OP, it would be helpful if you give us something about your backgrounds and interests. Neither Howard County and especially not Montgomery County have easy commutes to Baltimore. Am I wrong in thinking maybe you're of Asian or South Asian backgrounds? Am wondering why you included Rockville along with Howard, the latter is understandable as being somewhat adjacent to Baltimore and known for excellent schools. But no one commutes to Rockville from Baltimore unless they absolutely have to. And Rockville is not a special or pretty place either.

Both Howard and Rockville are resolutely suburban. Endlessly suburban. Western Howard has pretty countryside but 95% of the county lives your suburban cul de sac life. Rockville is higher density suburban. There is nothing wrong with wanting a suburban life, I respect it, and understand the attraction to a comfortable colonial on a cul de sac with good schools. Really, I do. They're both quite diverse places these days as well.

But I also know you can get that in Baltimore County north of the city too. And when most people come to DCUM and say they're moving from a Boston suburb, the default assumption is you also want a nice older suburban village with pretty housing stock close enough to the city like you get around Boston, and the equivalents around Baltimore are going to be either neighborhoods in North Baltimore or adjacent Baltimore County. Roland Park is Baltimore's Brookline, Ruxton is Baltimore's Wellesley. Newton = Stoneleigh/West Towson (with excellent schools as well). And if you want more pastoral, north Baltimore County has all that.

So what do you really want?

Anonymous wrote:Where in New England are you from? Are you a city, country or suburban person? What kind of schools are you looking for?

I grew up in Howard County, left and never looked back. I’ve lived in Boston, NYC (UWS) and DC since then. I would never, ever return to Howard County. Instead, I would live in an affluent part of Baltimore City (which are not terribly expensive especially compared to DC). I would send children to one of the Baltimore private schools. When I wanted to explore DC, I would take the Marc train down. This would also put me close to Philadelphia (~90mins) and NYC (3-4 hrs)

I grew up in Howard County too. I live in DC. I would look in Baltimore City. There is no prettier neighborhood than Roland Park. Baltimore privates are way cheaper than DC privates. North Baltimore suburbs are pretty too, but WHITE!!!!!

Tuscany Canterbury, Homeland, Mt. Washington and Guilford are really nice too.

I would definitely choose Howard County over Montgomery County.

Howard County public schools are very good. Commute from Montgomery to Baltimore is a nightmare. Howard housing costs are more reasonable. Nothing here to think about really - go for Howard County.

I can't stand the traffic in MoCo anymore. Driving is unpleasant at best as MoCo did a terrible job at urban planning and it takes 30 mins to go 10 miles as life is stop light after stop light. HoCo has traffic in spots (mostly around the mall) but because of Columbia, has been much better planned.

To be honest why move. With BWI and Amtrak and only a 3 day work week just fly in or take train and stay two nights.

If it was 2021 I say MoCo but Traffic in particular this year has gotten horrible.

it also depends where in Baltimore, before or after tunnels. If you have to drive through Baltimore every day that is crazy. Paying a toll and adding on to trip.

I echo PPs who say to move to Baltimore City, specifically North Baltimore, rather than HoCo or MoCo.

There is nowhere in either of these counties as nice as Roland Park. And Baltimore POLY is a public magnet school that is a GS 10/10 that is close by and the public ES / MS is well regarded as well. If you do private and send DD to someplace like Bryn Mawr or Country Day there are no schools aside from Holton Arms in either MoCo or HoCo that are on this level. North Baltimore private schools are better than any schools in the DMV.

Anonymous wrote:I agree. I live in Rockville and love my life here, but if I were commuting to Baltimore I would choose to live closer.

I second this. FWIW, my family goes to Baltimore almost as often as we go into DC. From Rockville, either one is close to an hour.

Baltimore is awesome and in a lot of ways better than DC (civic pride / sense of place / housing stock / maybe better food options?). Ruxton and Roland Park are amazing locations and you can get incredible houses there for so much less than the DC area. If you want more rural Sparks is as good or better than Potomac. Great private schools in the city and great publics in Sparks. It’s crazy to me to think that somewhere like Rockville would be more appealing and you’d put up with the commute??

If you live in Gaithersburg rather than Potomac, you could get on route 200 which takes you close to Baltimore more quickly than 495 would, but it is a toll road if that matters. I think others are right though and Baltimore or HoCo would be better choices.

A commute to Baltimore from this area is tough. Your lives need to be centered around Baltimore.


Usually you commute on 95 which is awful. Let go of the idea of living in the DC area. There are lots of nice suburbs near Baltimore in every direction.

My kids are in Roland Park and there has been a large influx of kids from Howard county since COVID. Not sure the schools are all that.

I agree. I live in Rockville and love my life here, but if I were commuting to Baltimore I would choose to live closer.

I live in Montgomery County - in Potomac but very close to Rockville. Unlike other posters, I am happy to live here. The schools are not what they used to be but based on stories from friends/family in other places, I’d still prefer to be here over elsewhere. With that said, I’d move to Howard County without hesitation. Howard County has some excellent school clusters (I’ve heard some are even better than MCPS but I have no direct experience) and you will have an easier commute. We had neighbors years ago who moved from Potomac. They ended up with a nicer house, larger yard, great schools and spent $100k less. I personally like the Clarksville area but i only know it from when my son plays at River Hill HS. I see no downside as long as you pick the right school district.

Commutes can suck your soul. Definitely live where the commute is shorter.