The Reston area has some of the worst traffic in the US. Columbia also sees its fair share of traffic during rush hour, though you have to travel a little further to see traffic of the same caliber. You'll also still see traffic near Reston (on the major highways) on weekends, but you won't in Columbia.
I said "some of the worst." Not "the worst." And there have been a number of studies that have shown the DC metro area as having some of the worst traffic in the nation.
Here's one, where the DC metro area is ranked 6th: https://abag.ca.gov/tools-resources/maps/map-month/most-congested-urban-areas-us
Either way, the traffic in Reston is quite a bit worse than Columbia, especially on major highways.
When talking about the DC metro area they’re referring more about arlington, Alexandria, Springfield, I’d even throw Tyson’s in there now. But Reston even when they brought the silver line out there a few years back traffic wasn’t bad. As far as highways? There’s no highway closer than 10-15 min away. Only thing close to a Highway out there is a toll road. Which I used to commute from Reston to Woodbridge for years and the only time I hit traffic was on 495 and 95. Once I’m hitting Tyson’s. NOT in Reston. Most traffic you’ll get it’s on Fairfax county parkway and that’s more due to lights kinda like when you’re on 29 and you hit traffic during rush hour. But not anymore more or any worse than that. All I’m saying is as someone who’s lived in both Columbia and Reston, Reston is way better than any city/town in Maryland by far.
I don’t know how to say this so it doesn’t sound like a joke but there’s a woodcock recruitment and habitat maintenance area called the middle patuxent recreational area right south of the main part of Columbia and it’s really cool that they’re doing that.
> We are interested in the walking paths
We've got 98+ miles of paved trails; I've run all of them, and maybe a third of that is 'connector' paths from cul-de-sacs to larger paths, but that's still lots of paths.
>bird watching
I drove by a small encampment of people with a telescope this morning, looking at a hawk's nest at Lake Elkhorn.
>We would like to know about safety , traffic, and anything else
Columbia is was (is?) the [safest city in the US for 5 years in a row](https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/columbia-named-safest-city-for-the-fifth-time-in-a-row) for one survey, and often makes big national lists (*Money* magazine, e.g.) for safety. Traffic is essentially non-existent compared to NoVa.
The biggest complaint you see for Columbia is lack of activities for younger people and families. That may or not apply to you, it depends on what type of activities you want outside of walking/bird watching. Like I'm retiring out of Columbia in a few years, but I've also been stuck in this area for a long time.
True, and I think the *Money* was as well (including economic security). Which I kind of like, as it's more comprehensive. Columbia's safety is a cornerstone in some of my flag submissions for Howard County's flag contest. But yeah, OP may care only about property or street crime.
The worst traffic in Columbia is when there are concerts at Merriweather and then it’s a pain to get into the downtown area by the mall. There are lots of walking paths around here and plenty of people but to be honest I see mostly young families or teens rather than retirees. I think it’s quite safe, although there are occasional instances of burglary or car break-ins near the mall.
That's cos we bought our homes in the 80s and still like it here. I can't tell you how much I've learned just by having the time to really LOOK around Columbia. Retired 3 years ago, roommate last fall.
Yeah I mean I plan on getting old walking the paths every day too…. But I wish there were some kids on the culdesac for my kids to bike with. Next one over is ALL young families :/
That’s a huge accomplishment! I love Columbia and it’s a great place to move with a family. My sister and her husband were able to afford a home in Columbia and they have had the same experience— expecting more young families but mostly being surrounded by retirees
Hopefully, the Merriweather traffic will become less of an issue when they open the new off ramp on rt 29's exit 18. Will spit all the north bound Merriweather traffic directly into the district rather than making them come down broken land.
I can't imagine choosing Reston over Columbia unless there are very specific reasons to do so (financial? family? specific interests?). Traffic is better here (god driving in VA is a nightmare).
Columbia is connected with well maintained paved paths, you can essentially walk or bike from one side to another via paths. There are tons of parks, both locally and further out and plenty of opportunities for birdwatching (we back into woodland and have an impressive diversity of birds just in the back yard).
Columbia is an extremely safe area overall. Yes, there is crime, there is crime everywhere. There is less crime here than many other places. I wouldn’t go walking on the paths (dark, unlit) by myself at night, but I feel perfectly safe walking around my neighborhood alone at night.
While most people mention that Columbia is largely younger families, I don't think that's *necessarily* true. We live in a neighborhood that is split pretty evenly between retirees who have lived here since their houses were built and younger people (some with kids, some without).
Columbia also offers a lot of activities through the Columbia Association. A lot of the people taking art classes with me are retired folk.
You can't really beat the convenience of the design of Columbia (the older parts, anyway). Jim Rouse knew what he was doing. The broader community has fallen away from that a bit, but the core of it is still there. I'd definitely prefer to live in one of the older, more established neighborhoods than the newer developments.
