OFB 50 States Project: Maryland


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OFB 50 States Project: Maryland

In The OFB 50 States Project, you the readers spill the beans about your state: the good, the bad, and the delicious. And thus provide “forever place” seekers (like yours truly) a useful resource in their search. We’d love to hear about your state! To be a part of this project, click here to fill out the form!

The Facts

Low State Taxes Ranking:  39Low Cost of Living Ranking:  43

State Economy Ranking:  24

Average Temperatures (Baltimore):

  • Winter:  42°
  • Spring:  65°
  • Summer:  89°
  • Fall:  68°

The Nickname

The Old Line State

The Short of It

The state of Maryland is brought to you by the following awesome OFB readers:
1) Kaylyn   //   2) D.   //   3) Joanna K.   //   4) Ashley B.

What food best represents Maryland?

  • Old Bay and crabs! 1
  • Crab cakes 2, 3
  • Crabs! 4

What song best represents Maryland?

  • Good Morning, Baltimore – Hairspray 1, 4
  • Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver 2

How does MD refer to a carbonated beverage drink?

  • Soda 1, 2, 3, 4

If you could take a friend to one place in MD, where would it be?

  • Baltimore, of course! 1
  • Inner Harbor in Baltimore 2, 4
  • The local crab shack. The food is the best part about living here. 3
Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (photo by kymagirl)

The Long of It

Biggest misconception about MD?

  • That it’s exactly like The Wire. There are certainly parts of Baltimore that are “dangerous” (my neighborhood is considered one of them), but as long as you aren’t messing with the drug trade, they don’t mess with you. 1
  • That we’re all a bunch of politicians! 2
  • We’re all lawyers just because we live next to D.C. 3
  • That everyone knows how to crack a crab. It’s amazing how many Marylanders don’t! 4

Best aspect about living in MD?

  • It’s close to so much! Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington D.C., two hours to Philly, 4 hours to NYC, 2 hours to the beach! 1
  • Access to our nation’s capital, access to multiple airports. Close proximity to several prominent cities on the East Coast. Close to the beach, close to the mountains, hop skip and a short plane trip to Disney World, cruise ports and airports with direct flights to Europe. Lots of history, lots of tourist attractions close by, several sports teams. Many good colleges and universities. 2
  • We’re so close to D.C.! 3
  • We’re close to everything — DC, various historical sites, the beach and the waterfront. It’s easy to do day trips to New York and Philly as well. There are lots of options, and there’s plenty of culture inside the state and out! 4

Worst aspect about living in MD?

  • The weather. Maryland weather likes to go from snow to rain to sun to snow in a week’s time. 1
  • COST. Super expensive, way too many taxes. Very HIGH cost of living. MD supposedly ties HI for the highest cost of living and yet we don’t get nearly the lush paradise those in HI have. Insurance is some of the highest in the country, food is through the roof, utilities hike multiple times a year, not to mention gas tax, anyone? Oh, and then there is the whole new rain tax… Don’t even get me started. 2
  • We’re so close to D.C. 3
  • Traffic getting into and out of DC! Also, it’s easy to take the monuments and National Aquarium and Zoo for granted when you visit on school field trips every year. (Although now I’m just being needlessly picky!) 4

Summarize your feelings about Maryland in five words.

  • Crabs, Bohs, Ravens, and O’s. 1
  • wicked wicked wicked wicked expensive. 2
  • Lotsa fun stuff to do! 3
  • Proud to be a Marylander. 4

Our Freaking Take

Aside from driving through Maryland on a few occasions, Joanna and I don’t know much about the state. Its close proximity to everything on the East Coast is pretty sweet, but the cost of living sounds not so sweet. Then again, that’s the East Coast for ya. We love us some good crab cakes, though, so even if it’s never our forever place, we’ll make time to try some authentic Maryland crabs the next time we’re nearby.

How did these answers line up with your perception of Maryland? Have your thoughts on the state changed after reading this? Could you see it fitting your forever-place bill? 

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5 Comments

  • Reply Meghan August 16, 2013 at 9:40 am

    I’m trying to figure out the whole NOVA vs Maryland thing right now, and currently live in DC (since July). That winter average temperature is scaring me! Crabs do sound good though!

  • Reply Mrs PoP August 16, 2013 at 9:46 am

    I had a couple of short stints in MD, and my BFF is a homeowner there now, though she doesn’t look at it as their forever place and taxes are one big reason why. They really are high! I knew a guy who worked in MD, but commuted 60 miles each way from his home in PA rather than pay MD income and property tax rates.

  • Reply Brian August 16, 2013 at 9:56 am

    My sister lists in Baltimore (pretty close to the Under Armour Headquaters) and her neighborhood is extremely safe, so that whole it is dangerous everywhere is bunk.

    Also love me some Old Bay on crab washing it down with a Boh! We have a great picture of my little guy at 4 months looking like he is trying to drink some Boh.

  • Reply Kasey @ Debt Perception August 16, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    I’ve never lived there but I have a friend there who I visit every few months. One thing I’ve observed is that Maryland has some of the worst drivers ever.

    • Reply Heidi August 18, 2013 at 8:51 am

      Haha- you just have to learn how to drive here in MD (most non-Marylanders try to be too nice when driving). It shocked me when moving from outside DC to Baltimore to see how much nicer the baltimore drivers were 🙂
      Also, Maryland is a *big* player in government/ biotech and defense jobs, which is part of why the houses are so expensive (around the NIH in Bethesda has one of the highest educated populations per capita in the country). Maryland has really high taxes, but the many of the public school systems are very competitive. Maryland/DC/Virginia have a great Metro system (but yes rush hour traffic is horrible).

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