Need suggestions on where to live due to job offer in Frederick, MD

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. My husband just accepted a job in Frederick, MD. We currently live in the Florida Panhandle. Other than beaches, there is NOTHING to do here for myself and our young kids. We are excited for the opportunity to live somewhere that offers much more to do and more culture. With that said, we are looking for suggestions on where to live. Would Frederick offer us enough that we are looking for or is it a little more rural that we might want? Should we look somewhere closer to D.C and then drive into Frederick for work? If so, can you suggest any towns that would offer plenty to do, shops, restaurants, etc and wouldn't require too much travel time into Frederick for my husband? Right now, I have to drive 35 minutes for a target and decent restaurants and activities. I want to be closer!!!!
Thanks for any suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Germantown, MD is in between Frederick and DC. It might be worth a look for you. It has convenient shopping and a small townsquare with stores, restaurants, an arts center, and new library. Lots of young families as well. Don't know much about Frederick, but I believe it's the second largest city in Maryland, so it will have all the conveniences you would need. It's definitely a bit rural outside of the city though.

[Anonymous]

agree with germantown. or gaithersburg. that would put you at a great halfway point so that dc is still accessible without being too cumbersome to get to frederick. plus, the frederick commute would be a reverse commute without much traffic at all.

just so you know, there is a nickname for frederick which will probably speak loads for the way people view it: fredneck. granted it has come a long way in recent years, but that is its reputation.

[Anonymous]

Frederick has come along way since we used to refer to it as Fredneck.

It has a nice downtown area with lots or resturants and bars. Outside of this downtown area, it is built up suburbs. Tons of townhomes, big box stores, strip malls. If you decide to move their, I don't think you'll be lacking for things to do. Plus, it is about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes to DC or Baltimore.

If you live further down 270, commuting into Frederick would be the opposite way of traffic, although I have heard that you can still hit some congestion.

When you are in the area again, check out Fredrick, then Urbana (whch is basically a planned community - tons of houses and townhomes, not nearly as built up as Frederick but a friend lives there and loves it because there are a lot of families. It epitomizes the olden days when kids played on the streets. Her neighborhood has block parties all the time...everyone knows everyone, etc. Much further south is germantown (maybe 15 minutes south) which I don't care for except that it has a nice rec center with waterpark. Even further south you hit Gaithersburg and then Rockville and Bethesda and finally DC. The last 3 have a ton of amenities but are also pretty pricey and about 30 minute commute.

[Anonymous]

PP here again - Frederick and Urbana are in Frederick County which is much cheaper taxwise than Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

I'd look at Frederick. You are going to be able to afford a lot more for your money vs. coming into Montgomery county.

[Anonymous]

Villages of Urbana in Frederick is FULL of young families. The re are shops and a brand new library. Great prices too. I don't live there but I live close and I wish we bought in the villages.

[Anonymous]

Clarksburg is another planned community up that way.

[Anonymous]

Frederick is great and I'd live right there if I were working there. There's a MARC train into DC for when you want to hit the museums, etc. There's a planned community at Lake Linganore I believe.

A little closer in, I'd definitely look at:


Urbana
Clarksburg
Darnestown
Poolesville

And if you want to live between Frederick and Baltimore, look at:

Mt. Airy
New Market

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frederick is great and I'd live right there if I were working there. There's a MARC train into DC for when you want to hit the museums, etc. There's a planned community at Lake Linganore I believe.

A little closer in, I'd definitely look at:


Urbana
Clarksburg
Darnestown
Poolesville

And if you want to live between Frederick and Baltimore, look at:

Mt. Airy
New Market

Oh, and if you care, taxes and governmental regulation are far, far lower if you stay in Frederick County vs. Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

I think the best Frederick County schools are in Urbana - but I am only passing on a rumor.

[Anonymous]

http://fcps.schoolwires.com/152910824113818890/blank/browse.asp?a=383&bmdrn=2000&bcob=0&c=54640


check out Frederick County school demographics. I think Frederick is a nice small city. You need to get up there and drive around to check it out.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there is much point in living somewhere like Germantown or Gaithersburg - they are still quite a trek from DC, and don't have much more to offer in the way of stuff to do than Frederick itself. I would just look at Frederick and make an effort to head down to DC every other week or so.

[Anonymous]

schools in germantown are montgomery county tho...may be better than frederick county

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will definately check out Urbana and Clarksburg as well. If we were to look at living closer to Balitmore, what would that commute be like going from let's say Mt. Airy into Frederick?
The tax issue is a big one for us so thanks for the info about Frederick County vs. Montgomery. That helps. Any more info on the schools in any of those areas would be great too!