2023 Best Places to Live in Anne Arundel County

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  98 reviews

Former Resident: AWESOME schools for kids of every age range. Awesome conveniences and culture. Awesome diverse population. Awesome medical care. Awesome nightlife and family activity ranges. Incredibly educated but not pretentious community. Genuinely good people here who are service-oriented; many former military and government workers. Best crab in the world. Definitely would move back!... Read 98 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• Population 29,812

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  61 reviews

Current Resident: Have lived here since 1978. Raised a family and am now only minutes away from our kids and grandkids {who live in neighboring communities}. Prior to retiring, I worked in both Baltimore and Washington and found the commute very reasonable. Schools are very good and there's quite a variety of housing and communities. On the down side, there aren't enough restaurants in the immediate area and it's becoming overdeveloped, primarily because of the increasing number of townhouses. As a result, traffic is becoming an issue.... Read 61 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 25,056

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  123 reviews

Current Resident: Odenton is a tight-knit community, with many outdoor activities available for people to walk pathways, see nature, go to fishing spots, places to hike and get a nice view of the beautiful landscapes. Dog-friendly and convenient shops nearby to grab Italian food, grocery shop, get gas, etc. The shopping entrance is not far away with many restaurants, stores to shop and get ice cream. Lots of families, kids, and sports programs to join, like lacrosse, soccer, cheer, and more. I enjoy the wooded area in the back of my home, it is a pretty scenery to look at in the winter and spring to summer months. The small location of the piney orchard is a tiny gem that has community pools, no crime, a safe location and a huge park, many homes to choose from, and a really nice elementary school that is professional and clean. The staff is friendly, warm, and inviting. I really can not say enough about how much I enjoy this community and hope to stay here in this location for a long time.... Read 123 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 43,488

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  120 reviews

Current Resident: My life in Severna Park has been a dynamic experience with many ups and downs. Since freshman year, I’ve had a job no matter what. Finding jobs here as a teen is one of the perks of Severna Park since they’re hundreds of stores and companies to look into. One of my favorite things about it is the number of restaurants there are; we never run out of new places to try! In addition to that, I also enjoy how friendly all the communities and neighborhoods are. I’ve worked at two different pools over the last two summers, and I have never had a bad experience with the patrons. The families have always been very outgoing and rule abiding. On the other hand, I do wish that our school system would take their student’s mental health more into account when making serious academic decisions. Another setback is the amount of traffic and I know every city suffers from traffic but rush hour in Severna Park is insanity. Overall, I’d say Severna Park is a fairly good city to live in.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 39,108

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  12 reviews

Niche User: I grew up in the area, and I have very much enjoyed it. Its very expensive, and if I could afford it I would do it again.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 18,488

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  28 reviews

Current Resident: For the most part, there is a strong community feeling in my neighborhood, Cape St. Claire. The neighborhood shopping center is a great resource! However, not all houses are kept as nice as others, due to not very strict HOA rules.... Read 28 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 8,762

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: I mean the neighborhood isn't a super tight knit community, however everything is clean, the people are generally nice, and there is a very low crime rate.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 4,477

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  204 reviews

Current Resident: Amazing place to call your hometown. Annapolis has many things to do such as going out on the water, historic downtown, great dining, and much shopping. Not only is Annapolis a great place to live, but an amazing, interesting place to vacation to!... Read 204 reviews

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 40,581

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  115 reviews

Current Resident: Severn Maryland is a great place to live, I have been living in Severn for about 17 years and it has been a great place. There is very little crime and safety is good overall in my opinion. There are also lots of places to occupy yourself such as groccery stores, shops, restaurants, and activities for entertainment. Severn Maryland is a suburban area and is definetly a good place to consider when thinking about family-friendly area to live. Closer cities such as the Washington D.C, Baltimore, areas are very accessable which is always a good thing for me. There are a good amount of schools in the ares as well, many highschools and middle/elementrary schools around, so finding a good school will definetly not be something to worry about. To be completly transpart, the only con about severn would be the cost of housing. It does tend to be slightly higher than some other areas but you are getting whats its worth at the end considering other enviornmental factors. Severn is great.... Read 115 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 53,955

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: Maryland is where my parents live. It is a very quiet place and very beautiful too. The environment is amazing. People are kind to everyone. It is not too long since I came to live in Maryland. Maryland has a lot to give to a person. There are a lot of shopping centers and grocery shops. There are a lot of parks where people can walk in. The houses are small and well organized. They look like dollhouses. A lot of horses have little kids, and the view is very cheerful. The schools are amazing. I like Morgan University, the buildings are so beautiful and it looks like it is a very professional school. A lot of members of my family have graduated from this university and they have a great job. Something I do not like about it is that there are a lot of cars around and they put other's lives in danger. Drivers are very careful when they drive so can play outside being careful and supervised by their parents. If anyone is wondering about where to move I think Maryland is the answer.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• Population 18,059

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: Friendly small town. I walked around the corner to my library, walked to church, walked to the cute restaurants and post office, too. The BWI Trail nearby goes right by a barn with lots of beautiful horses.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 10,270

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Gambrills is a safe suburb within the state of Maryland and offers its residents a family-friendly atmosphere with a rural feel. The public schools are rated above-average, and there are several mixed-use developments in the area which offer a variety of local and chain restaurants, shopping, and banking. Gambrills is convenient to several major cities including Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 3,185