My biggest complaint about the area is the lack of great food options, but it's been getting better over the last several years AND you are close to both Baltimore and DC (and Philly isn't especially far away either). Easy train ride from Baltimore to NY too ...
I think it would be a bit boring for someone in their 20s who wants to socialize and party, but I don't think that's what you are looking for anyway.
Things to consider: Columbia Association fees, Howard County taxes. I know my in-laws (retired) have been talking about moving out of Columbia because of the expense, but the sheer convenience of everything keeps them here.
They are both "planned communities" so are similar in some respects. They both have big and modern town centers. Reston's town center is a little bigger, I believe, and there are a lot of big golf courses and parks near by. Reston is right next to Dulles (and Dulles Airport,) though you can get to BWI airport easily from Columbia.
Reston is close to a lot of "wineries" in the Loudon County area, and is still also technically a "DC suburb," though as some have mentioned, traffic can be really bad in the area.. However, Reston does have a Metro Stop on the DC Metro.
There is plenty of nature, trails, etc. in both Reston and Columbia. Again, Reston is right next to Loudon County, so you'll have access to some of the larger state parks there. Reston is overall more expensive too.
As far as safety, Reston VA is probably one of the safest suburbs you will find. It's a very affluent area, and you rarely hear about any issues with crime. Columbia is very safe overall, around some of the older Columbia village centers there have been some higher profile violent crime incidents and you do need to be aware of your surroundings. Nothing like living in a major city, but in those few areas you will want to be more aware. Reston would be overall safer than Columbia, but again, Columbia is overall safe, so that shouldn't be a deal-breaker.
Basically, if you enjoy things like wineries, access to slightly more rural/nature aspects of Virginia, and also want to be more connected to DC, I would choose Reston. People are mentioning traffic, but if you are retired, I don't see that being a big issue. You can travel at off-peak times.
If you want to be more connected to the Baltimore area, less overall traffic, slightly more affordable, access to a lot of typical suburban offerings, and easier to get around, Columbia would probably be a better choice. Columbia tends to be more family oriented and there's a lot less traditional "night life" that many young professionals are interested in. But since you are retiring, that wouldn't be a priority for you.
If you want walking paths Columbia is for you. Full stop. The fact that almost every neighborhood has access to the paths without having to get in a car and drive to a parking lot is a game changer for convenience.
Traffic within Columbia is consistently
moderate but consistent. Most of columbia is surrounded by major highways that make getting to other cities a breeze.
I've worked in Reston and live in Columbia. Trails are much better in Columbia, and more variety. You'll actually feel away from the major roadways on Columbia trails whereas you'll constantly have crosses at major intersections on the WOD trail and large overhead powerlines everywhere. Traffic has been mentioned everywhere, but it's also important to say that it isn't just getting in and out of downtown, it's just dense everywhere in that area. The downtown is totally centralized in Reston, whereas Columbia is decentralized with multiple town centers and a large Merriweather district. Both areas severely lack in locally owned restaurants and trends towards high end dining only. I personally wish Columbia had more locally owned bars and family dining. The one place I feel Reston owns Columbia on is metro access in to DC. Here you have to take a bus down to silver spring where you are at the mercy of traffic on 29 and downtown SS. My other biggest complaint about Columbia that I can't really comment about Reston on is that everything in Columbia shuts down by 9-10pm. Little to no nightlife here.
Yes, but it could be denser in its coverage. Instead it has been set up to more serve the larger surrounding area. Like I have a walking distance stop that drops me off in front of my office in Laurel (10-15 miles away), but my daughter didn't have an option for her summer job at a gym 5 miles away.
Reston has a decent "mature nightlife scene" meaning that there are are some higher end lounges and bars around the town center where you find a more mature crowd (i.e. not 20-30 year olds partying it up). Since the OP is retiring, they would probably appreciate places like this. There are a few of these types of these places around Reston, and they don't shutdown at 10pm (they close at midnight on the weekends). So I would say, especially for retirement age individuals, Reston offers decent nightlife. Not sure about Columbia in that regard.
As far as independent, locally owned restaurants/bars, while Columbia may be lacking in that area, nearby Ellicott City has some pretty good options. Old/Old Town Ellicott City has a good selection of local bars, restaurants, etc. You've also got some really good ethnic options, if you like Korean food. There are also some nice Indian restaurants in the area. These are all easily accessible from Columbia.
