Gaithersburg, MD?

Question

Can you tell me your views about
residing in the city of Gaitherburg, MD....
interesting places in the city of Gaithersburg, MD....
transportation etc?

Answer 1

Gaithersburg is an outer suburb of Washington, DC. It's a ways beyond the end of the Red Line Metro in Shady Grove, well beyond Bethesda and the like.

Transport wise, the town is on Rte 270 heading northwest out of DC - Metro nearby in Shady Grove, and some bus service.

Interesting places - Gaithersburg is a town - with things like a concert pavilion, city museum, and the art barn - not really happening, not the same level of world class attractions that nearby DC has, but very charming, very amusing.

It's a nice place to live, but not necesarily a place to visit. And it is distant from DC.

Answer 2

Gaithersburg really exploded in the 80s with "Montgomery Village" a planned urban development. There is a large mall that during the day time is very good, but can feel a bit seedy at night.

Personally, I think it is overpriced for housing - the area is getting more and more urban; and the problems that accompany it without any of the advantages (i.e. nightlife, culture, etc.). Montgomery County does have a good reputation for it's schools - but the good ones are really good, and the not good ones are really not good. The County offers a lot a amenities, but you have to contend with unbelievable traffic and the like.

Most people move away from Gaithersburg as soon as they can - I know many many many people that have come from there, but I never ever known anyone to move to there.

The metro (DC's subway system) ends at Shady Grove, which is technically Gaithersburg, but not central to Gaithersburg proper. They do have a rather comprehensive busing system - but the traffic is awful. There is a MARAC train station that takes you into DC

If you have a family I'd look a bit further out - Howard County or Frederick County. You'll have more of a commute, but better quality of life.

If you're single, Gaithersburg will be great if you work in the area, but if you are going to work in DC I'd check out some of the other suburbs as well (look into some of theVirginia suburbs - Arlington etc.)

Answer 3

The entire DC area sucks, and Gaithersburg is pretty crappy as far as suburbs go. I grew up a few miles south of Gaithersburg and the only reason I ever even went there when I was growing up was to go to take my driving test because Gaithersburg has the closest full-service MVA office. That's the only reason any of my friends or family would ever go there as well. It has just about every big-box store imaginable, lots of really ugly and expensive houses, and some of the worst traffic in the country. Transportation options: Interstate 270, which isn't really an interstate, because it doesn't leave Maryland, but I've never seen it without a several mile backup. They've been literally doing construction on it my entire life that I can remember (I'm 26). The Shady Grove stop on the Metro (DC subway system) is technically still in Rockville I believe, although not too far from Gaithersburg. I think there's also a MARC (commuter rail) stop in Gaithersburg, but commuter rail service in Maryland is a joke. The only GOOD thing about Gaithersburg is the school system... it's in Montgomery County so it has one of the best school districts in the country.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I live in Montgomery Village (just north of Gaithersburg) and work in DC. I moved here from out of state and thought DC would be an easy commute from Gaithersburg. I thought wrong. If you're going to work in DC, I would definitely move closer, either to Bethesda, Silver Spring or to Northern VA. I-270 is heavily congested on weekdays during rush hour, and Rte. 355 (aka Rockville Pike aka Frederick Rd.) isn't much better. The geniuses who built Shady Grove Metro decided to put it in the middle of nowhere so it is impossible to walk or bike to. If Metro isn't breaking down, it's about 30 minutes from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle in DC, but that's a big if. Buses are generally good and on time, but they take the most circuitous routes from gaithersburg to shady grove that it takes 30 minutes to get there when it should only take 10-15. My friend called Gaithersburg "suburban hell" and he's right to some extent.

Answer 6

Gaithersburg is a great place to live except for the commute to Washington DC. You have to come in on I-270 and that is a virtual parking lot during both rush hours. If there is an accident, the commute can easily be 3 hours each way.

Housing is still expensive there. Figure around $590,000 for a house to start with and go up from there.

Answer 7

Gaithersburg is a good area to live in. It has nice homes and a variety of types. The subway system does not go that far, but buses do. But these are not as reliable and frequent as the Metro system. That area is accessible to good shopping and schools. The big problem with Gaithersburg is if you work in downtown DC or even in Maryland near the city the traffic is terrible. I-270 is a major thoroughfare with multiple lanes but it still has heavy traffic during rush hours.

Answer 8

Gaithersburg is the quintessential suburbs. Strip malls, little vegetation, tons of cars, flat, colorless, and impossible to walk anywhere. There is a Metro stop, so just hop on and take it to DC where it's a little more interesting!
Maryland does have some things that are of interest, but that isn't one of them.

Answer 9

I don't live there, but here's the rule of thumb for DC/VA kids: you will never see your friends again, if they move to MD.

If you're thinking of moving into the DC Metro area, but want to live farther out, remember that. If you're honestly just wanting to live in Gaithersburg, and posted in the DC topic because it's close, nevermind.

Answer 10

I've lived in Gaithersburg for the past 4 years with my wife and twin girls. We all love it and plan on staying for a while. I work in DC and take the MARC commuter train in. It's fast, cheap, and easy. There is plenty to do in the area. I highly recommend it.