You should consider heading over there. My stepdad did a year with KBR doing IT support and he made $100K, 75K wasn't taxed. He's in the same boat as me, A+ no degree so your degree trumps his experience three-fold.
- Dec 18, 2001
- 24,036
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Give me an idea of the good/bad areas of the state.
I'm looking at Baltimore for work.
So within 20 minutes driving radius. What towns do I avoid, which are prefered? If I decided to commute 40 minutes, what would the ideal rural area - we want to own some land.
I'm looking at Baltimore for work.
So within 20 minutes driving radius. What towns do I avoid, which are prefered? If I decided to commute 40 minutes, what would the ideal rural area - we want to own some land.
I live in Maryland, I live in an old house in Maryland. We bought this for 80k. It's now worth well over $500k and is TRASH. If we were to sell it, it would be demolished and they'd build something new on the land. So the *LAND* is worth $500k. Real estate here is ridiculous. Basically, you want to live in southern PA if your job is in the northern rim counties. York County for Baltimore and Baltimore County, etc.
York County will net you a 30-40 min commute (assuming you learn the traffic spots and how to avoid them) to Baltimore, and it's cheap enough that you could probably buy the whole thing for the price of a house 20mins north of Baltimore.
York County will net you a 30-40 min commute (assuming you learn the traffic spots and how to avoid them) to Baltimore, and it's cheap enough that you could probably buy the whole thing for the price of a house 20mins north of Baltimore.
- Oct 30, 2000
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Head southward to Southern Md (outside of US-301) or to the Eastern Shore if you wish to work in the DC/Beltway area.
North of I-70 can have reasonable housing.
You will trade housing costs for commuting time/costs.
North of I-70 can have reasonable housing.
You will trade housing costs for commuting time/costs.
As far as good/bad...
Baltimore City = Good to work, don't live there.
South Baltimore County = Good to work, don't live there.
Mid Baltimore County = Decent suburbia
North Baltimore County ("Hereford Zone")= Best public schools in state, expensive as hell, mostly rural non-farmland. It's like a 15 minute drive to Walmart. We have our own grocery store, but they're a bit overpriced. If you want to buy food, you either have to go north to Shrewsbury, PA's Super Wal Mart (10mins), south to Shopper's Food Warehouse (15mins), or west to Hampstead's Weis Markets (15mins)
South Harford County = Okay. Suburban sprawl.
North Harford County = Laughably rural farmland.
North Carroll County (Hampstead) = Satan's traffic patterns. Other than that, similar to Northern Baltimore County, but without easy access to an interstate highway
Mid Carroll County (Westminster) = It's okay. There's a Walmart, there's a mall, there's a state police barracks. Oh, and there's a ROY ROGERS!!!
That prettymuch describes my little corner.
Baltimore City = Good to work, don't live there.
South Baltimore County = Good to work, don't live there.
Mid Baltimore County = Decent suburbia
North Baltimore County ("Hereford Zone")= Best public schools in state, expensive as hell, mostly rural non-farmland. It's like a 15 minute drive to Walmart. We have our own grocery store, but they're a bit overpriced. If you want to buy food, you either have to go north to Shrewsbury, PA's Super Wal Mart (10mins), south to Shopper's Food Warehouse (15mins), or west to Hampstead's Weis Markets (15mins)
South Harford County = Okay. Suburban sprawl.
North Harford County = Laughably rural farmland.
North Carroll County (Hampstead) = Satan's traffic patterns. Other than that, similar to Northern Baltimore County, but without easy access to an interstate highway
Mid Carroll County (Westminster) = It's okay. There's a Walmart, there's a mall, there's a state police barracks. Oh, and there's a ROY ROGERS!!!
That prettymuch describes my little corner.
MrChad
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2001
- 13,507
- 3
- 81
Salaries are pretty good in the Baltimore and DC Metro areas (better in and around DC). There are tons of government contractors, so IT work is usually in fair supply.
Real estate is high, but if you're willing to live a bit outside the I-95 corridor, you can find more affordable housing. Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore County are the most expensive places to live. They also have the nicest schools and neighborhoods (not sure if you have kids). Anne Arundel County can be a bit more affordable, but neighborhoods can be suspect as well. As others have said, PG County has a fairly large crime rate in most areas.
North of Baltimore, Harford county is a bit more rural and may be more affordable. You can also look west to Carroll and Frederick counties (also a bit more rural, especially Frederick). If an apartment is an option, you may be better off renting in a nice area of Howard county until the housing market settles down a bit.
Traffic is hit or miss too. DC has some of the worst traffic in the country. No matter where you live (Howard Co, Montgomery Co, Northern VA), the capital beltway is a nightmare at rush hour. Baltimore's beltway can get packed too, but if you live south of Baltimore, it's a lot easier to get in and out of the city during rush hour. I lived in an apartment in Columbia (Howard Co.) for two years commuting to Baltimore and it was a breeze.
