Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither are desirable areas.

Columbia has been named one of the top 10 places to live in the country by CNN’s money magazine several times, and in fact, some years it was listed as the best place to live in the entire country.

Howard County is no doubt the county that is hands down the best to raise a family in within the DC/Baltimore metropolitan area. Columbia is diverse and also far more inclusive than Montgomery County is, except for Silver Spring. Columbia was specially designed to be a place where people of all ethnicities and incomes could live and thrive.

LOL.
Is that the reason why 3 of the top 10 most diverse cities are in MoCo? None in HoCo? Where is Columbia? Nowhere to be found at #67.
Stop trying to make HoCo something it's not.
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-diverse-cities/12690

You do realize that Howard County is the wealthiest county in MD right? It's not Montgomery County. Plus, the schools always rank higher. Get your head out of your a$$.

LOL
Top 4 are in MoCo, no HoCo in top 5.
5 MoCo schools in the top 10 while only 1 HoCo school.
8 MoCo schools in the top 20 while just 3 HoCo schools in the top 20.

Get your head out of your a$$. Idiot.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/rankings

There is NO comparison when it comes to the overall amenities. Howard County wins hands down. I grew up in Ellicott City, which I prefer to Columbia, but I think River Hill is great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither are desirable areas.

Columbia has been named one of the top 10 places to live in the country by CNN’s money magazine several times, and in fact, some years it was listed as the best place to live in the entire country.

Howard County is no doubt the county that is hands down the best to raise a family in within the DC/Baltimore metropolitan area. Columbia is diverse and also far more inclusive than Montgomery County is, except for Silver Spring. Columbia was specially designed to be a place where people of all ethnicities and incomes could live and thrive.

LOL.
Is that the reason why 3 of the top 10 most diverse cities are in MoCo? None in HoCo? Where is Columbia? Nowhere to be found at #67.
Stop trying to make HoCo something it's not.
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-diverse-cities/12690

You do realize that Howard County is the wealthiest county in MD right? It's not Montgomery County. Plus, the schools always rank higher. Get your head out of your a$$.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind, if it applies to you, that you'll need a jumbo loan at a much lower price point in Howard County. In the nicer areas of the county, the housing costs are comparable to nice neighborhoods in MoCo, but the lending process can be a much bigger headache.

Why is that?

Because jumbo loans can come with more approval requirements and fees, as well as less downpayment options.

I don't say this to open up yet another discussion on this board on how anyone not putting down 30% and spending only an 1/8th of their monthly income on their mortgage payment. Just referencing because I know having to explore jumbo mortgages and piggyback options are a reality for many people in this area.

I have lived in both. Both are nice for families. I would go with Columbia but stay away from the Columbia association. There are neighborhoods that allow the amenities and have the same feel without the fees and craziness of the association.

I love Olney. It's a cute, small town. But you run out of things to do there. There's no mall, no movie theater, little by way of shopping and restaurants. Honestly, I think people end up getting bored there.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind, if it applies to you, that you'll need a jumbo loan at a much lower price point in Howard County. In the nicer areas of the county, the housing costs are comparable to nice neighborhoods in MoCo, but the lending process can be a much bigger headache.

Why is that?

Anonymous wrote:Columbia, if the commute is about the same. Olney is nice, but more rural. It may not make a difference right now, but post COVID it might.

I would not want to commute from Olney to Baltimore. Columbia is so much closer, and there is more to do than Olney.

+1

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind, if it applies to you, that you'll need a jumbo loan at a much lower price point in Howard County. In the nicer areas of the county, the housing costs are comparable to nice neighborhoods in MoCo, but the lending process can be a much bigger headache.

Also HoCo property tax is higher than Olney (which is unincorporated).

Clemens area of Columbia for walkability to "downtown" and paths.

One thing to keep in mind, if it applies to you, that you'll need a jumbo loan at a much lower price point in Howard County. In the nicer areas of the county, the housing costs are comparable to nice neighborhoods in MoCo, but the lending process can be a much bigger headache.

First of all, it isn’t 20 minutes from Columbia to Baltimore, half an hour minimum, much longer with standard Baltimore beltway and city traffic. Both are pretty deep suburbia. Good for raising a family I guess, but pretty darn bland.

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/md/olney

Olney is safer than Columbia (dramatically safer per this data).

https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/top100/

Olney is #17.

Columbia isn’t listed.

OP, I replied in your school forum question. They are both good areas and they are very similar. I also live on the Olney/Brookeville Border in our town is not rural. I would say depending on what area of Columbia you’re looking at there are more shopping options if that is important to you. My advice is to find a home that you like in either town and you will be just fine. My only advice is if you work in Baltimore I may focus my search more in Columbia.