Moving to Maryland-anyone living in Howard county or Bethesda

[hmmm]

Hello,
Wanted to get advice from anyone on this forum who lives in howard county (clarksville or nearby) or bethesda in Maryland. We are planning on moving there this summer. Trying to decide between the two places.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Hyderabadi]

Hello,
Wanted to get advice from anyone on this forum who lives in howard county (clarksville or nearby) or bethesda in Maryland. We are planning on moving there this summer. Trying to decide between the two places.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi
I have lived here long enough :) Bethesda is a very upscale place so obviously very pricey. But the HS are the best of the lot.

Clarksville is boonies mostly. You might get big acreage houses here. Schools are so-so.

Where will your office be, what is the family background etc etc. Give more info for better quality help.

[VS007]

What?s boonies?

[rangerboy]

What?s boonies?

middle of nowhere, a remote place.

Usage: I would rather live in an apartment close to work than live in a mansion out in boonies.

[hmmm]

Hi
I have lived here long enough :) Bethesda is a very upscale place so obviously very pricey. But the HS are the best of the lot.

Clarksville is boonies mostly. You might get big acreage houses here. Schools are so-so.

Where will your office be, what is the family background etc etc. Give more info for better quality help.

Thank you so much for responding Hyderabadi.
Some answers to your questions so you could give better advice:
1. Howard county is about 40 min commute for both of us in opposite directions while Bethesda would be 1 hour for one and 5-15 min for the other.
2. We can afford both places- although clarksville certainly seems less expensive
3. Big acreage not a priority for us- prefer smaller lots

Main reason for asking in this forum is we were wondering if Bethesda being so expensive and maybe "posh" would it be harder to find a sense of community, down to earth neighbors who are home on evenings or weekends (versus busy jet setting professionals who are hardly home) and at least some indian neighbours.

From a prelim research of the demographics- Clarksville seemed like there was a higher percentage of Asian (and I am guessing professional Indian) neighbors- which might make it easier to find like minded friends for us and our son. Furthermore, would this mean easier access to indian grocery stores or household help (indian cook or nanny) by living in Clarksville instead of Bethesda.

Of course these are hypothetical assumptions. Please share your experience. The priority for us is the opportunity to have some Indian neighbors, make friends for our son and ourselves .

Both places claim to have the best schools- for our middle schooler - a school with many motivated kids and a school that participates in interschool competitions are the best fit.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and any insights.

[Hyderabadi]

Thank you so much for responding Hyderabadi.
Some answers to your questions so you could give better advice:
1. Howard county is about 40 min commute for both of us in opposite directions while Bethesda would be 1 hour for one and 5-15 min for the other.
2. We can afford both places- although clarksville certainly seems less expensive
3. Big acreage not a priority for us- prefer smaller lots

Main reason for asking in this forum is we were wondering if Bethesda being so expensive and maybe "posh" would it be harder to find a sense of community, down to earth neighbors who are home on evenings or weekends (versus busy jet setting professionals who are hardly home) and at least some indian neighbours.

From a prelim research of the demographics- Clarksville seemed like there was a higher percentage of Asian (and I am guessing professional Indian) neighbors- which might make it easier to find like minded friends for us and our son. Furthermore, would this mean easier access to indian grocery stores or household help (indian cook or nanny) by living in Clarksville instead of Bethesda.

Of course these are hypothetical assumptions. Please share your experience. The priority for us is the opportunity to have some Indian neighbors, make friends for our son and ourselves .

Both places claim to have the best schools- for our middle schooler - a school with many motivated kids and a school that participates in interschool competitions are the best fit.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and any insights.

Clarksville may have one or 2 indians for every 2 miles. Just kidding, I made that up. But I highly doubt you will find Indians. There may be better places if you can tell me your office locations. You can PM me your number and I can call you.

[kumm]

If you move to Gaithersburg, MD may be you can have Hyderabadi as your neighbor and friend. Just kidding.

[hmmm]

office locations baltimore downtown and bethesda respectively

[yadayada]

Thank you so much for responding Hyderabadi.
Some answers to your questions so you could give better advice:
1. Howard county is about 40 min commute for both of us in opposite directions while Bethesda would be 1 hour for one and 5-15 min for the other.
2. We can afford both places- although clarksville certainly seems less expensive
3. Big acreage not a priority for us- prefer smaller lots

Main reason for asking in this forum is we were wondering if Bethesda being so expensive and maybe "posh" would it be harder to find a sense of community, down to earth neighbors who are home on evenings or weekends (versus busy jet setting professionals who are hardly home) and at least some indian neighbours.

From a prelim research of the demographics- Clarksville seemed like there was a higher percentage of Asian (and I am guessing professional Indian) neighbors- which might make it easier to find like minded friends for us and our son. Furthermore, would this mean easier access to indian grocery stores or household help (indian cook or nanny) by living in Clarksville instead of Bethesda.

Of course these are hypothetical assumptions. Please share your experience. The priority for us is the opportunity to have some Indian neighbors, make friends for our son and ourselves .

Both places claim to have the best schools- for our middle schooler - a school with many motivated kids and a school that participates in interschool competitions are the best fit.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and any insights.

I live in Clarksville. Have been here for 8 years now. Hyderabadi's impression is Not very accurate. Both of these are fairly privileged places and have v good schools. Bethesda probably more so in terms of privilege. Montgomery schools work very differently than Howard county schools in terms of magnets and gifted programs. If you are already in the us and are familiar with the programs and lingo go through the websites to understand the differences. Preliminary searches on dcurbanmom will also help. Clarksville does have a large number if Indians but it is more spread out. Clarksville is not a place where you walk into a random Street and find that all families are Indians. That would more likely be Ellicott city. Based on your description of what you are looking for Ellicott City will likely fit the bill very well as well. Let me know if you have more qs. Happy to answer.

[Hyderabadi]

I live in Clarksville. Have been here for 8 years now. Hyderabadi's impression is Not very accurate. Both of these are fairly privileged places and have v good schools. Bethesda probably more so in terms of privilege. Montgomery schools work very differently than Howard county schools in terms of magnets and gifted programs. If you are already in the us and are familiar with the programs and lingo go through the websites to understand the differences. Preliminary searches on dcurbanmom will also help. Clarksville does have a large number if Indians but it is more spread out. Clarksville is not a place where you walk into a random Street and find that all families are Indians. That would more likely be Ellicott city. Based on your description of what you are looking for Ellicott City will likely fit the bill very well as well. Let me know if you have more qs. Happy to answer.

Please forgive my ignorance. :) Invite me for dinner, all my Clarksville misinformation will be blown away.