Real estate is high, but if you're willing to live a bit outside the I-95 corridor, you can find more affordable housing. Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore County are the most expensive places to live. They also have the nicest schools and neighborhoods (not sure if you have kids). Anne Arundel County can be a bit more affordable, but neighborhoods can be suspect as well. As others have said, PG County has a fairly large crime rate in most areas.
North of Baltimore, Harford county is a bit more rural and may be more affordable. You can also look west to Carroll and Frederick counties (also a bit more rural, especially Frederick). If an apartment is an option, you may be better off renting in a nice area of Howard county until the housing market settles down a bit.
Traffic is hit or miss too. DC has some of the worst traffic in the country. No matter where you live (Howard Co, Montgomery Co, Northern VA), the capital beltway is a nightmare at rush hour. Baltimore's beltway can get packed too, but if you live south of Baltimore, it's a lot easier to get in and out of the city during rush hour. I lived in an apartment in Columbia (Howard Co.) for two years commuting to Baltimore and it was a breeze.
It's okay. You get an odd mix of middle-of-nowhere serene beauty, ridiculous urban ghetto, high-class urban center, annoying suburban sprawl, etc. here... Within about a 30min drive. There's something for everybody. Also, when you first arrive, EVERYONE is going to tell you to go to Ocean City, that you'll love it. Don't. It's a resort city with nothing to do, everything's overpriced, the cops are asshats, nobody actually LIVES there, the beaches SUCK, it was built to more or less rob 15-18 year olds of their money. And it takes EXACTLY 3 hours driving from ANYWHERE to get to it.
Also, Hunt Valley, MD (in Baltimore County) is, on occasion described as the silicon valley of the east. There are a few defense contractors in there, a few software developers, some console gaming accessory companies, etc. These are tucked nicely into the bosom of the corporate giants McCormick Spices (who also kindly scents the air nicely) and Proctor & Gamble.
If you take the Wilson bridge to work and get stuck in traffic on the VA side, look at the apartments right beside it. If you see a guy in a window pointing and laughing at you, it's probably me.
MrChad
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2001
- 13,507
- 3
- 81
Ocean City's not that bad. It's overdeveloped, to be sure, but there are other beaches just as close (Bethany, Dewey, Fenwick) that are nice and clean.
One of the nice things about MD is its close proximity to both beaches and mountains. You're within a few hours drive to the beach, hiking, camping, white water rafting, boating and skiing. Not many places in the country offer so many outdoor activities nearby.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,737
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I will vouch for that other guy and say, yes, ocean city is crappy. i do not like going there for more than 2 nights at a time. it is way overrated and there really is not much to do there. its trashy and the beaches are not that great. as far as close beaches to MD however, OC is the best bet if you are looking for stuff do and have a somewhat decent beach. Rehobeth is a little nicer and cleaner, however there really is nothing to do there.
For a good beach I would drive south to north carolina to nagshead or duck. it's much nicer around there as far as the beach goes, but there isn't much of a nightlife there as well.
EyemWing, what game accessory companies are located in Bmore? i didn't know there were any.
For a good beach I would drive south to north carolina to nagshead or duck. it's much nicer around there as far as the beach goes, but there isn't much of a nightlife there as well.
EyemWing, what game accessory companies are located in Bmore? i didn't know there were any.
- Dec 18, 2001
- 24,036
- 21
- 81
I'm beginning to think maybe there is no way I can afford to move there, since I'm currently working in an area where I can buy a decent house for a 1/3 of the cost, and my salary reflects that. Spending lots of time at realtor.com today...
Maybe I should just keep the wife here, drive back on weekends. Sleep out of my car.
Maybe I should just keep the wife here, drive back on weekends. Sleep out of my car.
Originally posted by: SagaLore
I'm beginning to think maybe there is no way I can afford to move there, since I'm currently working in an area where I can buy a decent house for a 1/3 of the cost, and my salary reflects that. Spending lots of time at realtor.com today...
Maybe I should just keep the wife here, drive back on weekends. Sleep out of my car.
That's sounds a little harsh so good luck. You're not paid well enough here to account for the living even if you are paid more then most places. You will need to make at least 150K if more to be able to afford to buy a home and not one of those interest only loans.
Originally posted by: LongAce
Originally posted by: SagaLore
I'm beginning to think maybe there is no way I can afford to move there, since I'm currently working in an area where I can buy a decent house for a 1/3 of the cost, and my salary reflects that. Spending lots of time at realtor.com today...
Maybe I should just keep the wife here, drive back on weekends. Sleep out of my car.
That's sounds a little harsh so good luck. You're not paid well enough here to account for the living even if you are paid more then most places. You will need to make at least 150K if more to be able to afford to buy a home and not one of those interest only loans.
150k? Maybe in the DC/Baltimore area. But further away it's not that bad. My friend gets 65k a year and has a nice 5 bedroom in Fredricksburg, VA.
I grew up in Montgomery County. I really do like it there.... but its reallly, really, REALLY boring. I suppose if you're married it isn't that bad. But there really isn't that much to do.
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