Diamond ES district of Gaithersburg is good. Rachel Carson ES (Kentlands) is very overcrowded.

Check out the neighborhoods in Germantown/Boyds that feed into Matunaga ES and McNair ES. Both are located in good pyramids (Kingsview MS and Northwest HS) and are filled with safe, friendly neighborhoods with an abundance of options for kids. Being located right next to the Soccerplex and a 10 minute drive from numerous parks, Downtown Crown, Old Town Gaithersburg, and Kentlands is also a perk.

If you like malls, Lake Forest is OK. It has a bad reputation for crime, but I have never encountered any issues and bring my small children there fairly often in the winter for Chinese New Year shows, Christmas, and the indoor skating rink. Certainly feels less claustrophobic than Montgomery.

I don't personally like the packed in streets of Clarksburg, but we love camping and hiking at Little Bennett.

Friend who lives in Urbana wants to move closer to her job, but won't because they have so many family friends in their neighborhood. She makes it sound like there are a ton of kids.

Anonymous wrote:None of those have good schools.

This is a dumb statement.
Maybe none of these have the highest ranked "10" schools, but they most certainly have "good" schools.

Urbana doesn't have 2 high schools. It has one: Urbana High School. It currently has 2, very overcrowded, elementary schools and one, full to the brim, middle school. A new elementary school is supposed to be built to the west of Urbana proper, but it is years away right now.

Urbana is full of families and kids. If you want a big house for your money, Urbana is your place. It isn't big on character (the faux "ye olde" village atmosphere is rampant)but it is a very comfortable place for families.

I can think of 4 families I know who recently moved from Clarksburg to Urbana (or right outside) and they love it. They say it's amazing what 10 miles can do for your psyche.

Anonymous wrote:None of those have good schools.

Urbana "not good?" In what universe?

I'd do Gaithersburg (North Potomac) in Wootton District if you can swing the housing costs.

Kentlands/North Potomac/Darnestown (for Gaithersburg -> QO is the high school and it very good, with lots of school spirit)

Urbana has 2 high schools ... I have no experience with them but my friends that live there prefer Urbana high School. Urbana area is very family friendly and downtown Frederick has lots of great restaurants.

IDK about Clarksburg.

Good Luck, I think you will be very happy in all 3 areas if your focus is family.

I'd probably go for Gaithersburg because even if commute isn't an issue now, it could be later on. (and could be for resale.) Clarksburg and Urbana are pretty far out.

Clarksburg schools are not too good-nor are Gaithersburg schools. Urbana is really far out and they are still building. It may not be a good thing if they stick low income housing up here.

I grew up in Potomac and never envisioned leaving....fast forward and I now live in Urbana and LOVE it! The neighborhood is actually full of friendly families and not nearly as pretentious as the area I grew up in. The schools are great and the proximity to downtown Frederick is awesome for good restaurants. We have the big box stores and Costco ten minutes to our north but the mall in Frederick IS terrible. However, on the weekends a drive to Tysons or Montgomery Mall isn't too terrible. My brother lives in Clarksburg and they like it there as well but you definitely get more for your money ten miles up the road in Urbana.

If you're considering Clarksburg, why not Damascus? It's a great place for kids, and the schools are relatively small. Very small town feel.

Gaithersburg, by far. In QO or Wootton district.

None of those have good schools.

Clarksburg or Urbana

Contemplating buying a home in either Clarksburg, Gaithersburg or Urbana. Commuting won't be a issue. The main factors are finding an updated SFH home in a good neighborhood with lots of young children and in a good school district. Which area would you choose, and why?