards for Public Education is exceptionally high!
After 2 years I started working in DC and wanted have a shorter commute and I moved to Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County. Again, the schools were Fabulous! My daughter attended Middle School there and it was the best school in Montgomery County. The teachers were professional, creative, and respectful and wanted students to not only learn but Master the subject content. The field trips the students went on were unbelievable; I wish I had that kind of opportunity when I was in school. The last remark that I would like to give is that both Montgomery County and Fairfax County have “ AFFORDABLE” housing programs for lower income citizens and residents. The market rents are approximately 50% less and it does not take forever to rent an affordable place to live, mainly apartments. In Montgomery County, it is called the MPDU program, which stands for Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program, and the county has a website through the HOC (Housing Opportunities Commission) that details every property that participates in this program. There is also a tax credit property program that is similar to MPDU and these are not ghetto living areas by any means. I had a brand new one bedroom in downtown silver spring for $1100 month on a tax credit dwelling unit and a girlfriend of mine had a two bedroom for $1250. In Fairfax County, the program is called ADU that means Affordable Dwelling Unit program. Please if you are in a quandary and feel the need to improve your quality of life and relocate from PG County please look into these programs and find a safer place to house your family and provide your children with an acceptable quality of public school education.
There are other public resources I’d be glad to share if anyone is interested but will defer to asking that if you would like that information to send me a confidential email at: [e-mail]

We are glad you decided not to move to pg county.

-signed the pg county spokesman

[Anonymous]

This is an old thread, but honestly, I'm confused by the pp's who say "crime" is a major reason they won't move to PG. I've lived in PG for 15 years now and I just don't see "crime." My MoCo friends experience more gang related crime - stabbing in Wheaton mall 2 weeks ago? Where I live, in northern PG, it feels very harmonious and peaceful.

Also, the schools. My kids have had great experiences in PG schools. Not all are great, but plenty of people live here and make it work. There are options!

Not everyone who decries PG is racist, but the blanket scapegoating of this county is absolutely a result of racism. Yep. There are a lot of black people in PG county. Is it a coincidence that this is the least desirable county in the DMV? It would be good to examine what's really happening in PG county (the good and the bad) and to look at what historical forces brought us to this point.

Really, though, living here is very pleasant.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in PG County, Fort Washington for over 3 years. Most neighbors are older black people, very nice and easy going. We haven't had one problem. When we lived in Alexandria, we had more than a few problems with theft, but it hasn't happened at all here. We also like the prospect of being totally debt free in 7 years and owning our own home... something that would have been difficult anywhere else.

I acknowledge the schools are not the best, but I would encourage my wife to home school if we had a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why so many folks on here against the area? Not asking to be argumentative, looking for some solid info from people in the area.

PG is majority African American and parts of it are relatively poor. Property values are generally lower than in other area jurisdictions which impacts tax revenue and school funding. As you would expect, poorer localities suffer from higher crime rates. A lot of the negativity here, IMO, is knee jerk reaction to Fox (and other) news reports of incidents of crime "in PG County" and the broad paint brush is applied to the County as a whole. There are very nice parts of it too, certainly. Spending time there and making up your own mind is really the way to go if you're thinking of moving there.

So it is a vicious circle. The poor cannot afford houses with high property values, therefore revenue from property taxes is too low to maintain schools, and so even in Maryland we have a large segment of population who receive a very poor education. Gingrich thought he could solve the problem of ghetto education by making kindergarteners do manual labor in school. Most Americans are OK with this and I am amazed that nobody is even angered by this inequality

+1. Of course it is a vicious circle...and I have been pretty ticked about the lack of equality for a while. Hence why I worked in education policy for many years. It's embarrassing that even within Fairfax and Montgomery, there are schools that suffer from inequality just because of the area immediately surrounding it. Yes, they have the same curriculum, but we've segregated schools again based on socio-economics. And it's a damn shame.

Sorry, tangent, but it gets under my skin.

[Anonymous]

PG county has nice quite Middle Class areas you don't have to live in the slums, look around, just don't look in one area. a nice house in a good neighborhood runs around $200,000.

[Anonymous]

We used to live in Montgomery County you to keep your kids busy there too everywhere , with activities, or they will get with the wrong influence, or I guess pay for Private, or home schooling.

[Anonymous]

PG county has the Most Affluent African Americans I see their houses, I see them shopping spending money . I have lived in before Iowa which is mostly white, and Montgomery County where you see a lot of foreigners who came into America and have grasp at and the opportunity, if two people work together paying rent or a Mortgage you can live decent, don't keep up with the Jones. People who live in the Ghettos don't have the roll Models to look up to.

[Anonymous]

I lived in DC for over 15 years and recently relocated to PGC. My commute is three metro stops further than before, which adds at most 12-13 minutes to my trip. Since it's the end of the line, I always get a seat, unlike at the Brookland and RI stations. I'm boarding at a station (College Park) that feels 100x safer and more pleasant than my prior station (Brookland) did. My walk home from the metro is super safe in terms of crime and in terms of traffic/lighting and it's along streets lined with beautiful trees and vegetation that are carefully groomed by the city. We see more birds and wildlife here than I ever saw in DC. I can walk to Whole Foods from home in about 5 minutes, and I do so often for a bite to eat, groceries, or flowers. When I lived in DC I had to drive to PGC a couple of times a week for shopping. And if I wanted to shop at a store with a location in DC and PGC, like Home Depot, I always preferred to go to PGC where there was better parking and better customer service. DC has very few big box stores, so nobody in DC really can shop locally in their neighborhood. As for diversity, there is a lot of racial diversity in my new neighborhood, but not much econ status diversity, which is the opposite of my DC neighborhood. My block here in PGC has APIs, Latinos, and Whites, but few African Americans. All are college educated and almost all the houses have at least one person with a graduate degree. I know of at least 5 individuals with PhDs on my one short block. The kids of my neighbors seem to mainly be enrolled in top and second tier colleges, and the younger ones are at the "test-in" schools or at UP Elementary. One set of friends have their child at the Friends Community School, which looks fabulous. Most people in my circle in DC belonged to the PG Pool, and now it's even closer for those times when we want to hang out there. As for restaurants, back in Brookland we had to travel out to PGC for dinner unless we wanted to deal with the awful traffic and parking involved with dining out in DC. A few days ago I was in my old neighborhood for the first time in at least a month and it hit me how much grittier it is than my current location and what a step up in daily life I made by moving here. Although I could have afforded to stay in my DC house, the relative difference in housing costs here in PGC (for a nicer house) is even more enjoyable than I had imagined. Having all that extra disposable income every month is awesome. And as a homeowner and high income earner, it's absolutely wonderful to not have to deal with the inept DC Government anymore, especially the DC Office of Tax & Revenue and the DCRA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lousy schools and crime.

So are most parts of DC.

[Anonymous]

I bought my first townhome at 23 near FedEx field and still own the property but rent it out. Once our first child became school aged, we moved back to DC where we both are from to Brightwood.

We value diversity and sent our daughter to a WOTP elementary school rather than our neighborhood school Whittier; she’s now a junior at Wilson.

With so many options DC has for schools, if you can afford it now, I wouldn’t move to PG.

On the flip side, I wouldn’t move to SE DC either.