It kind of depends on where you're commuting to. I'm in Rockville and TBH it's pretty nice. I like it here. I always check my neighborhood listings to see what similar houses sell for and it's pretty odd but so far this year, there have been zero houses for sale where I live. Last year a similar thing happened then several popped up later in the spring market.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t go back to Rockville.

Lol best comment. But kind of agree - more bang for your buck in the Einstein cluster (Oakland Terrace, Flora Singer elementaries especially).

Only half joking, as I can’t head that way without thinking it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you can get good schools for $650.

It depends what OP means by "good." Predominantly white and high ses? No. Good by any other measure? Absolutely.

What other measures, poor test scores and kids? Sounds super great… I hope you work at an office with lots of poor results and people… I’m sure it would turn out great for the company but schools are totally different right

Anonymous wrote:Don’t go back to Rockville.

Lol best comment. But kind of agree - more bang for your buck in the Einstein cluster (Oakland Terrace, Flora Singer elementaries especially).

Don’t go back to Rockville.

Silver Spring is closer in so I agree commute may matter a lot here

Anonymous wrote:I know Silver Spring is HUGE. But are you able to compare these two areas for me? Budget is $650k. Looking for a small SFH and good schools.

I prefer Rockville. You can get a nice home with a large yard for that price that feeds into Lucy v. Barnsley or Rock Creek Valley elementary schools.

One difference is at the high school level. Silver Spring is mostly within either the Downcounty Consortium or Northeast Consortium, so there are lotteries where you can rank you preferred high schools within each consortium, and each school has these academies that are like specialized elective tracks. Rockville areas use the traditional high school cluster model, so you go to whichever school your neighborhood goes to, unless you get in to a special program or magnet.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you can get good schools for $650.

It depends what OP means by "good." Predominantly white and high ses? No. Good by any other measure? Absolutely.

I don’t think you can get good schools for $650.

Where are you commuting to? I think everything else is equal. Your house may be marginally larger in Rockville but likely they're all 1950's homes with similar characteristics.

Anonymous wrote:They’re basically the same, OP. Variations between neighborhoods and commutes will matter more than being in Rockville vs Silver Spring.

This. They aren’t that far apart. I live in SS but am often in Rockville easily. Choose for commute if applicable.

They’re basically the same, OP. Variations between neighborhoods and commutes will matter more than being in Rockville vs Silver Spring.

Look in the Northwood, Blair or Einstein clusters in Silver Spring.

I know Silver Spring is HUGE. But are you able to compare these two areas for me? Budget is $650k. Looking for a small SFH and good schools.