The DMV area is home to several major military bases – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines – with many on-base housing options. However, for those families who choose to live off-base, there are loads of alternatives. Here’s a brief overview of some of the areas that surround Andrews Airforce Base, Fort Belvoir, and Fort Meade.
And when it is time to relocate, CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty has more than 150 military-certified relocation agents who can help you buy, sell or rent. Not only will these professionals guide you through the entire process, they know how to help you get the most financial gain from your move.
Joint Base Andrews
The runway at Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews spans over 4,000 acres in Prince George’s County, Md., and has an on-base residential property population of approximately 2,600 people.
Greater Upper Marlboro
Located in Prince George’s County, Greater Upper Marlboro (the county seat) has a population of around 20,000 people, but the census divides the area into several smaller designated places. The median home value is $376,400.
This area is a mix of urban and rural. The town itself is small and quaint. Family entertainment includes:
- Watkins Regional Park with an authentic, hand-carved and restored turn-of-the-century carousel, miniature train ride, putt-putt golf, a playground, and camping;
- Six Flags America (nearby), a theme park with more than 100 rides, games, shows, and attractions;
- Montpelier Farms, a working farm featuring activities, festivals, and a farm market.
Clinton
With a population of 38,760 at the time of the 2020 census, Clinton is home to the Surratt House Museum, a Maryland-National Capital Park, and Planning Commission facility. Built in 1852 as a middle-class farmhouse, its interesting ties to John Wilkes Booth make it doubly worth a tour.
Oxon Hill
Named for a colonial 18th-century manor home overlooking the Potomac River, Oxon Hill had a population of 18,791 at the time of the 2020 census. The original manor house burned down, but a large neo-Georgian-style home was built in its place in 1929 and is owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and is used for special events.
Oxon Hill is also the location of the National Harbor development, a large mixed-use community with residential units, hotel rooms, retail space, upscale dining, and entertainment. The MGM National Harbor Resort Casino is located at the entrance of this development.
Oxon Hill’s family fun includes the Oxon Cove Farm educational facility and the Henson Creek hiker-biker trail.
Other attractions in nearby Fort Washington include:
- Rosecroft Raceway (“the Raceway by the Beltway”) which offers harness horse racing;
- The Henson Creek Golf Course;
- The Tucker Road Athletic Complex with swimming and ice skating.
Fort Belvoir
Alexandira, VA Waterfront
Fort Belvoir is located in Fairfax County, Va., halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., making it ideal for tourists who are interested in history as it is close to national parks, museums, monuments, and more. For those who work at Fort Belvoir but choose to live off base, Burke, Lorton, and Alexandria are popular choices.
Burke and Lorton, Va.
The 2020 census lists Lorton as having a population of 19,844. The median home value at that time was $463,767.
Burke’s 2020 census shows a population of 42,806. The median home value in Burke is $537,032.
The Lorton VRE station is served by the VRE Fredericksburg Line which runs between the city of Fredericksburg to the south and Washington’s Union Station to the north.
The Lorton Amtrack station is the northern terminal for Amtrak’s Auto Train which runs between this station and the Sanford station in Sanford, Florida.
Special attractions include the 218-acre Burke Lake and Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center (a former prison!) which provides 300 performances, 12 gallery spaces, hundreds of classes, and several large-scale community events.
Alexandria
According to the 2020 census, Alexandria’s population was 160,146 — the sixth largest city in Virginia. The median home value at that time was $545,000.
Historic Alexandria is perfect for those who appreciate the arts, culture, outdoor activities, and entertainment.
Nearby George Washington’s Mount Vernon is the most visited historic home in the U.S., but there are also so many other historic sites here, as well as an abundance of restaurants, wineries, breweries, entertainment, and cultural events.
Fort Meade
Patuxent Research Refuge
Located between Washington and Baltimore, Fort Meade is located in Anne Arundel County, Md. Surrounding neighborhoods include the communities of Odenton, Laurel, and Columbia.
Odenton
According to the 2020 census, Odenton’s population was 42,947. The median home value at that time was $337,700.
Odenton’s school system is ranked above average, and Bowie State University and Anne Arundel Community College are both nearby. Odenton offers natural entertainment in the form of parks. The Patuxent Research Refuge is nearby and offers fishing, wildlife observation, hiking, and biking.
Because Odenton is located just 19 miles from Baltimore and 15 miles from Annapolis, there’s also great proximity to historic sites, diverse dining venues and entertainment, but Odenton also has four main shopping centers as well as an ice rink, golf center, go-kart raceway, athletic club, and more. The Odenton MARC station makes this a great place for commuters to live.
Laurel
Located in northern Prince George’s County, Laurel’s population was reported as 42,947 in 2020 and the median home value was $337,700.
The City of Laurel’s Department of Parks and Recreation maintains more than 200 acres of parkland (19 park sites) which includes playgrounds, pavilions, athletic fields, trails, tennis courts, pools, basketball courts, and more.
A couple of unique highlights located in Laurel include:
- The Maryland Jockey Club, known for world-class Thoroughbred horse racing.
- Dinosaur Park, a fenced area where visitors can join paleontologists in searching for early Cretaceous (145 to 66 million years ago) fossils.
Columbia
At the time of the 2020 census, Columbia’s population was 104,681. The median home price was $385,900.
Located in Howard County, this planned community opened in 1967 and consists of 10 self-contained villages that were designed to enhance its residents’ quality of life in terms of human values (attempting to eliminate racial, religious and class segregation), rather than economics, and engineering.
Lakes Kittamaqundi and Centennial offer boating and fishing. The Rocky Gorge Reservoir offers hiking, horseback riding, and fishing.
The public schools are rated highly, and Columbia consistently earns a spot in Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live in the U.S.” list, ranking first place in 2016.
If you’re in the military and it’s time to move, it’s important to find an agent who not only knows the neighborhoods around each military station, but according to CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty’s Director of Relocation Services, Tina Bodolosky, it’s also advantageous to work with a real estate professional who is trained specifically to help members of the military.
The Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification program educates Real Estate Agents about working with service members and their families as well as veterans to find housing solutions that best suit their needs. They can also help you take full advantage of available benefits and support.
One such benefit, says Tina: “We offer cash back programs of up to $8,000 when you buy or sell a home through our Navy Federal Realty Plus or Military Rewards programs and utilize one of our background checked and military relocation certified agents.”
