Enjoyed Annapolis- But Chose Another City
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2/4/2019
When we were trying to decide where in the USA to relocate to, Annapolis had enough interest that it made our list. Ultimately, we found a different city that offered many of the same amenities at a fraction of the price. Here's what we found.
With an historic downtown, Annapolis shares many of the same amenities as Wilmington NC (where we happily chose!) in terms of walkability, being a port city, and any number of good restaurants.
The weather in Annapolis is decidedly colder than in Wilmington, where winters are far more mild. Against that, Annapolis will give access to all that the DC Metro Area has to offer- so proximity is a big plus, in terms of culture and six figure salaries.
But is it really worth it? We were looking for quality of life. Traffic in the DC Metro area is amongst the worst in the nation. There are no sandy beaches in easy reach- Wilmington offers several, only 15 minutes away. The cost of living in Annapolis is incredibly high- around 40% above the national average. The average house is over $400k.
Wilmington, by contrast, offers an average home price of closer to $200k and cost of living below 2% above the national average.
While the restaurants in Annapolis are plentiful, the ones in historic downtown are not inexpensive. You can easily spend over $100 for two people. The shops have mostly become higher end boutiques, but the whimsical artistic shops have long since closed.
Bottom line: if you need to live in the DC Metro area for work and appreciate walkable historic communities, Annapolis MD and Old Town Alexandria are both waterfront cities that offer charm and historic downtowns. But expect to pay a hefty price tag and know that the winters will still be cold.
If, like us, you can work remotely, Wilmington gives you all that Annapolis has and more, at a fraction of the price. The local airport has easy flights to NYC and is never crazy busy.
If you're still looking to stay somewhat close to DC and Annapolis is too pricey, you may want to consider Fredericksburg VA. While not on the water, the downtown is historic and the in town homes are often less expensive.
Samira | Wilmington, NC