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  31 reviews

Nearby Resident: Edgewater is all around a great town that has a nice shopping district and great neighborhoods all around. It is home to several K-12 schools which offer rigorous course loads for students, like trade schools (CAT South), or STEM programs offered at both the middle and high school levels that allow for internship experiences. It's a great place to start and raise a family for success in the future. The only concerns I have with Edgewater is that it's not very diverse and not very affordable for the average person to live here.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 9,075

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.78 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: What I like about Mayo is living in a rural area with easy access to the city. We're 30 minutes away from Annapolis, 45 minutes away from Baltimore or Washington DC. We have water surrounding all the communities and therefore opportunities to practice water sports, go on boat rides, enjoy the beach, eat by the water, and enjoy nature in general. You see a lot of kids playing outside, it feels safe around here. The shopping and amenities within 5 to 10 minutes are limited. Closest grocery store is 15 minutes away. For movie theaters, bowling, etc you have to drive to Annapolis. There is only one lane each direction, and sometimes traffic can get congested or you can get behind a truck or behind someone going below the speed limit. Great schools for elementary and older kids. My kids are younger and they go to a daycare/learning center in Annapolis. Not lots of choices around here for full time daycares and based on their ages.... Read 32 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 8,197

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 2,590

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: It is a small suburb around not far from D.C, Baltimore, or Annapolis. There are good schools in the area and a lot of community activities, youth sports, and plenty to do!... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 1,273

• Town in Maryland

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Love this area. Not too much traffic or commotion, near the water and near great schools! The cost of living is very affordable, and you definitely get your money's worth in Deale. You're near popular cities without having to be too close and enduring the headache of traffic.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 4,710

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.48 out of 5  206 reviews

Current Resident: I lived in this city majority of my life. Ever since my family and I moved to the states from South Korea. Over the past 20+years, there have been alot of improvements such as hospitals, roads, constructions, new neighborhoods, etc. Even a new Middle school building to seperate 1 Building that has 2 middle school and 1 high school combined! Anne arundel County in general is very big, but constantly making improvements. It is far from being a best city in the nation, however the cost of living, and the area in general is much better than other places in my opinion. Need for improvements are safety. Although there are police patrolling, the county is so big that safety is not always guarenteed. Especially being that Baltimore city, one of the nation's dangerous city is connected to Glen Burnie!... Read 206 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 69,739

• Town in Maryland

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  Rating 4 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here for 16 years. Shady Side is not everyone's cup of tea, as it is distinctly rural and rather distant from the two closest major urban centers. I happen to live near the Chesapeake Bay, which I suggest is the county's -- if not the state's -- most redeeming feature. Unless a hurricane or tropical storm is brewing, and we have mostly been spared since 2003, it's a great place to be. Some decent restaurants may be found in the vicinity, and Annapolis, with its generous shopping choices and excellent hospital, is but 30 minutes away.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 4,813

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.59 out of 5  96 reviews

Current Resident: Pros: -Very close to Annapolis, Baltimore, and DC, a lot to do within 1hr. -Very nice parks (Downs/Fort Smallwood/Kinder) -A lot of waterfront, bay beaches. Great boating, fishing, crabbing in the summer months. -Older homes/neighborhoods are in the process of changing, i.e. Newer, larger homes and more affluent families are moving in. I like this, others may not. Cons?: - Large zip code with very desirable areas and other areas that are? Generally speaking, the price of homes goes up closer to the water and farther away from Baltimore. -The community is changing and I think for the better, but still a lack of diversity. -Good restaurants, but not great, IMO. Personally, I like locally owned/sourced dining options that offer diversity. We have a few but would like to see more. Overall, if you want to live in a safe community, be close to major cities, want an opportunity to live on the water, or be close but do not have an Annapolis budget, Pasadena might be for you.... Read 96 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 31,583

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.4 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: Ferndale is a quaint little town tucked away within Glen Burnie, MD. Ferndale has a small town feel in regards to population, income, local eateries, etc. You often run into a neighbor in the grocery store who has some sort of gossip or fact about another neighbor or what is going on.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 17,113

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 3.43 out of 5  30 reviews

Niche User: Moving to Pasadena from Baltimore was a great choice for us. My husband works towards Annapolis, and I work in Baltimore City. We are fortunate to be able in between both of our jobs, in a affordable location. If I had to look all over again, I would still choose this area. The schools are great, people are pleasant, and the housing affordable compared to other locations in Maryland. I see Pasadena growing, as young home buyers with young children try to find an affordable area to live with good school districts.... Read 30 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 19,388

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 2.9 out of 5  20 reviews

Nearby Resident: People here are typically nice. Not the highest income area, but very personable and compassionate. Schools are nice, and there are plenty of places to go for any occasion- getting food, riding a bike, shopping, and definitely getting a new car- if you poke your head around the area just a bit.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 15,541

• Suburb of Baltimore, MD

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  Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: Great community with nice people. The area is nice and quiet, near the water so there's always a lot of fishing and boating happening.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 12,012

• Town in Maryland

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Galesvilles is a very quiet and welcoming neighborhood. There is a local restaurant called Pirates Cove where you can meet many people in the community there. Everyone living here is very nice and always there for you when you need some help. I have lived in Galesville for about four years and I have loved every second of it. There are never and loud people blaring music or honking horns. Its a peaceful place to live in and I love it here.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 1,267