Good cities near Suitland for young families

[u/HeathBar806]

Hello! I grew up in Maryland and went to college in DC but have been away for a decade. got a job in suitland so we’re looking for a place for our family with young kids. Good public schools is the highest priority to us but can’t afford expensive Montgomery county areas. Would also love to be in an area that isn’t all strip malls and chain restaurants. Weighing pros and cons of hyattsville, Annapolis, silver spring, and Columbia. Any other suggestions welcome!

[u/PepperCat1019]

Upper Marlboro

I bought my house there in 2016. I absolutely love it. The neighborhood is quiet and it's very safe.

[u/Complete-Ad9574]

What do you consider a good school? Many people use this qualifier for moving to an area, but good is relative one's own yardstick. For some it means that all kids are prepped for college, others want a school which will cater to their child's special interest or needs, still others want not to rub elbows with poor kids or non white kids. Class sizes is yet another qualifier.

[u/HeathBar806 → u/Complete-Ad9574]

One child is in gen ed but has an IEP, so good special education services is big, specifically counseling and speech therapy. We’d love a school with a great neighborhood community where kids typically follow their elementary, middle, high school track together rather than leaving for magnets, charter, or private schools (this is the case where we currently live because public schools are not funded/priority to our state). College readiness is also important.

[u/Capricorn974 → u/HeathBar806]

You want Greenbelt. Greenbelt Elementary is fantastic and Roosevelt is the best high school in the county. There are also tons of activities for kids, and in Old Greenbelt, lots of walking paths between the houses

[u/zakuivcustom]

You would not want to live in MoCo to commute to Suitland anyway. Talk about commute nightmare. Even living across the river around Alexandria is less of a hassle.

[u/alex666santos]

You might consider Hyattsville since you could take the metro to Suitland. Annapolis is nice but the commute is drive only 1 hour each way. Silver Spring has affordable housing but has fallen off lately. Columbia is fine but your commute to Suitland might be drive only 1-1.5 hours, unless you are willing to drive to Greenbelt and take the Green Line. At that point you might as well live in Greenbelt/College Park/ Riverdale/ Hyattsville. Also take a look at Berwyn Heights and potentially Brentwood.

[u/fuzzydave72]

We loved Bowie, but only until the kids got to middle school, then we migrated to Anne Arundel like so many other families. The new mayor there seems to be popular

[u/MrRuck1]

Silver spring is in Montgomery county.

[u/Stephanee17]

If not aware - PGC has numerous public charter schools and magnet programs. You’re not limited to a basic neighborhood public school. 

Do you want to be in a walkable, bikeable area? Near transit? Driving here sucks due to traffic and too many bad drivers. 

Route 1 corridor/along green line has lots of options including mount rainier, Brentwoods, Hyattsville, riverdale park; college park, greenbelt. Along a great trail system. Also cheverly along orange line. You have higher property tax in an incorporated area. I’m not sure I’m getting much more from my higher taxes as a Hyattsville resident 

[u/alex666santos → u/Stephanee17]

Cheverly is a good rec neighborhood wise, but there's nothing local there and the surrounding area can be sketch. I would easily take Hyattsville over Cheverly.

[u/Eclectic7112]

Dunkirk Maryland