Considering a return to MD? (Bethesda, Frederick: rentals, find a job, to buy)

[seethelight]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Thanks, I'll look into that area! And to clarify, I didn't mean the cinema thing literally - it was just supposed to paint a picture of what I'm imagining, as far as the "vibe" of a town. I rarely even go to the movies, especially since COVID.

Frederick MD would be a good fit I think. The downtown area is kind of cool and the people are nice, which is my primary criteria for living somewhere. There is a MARC train to DC and you're pretty much in a more rural area but it doesn't feel like it. I moved here from Boulder and I like it much better, primarily because of the nature and the people. You sound like you will fit right in, however I live in the city of Frederick which is more liberal, but the surrounding areas are somewhat more conservative. Good luck

[goldenage1]

Shepherdstown West Virginia is a nice college town, not too far from the train line into DC. However, if it is too far away, I'd also vote for Frederick, which has Hood College.

[gizmo980]

Apparently I need to check out Frederick! Looks cute from what I can see online… and I’ve also been exploring some of the small towns nearby, like Burkittsville.

Seems weird to think of living in West Virginia, but I guess why not? So I’ll add that to the list too.

[bus man]

Frederick is a nice place and I think you (OP) would enjoy spending time there. But it’s a small city, and you said you’re looking for something more rural. Urbana might possibly work for you. Or, if you’re looking for something really rural but still accessible, look at places along or near Route 340 like Burkittsville or Point of Rocks or Brunswick. West Virginia as a whole is quite conservative, but from what I understand, Shepherdstown is much bluer than the state’s average.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by bus man

Frederick is a nice place and I think you (OP) would enjoy spending time there. But it’s a small city, and you said you’re looking for something more rural. Urbana might possibly work for you. Or, if you’re looking for something really rural but still accessible, look at places along or near Route 340 like Burkittsville or Point of Rocks or Brunswick. West Virginia as a whole is quite conservative, but from what I understand, Shepherdstown is much bluer than the state’s average.

Urbana is even more Suburbia than Frederick. Because it is not an incorporated municipality it has become a huge conglomeration of shopping centers, Town house and single family house laid out for the maximum profit of developers. Middletown is a nice area. Even the 'tract homes on the edges of town have good size lots (1/2 acre in town, 2-5 acres outside of town.) There is now a nice selections of restaurants in the town now. Movie theaters in this area are only found in multiplexes in shopping centers on the edge of Frederick, smaller independent ones just can't survive outside the major metro areas. There is theater and culture 'just over the mountain' (really just the Braddock Heights ridge line that is a 600 foot rise) in Frederick


All of the Eastern panhandle is 'bluer' than the state as a whole. It is also the richest part of the state and seen as a pocket to pick by state government to fund the rest of the state. Also I would not want my children or grandchildren to be educated in the poorly funded West Virginia public education system.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

Urbana is even more Suburbia than Frederick. Because it is not an incorporated municipality it has become a huge conglomeration of shopping centers, Town house and single family house laid out for the maximum profit of developers. Middletown is a nice area. Even the 'tract homes on the edges of town have good size lots (1/2 acre in town, 2-5 acres outside of town.) There is now a nice selections of restaurants in the town now. Movie theaters in this area are only found in multiplexes in shopping centers on the edge of Frederick, smaller independent ones just can't survive outside the major metro areas. There is theater and culture 'just over the mountain' (really just the Braddock Heights ridge line that is a 600 foot rise) in Frederick


All of the Eastern panhandle is 'bluer' than the state as a whole. It is also the richest part of the state and seen as a pocket to pick by state government to fund the rest of the state. Also I would not want my children or grandchildren to be educated in the poorly funded West Virginia public education system.

Appreciate the input, and I will keep all of this in mind! Just fyi, though - schooling won’t be an issue, since I’m childfree and likely to stay that way (considering I’m 45 years old).

[DaveinMtAiry]

The first place I thought of was Frederick too. It's a lovely town of about 60,000 and right outside of town it's country very quickly. It's also much more accessible to where your family is with better options for a part time job than say West Virginia. There are also very nice towns nearby such as New Market or Mount Airy for that matter, depending on what you are looking for. I'd also agree that it's best that you rent 1st but with 2 dogs that could be an issue.

[Gerania]

^^^ And three cats. I think that's going to be the difficult, or impossible, part.

[BaltimoreBruiser]

Frederick gets a lot of love for good reason. But may be a little 'big' for you based on your initial description. It's also a steadily-growing area.

I'd also throw out Sykesville as a potential spot for a more 'rural' environment. It has a very small but nice little main street. I used to work nearby and have always liked the town.

Brunswick might also be close to what you're thinking. It's pretty small with some restaurants and cafes. It's always seemed a little more rundown though. I camped nearby a few times.

Unfortunately in the heart of MD those bucolic 'Main Street' MD towns are hard to find.

[North Beach Person]

Leonardtown.
https://leonardtown.somd.com/
Solomon's.
https://www.baydreaming.com/destinat...land-maryland/
Chesapeake Beach.
https://www.chesapeakebeachmd.gov/about
North Beach.
https://www.northbeachmd.org/welcome-north-beach
Charlotte Hall.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Hall,_Maryland
LaPlata.
https://townoflaplata.org/