DH grew up in Fairfax Co and was adamant that we move to Maryland, so we did.

We are former Virginia residents who moved to DC as empty nesters and have a second home near western Maryland. Once you get out of the DC metro region Maryland is every bit as redneck as Virginia and maybe even more so. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a "Trump won" flag. It's amazing.

We chose VA when we moved to the DMV for its state college system. For us it was no contest. Three of our four kids ended up chosing Virginia colleges (two went to UVA), where they got valuable degrees from highly respected colleges at reasonable prices. Our fourth turned down William & Mary only because they got merit aid at a highly regarded private that made the cost a wash. Yes, UMD is also a fine school but it's so close to home that it has a metro stop.

The inner suburbs of Northern Virginia are also more liberal than anywhere outside of the District itself -- including Montgomery County -- of that's what you're looking for. And the commutes aren't materially worse or better than Montgomery.

The amount of money that we saved from not having to scramble for good college options was ridiculous. I can't really understand how this is even a contest for anybody who has more than one kid and who isn't made of money.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a VA resident, you cannot beat the public, in-state options for college. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Except ZERO of my kids have any interest of going in state. I say vast majority of my oldest two kids HS did not go in state. Problem in state too many kids from in state. VA in particular overly favors in state so not much of a college experience. So a crap shoot to mover there for the schools. Unlike K-12 you where you pick a good school district kids go. You pick a state with good in-state options it is a good chance they wont get in or wont want to go.

Such a silly response. You don't write off a state with a superb state university system just because your kids say they have "no interest" in going to school in state unless you're independently wealthy.

You also need to recognize that there are many schools offering merit and other types of aid making them competitive tuition wise to instate schools. Why limit kids to instate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a VA resident, you cannot beat the public, in-state options for college. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Except ZERO of my kids have any interest of going in state. I say vast majority of my oldest two kids HS did not go in state. Problem in state too many kids from in state. VA in particular overly favors in state so not much of a college experience. So a crap shoot to mover there for the schools. Unlike K-12 you where you pick a good school district kids go. You pick a state with good in-state options it is a good chance they wont get in or wont want to go.

Such a silly response. You don't write off a state with a superb state university system just because your kids say they have "no interest" in going to school in state unless you're independently wealthy.

Anonymous wrote:I dislike using turn signals, so we chose Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:If you moved to the DMV from somewhere else, how did you decide which state was the right place to buy? Are taxes that different? The commute? There are excellent schools in both VA and MD. Not asking about DC proper because budget/yard/parking struggles.

We moved here last year and it looks like our jobs are staying local remote, so that takes our commute concerns off the table. We’re primarily looking to buy in Montgomery County because that’s where we’ve been renting, but we’ve never lived in an area with so many jurisdictions so we’re not sure what to look for.

Chose Maryland for stricter gun laws and a liberal state capitol.

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Anonymous wrote:Here is good info on taxes:

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/19/ask-eli-does-virginia-washington-dc-or-maryland-have-the-most-favorable-taxes/

People often reflexively say that VA taxes are lower, and that's true for income tax, but the money has to come from somewhere, and VA is higher on property tax. Plus VA is unique in taxing your vehicle at the rate of approximately 5% every year.

Our car tax combined is under $1000. Much less than an extra roughly 3% Marylanders pay in income tax. What's 3% of 250k? $7500? That's over $600/month, which is the equivalent of an extra $100,000 in mortgage.

Here in Fairfax County, they must be cheap I guess. Just look at the median strips. Like a jungle.

I'm from MoCo. I moved to Fairfax County because it is generally nicer. But, you give up some things living here. Yes, it has less crime, overall better schools, and lower taxes. Sounds awesome so far. . Except the less friendly, strivery people, the lack of many good food options, and the ugly median strips. But if living in a low crime neighborhood with unfriendly people, great schools, and roads littered with weeds is your thing, and eating from the same handful of places all the time suits you, come on down!

Should have lived in Bethesda, which is nicer than Fairfax with better schools.

I paid under 800k for a house in a top notch school pyramid (2020) in Fairfax County. Considering higher taxes in MD, it's like paying 700k in Bethesda. Might buy me a Bethesda garage lol!

Which “Top notch school pyramid in fairfax county” are you in ? We move to McLean of fairfax county in 2014, we could only afford 30 years old townhouse near 1 mil. We moved because closer to more IT jobs & better special need school for my kids.

Does VA still tax Food?

Didn't want a Maryland tag on my car lol.

From a state to state comparison va is way bigger than md and thus better higher education options. So that was a big reason for us.
Also, there are just soooo many more jobs in Virginia and it continues to get more and more companies basing here it is hard to look at Maryland as a booming place to live.

Granted, it really is Arlington getting a lot of the attention for business but commuting to Arlington from a va suburb is easier than md.

No one is talking about the cost of utilities. It's not much but why is there such a huge tax on it in MD? WTF bro

Anonymous wrote:To those who think the extra 3% is not much, HHI is 500k and that's 15K in taxes for us yearly, over 20 years it adds to be a whole lot.

MD is terrible. I hate it.

Also, you are paying that higher tax forever, unlike the higher expense of housing which is 30 year financed

To those who think the extra 3% is not much, HHI is 500k and that's 15K in taxes for us yearly, over 20 years it adds to be a whole lot.

MD is terrible. I hate it.

I dislike using turn signals, so we chose Maryland.

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Anonymous wrote:Once I was freed from forced Maryland residency I turned south and never looked back. It wasn't even a choice it was so obvious (DC was an option but never made it work).

As someone from the west coast, I could not make myself go further south of the river.

West Coast transplants are more likely to live in Virginia than Maryland. People moving to Maryland generally are coming from either DC or the Mid-Atlantic. Better bagels & Chinese food is about the most that can be said for suburban Maryland these days. NoVa is nicer and has a stronger economy, and the prices reflect that.

I'm with the PP: can't live in the home of the confederacy.

But you're OK living in Maryland, a former slave state that was home to the Supreme Court justice who penned the Dred Scott opinion?

Remind us again which state has had both a Black Governor and a Black Lieutenant Governor. Hint: It's not Maryland.

LOL so funny seeing how people call themselves so educated and can’t even get these basic facts correct. Too funny.