Columbia, MD is a city located in Howard County in the state of Maryland. It is considered one of the best places to live in the state and ranked #1 on Money’s “Best Places to Live” list for 2017. It has an abundance of amenities, from shopping centers to golf courses. There are also plenty of parks and trails that make exploring the outdoors easy and enjoyable. Residents can enjoy a variety of recreational activities such as swimming, tennis, basketball, pickleball, soccer fields, disc golf, playgrounds and more. In addition to outdoor recreation spots, there are many cultural attractions including art galleries, museums and theatrical performances. Columbia is home to many restaurants offering cuisines from around the world.
Reviews of Columbia are overwhelmingly positive. People rave about its convenient location and accessibility to major cities such as Baltimore, DC and Annapolis. They appreciate its strong sense of community with organizations dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion among its citizens. The quality of life in Columbia has been rated highly by residents who appreciate a safe environment with excellent schools and public services. Many people also mention how affordable housing prices make it an ideal place to raise a family or start a business.
based on 28 ReviewsGet to know Columbia with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Columbia
Cultural Diversity - 7/27/2009
My husband and I are African American and have 3 children - 6,10 & 11. We really like Columbia for it's family friendly location, cultural diversity and low crime. Our only complaint and the reason we are planning to move is the cost of living is incredible. You must bring home nlt 7-8K per month to live in a nice house and to have money to enjoy the multitude of things to
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Columbia MD - 12/29/2008
Columbia MD is a wonderful community to live in. Howard County was ranked in the top 10 places to live in the US for the past two years. I highly recommend this
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Columbia is a relaxed great suburban place for a f - 8/25/2008
I have lived in the Ellicott City/Columbia area of Maryland for most of my life. I am a young woman now and have loved it for the most part. It is quiet, yet you have access to Balitmore, and at a longer stretch Washington, DC for work and play. If you are looking for exciting city life however though, I would look elsewhere the suburban feel is what makes this city special. Also, for family life Howard County has some amazing education available through public
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amazing schools! - 6/10/2008
we moved here for the highly regarded school system and we are not disappointed! We love our schools and can't imagine a better choice for our
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Outdoor Green Spaces Mid Way between Balto and Was - 4/18/2008
Columbia has wonderful outdoor spaces- biking and walking paths, outdoor concerts, fairs,lakes, Merryweather Post Pavillion, Columbia has great ticketed concerts and events, a terrific public school system and a diverse community. Great place to
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Suburbia - 4/14/2008
Commuting community to Baltimore and DC. Good services and
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Suburban Life with Metropolitan Feel - 4/3/2008
This self sufficient City consists of several small "village" communities, designed to cater to family life. Local businesses are very unimposing, thus making them a challenge to find, due to regulation of the minimal usage of signs. Great parks and good schools, keeps the kids busy and the parents happy. All cultural aspects of Urban life are available with the casual convenience of the suburbs. (Mom-n-Pop to Four-star restaurants, Discount chains to upscale shopping and family friendly
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A Very Brady Place to Live - 1/10/2008
Columbia is a planned community conceived in the 1960s. Most of the homes are "shed style" modern, with integrated townhouses, apartments, and business parks. SF homes are expensive ($500K) but the area is falling behind - the McMansionized countryside up in Clarksville is much more $$$ - you can get by here affordably (for the area) if you look around - commutes both to DC and Baltimore are not too bad. There is a system of trails all through the area. It is not a true city, but a compliation of "villages" with "village centers" complete with non-denominational spiritual centers. There are plenty of restaurants and lots of shopping in the area (strip malls, big central mall). Note that there are a few areas that are developing city problems. It is a good fit for someone who really likes the suburbs. If you are moving to central MD and want more cultural and visual variety or a more traditional town, check out Ellicott City, or some of the towns in Baltimore County, or try the
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Love it - 12/5/2007
If you can afford it, Columbia is probably the best place to live in the state. There is tons of diversity, great restaurants, great schools, beautiful parks. Plus, it seems like it's close to everything. It is, however, expensive to live here; there are a good number of well-off people. As my mom says - you get what you pay
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