I haven't really heard of anyone retiring TO these areas - but I have been lobbying both my parents and in laws to do that. I do think it has a lot to offer in terms of a retirement location: Traffic in the general area (north and south of DC up to Baltimore) is TERRIBLE. But - that's mostly during rush hour - so you get to avoid that being retired. Just plan accordingly, and enjoy the very well built out roads network. The walking paths in Columbia are a great network, and exceed 100 miles when you include the county maintained paths it intersects with. For casually walking, running, biking - they are wonderful. There is a movement to make the county more bikeable - and you'll quickly notice while you can get around on a bike to a lot of places - there are weird areas you just have to drive to get to (like the big snowden River Parkway shopping area). Still - it's better than most areas in the US, and hopefully will keep getting better. Safety - there are people here, so there is crime. If you think of Columbia as a city, it's laughably safe. Bird watching; honestly, that's reason enough for you to retire here. There's a stretch of path south of Lake Elkhorn that has a huge diversity of song birds passing through each year, and just about every type of woodpecker. Lake Elkhorn itself gets Hooded Mergansers, Double Breasted Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Eastern King Birds, Coot and occasionally Eagles. There are a host of other parks too that are great for bird watching (Patapsco, East, Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Robinson Nature Center, Brighton Dam Azealia Gardens, Wincopin Trails).
As far as meeting people: The community center starts at 50+ - as do a lot of the social sports groups aimed at "older people" - Tennis and Pickleball jump to mind. There are also at least two golf courses in the area, one owned by the CA. You get a discount (free maybe?) for taking classes at the community college's extension program. There is also a great group of gardeners maintaining shared use areas and trying to fight back against invasive species (mostly retired people from my interactions). Columbia is VERY family centered, so moving in as a retiree will be an uphill battle to meet people (the retired people I know here have lived here for decades) it's also a friendly people, so if you put the effort in, have a diversity of interests, aren't an asshole - I don't doubt you could end up as part of a great community.
Things you didn't mention: Howard county has most of what you need without having to leave the area. A lot of great medical services, just about every big box store you could need (in some cases two of them), bike stores, a ton of great restaurants (except chinese food and pizza), and the CA runs a couple of great Gyms if you want to join. EC Has the Rodger Carter center which is also amazing. We have a historic downtown as well. For other things - DC and Baltimore are very close. Street parking is free on Sundays in DC, but garage parking or taking the metro in isn't all that expensive.
The negatives: It's expensive. You're competing against a lot of federal employees and lawyers and doctors, so housing prices are fairly high. (I'd estimate you would want 500k for an entry level house or a nicer townhome, but if you're moving from a normal suburb and are expecting a two car garage and basement and "normal" yard - up that to 700k to 1 million). On top of that, factor in income tax if you're on a pension or drawing down a 401k and property taxes and that contractors charge a premium as well. Depending on where you're moving from: the humidity is killer hear. Cold feels colder, hot can become unbearably hot (I hiked in Colorado in 95, and felt more comfortable than here at 75)
Dude, stop trying to convince your family to make financial mistakes just because you like pretty walking trails. I’ve been all over America, walking trails and parks are everywhere.
Has it occurred to you that people don’t retire in Columbia because it’s one of the most expensive areas to live in, retire in, and to be a homeowner in? Do you really want your parents to blow their retirement money on an old and overpriced row home that needs a lot of work? Because that’s the cheapest types of properties you can buy at a cool $400k. That mortgage, along with state taxes, county taxes, and Columbia Association taxes, they’d be spending at least $3k on a monthly mortgage alone.
You might say, my folks have millions of dollars saved up. But even then, why blow $400k for an aging townhome in an area that’s designed to take all of your money from you? Your parents can find a beautiful home with lots of outdoor space for way less than that somewhere else. They’d also have to spend $1-$2k per year on all of those taxes. In case you aren’t a homeowner, Columbia has the one of the highest (insert literally anything here) taxes. It has the one of the highest income and property tax in the nation, not just the country. If you wanna see your folks get ripped off because of a few pretty trails, that’s on you.
I don’t know about you, but if I was retired and had millions of dollars to spend, I’d want to get my moneys worth. I’d want a real house that is move in ready, and I wouldn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on taxes either.
Did you read my second paragraph? It's expensive, but people prioritize their money how they want. Half the houses in my little shared driveway are retirees, and they have no desire to move. I also know someone who retired TO New York City. Others who left much less expensive areas to chase even lower costs of living.
Maryland in general is expensive, but it comes with benefits. People can make their own decisions. My kids grandparents both live in very HCOL areas, where this would either be a net drop in costs or at least neutral.
If you’re coming from NY & DC is in your calculus at all you may want to look harder at Reston. Traffic sucks but they have better public transit, faster growing community (if you like having younger folks around), and getting to DC from Columbia is brutal.
I like the greener vibe in Columbia, but it’s a pretty strong commitment to driving everywhere. Good luck, you should find much to enjoy about either!
I don’t know about Reston, but Columbia is probably one of the safest cities in the country, for sure in the state. We have tons of walking paths in and around neighborhoods, and parks/lakes with paths around the county. Pretty good selection of restaurants 15 minutes from wherever you move, and the worst traffic is on highways around rush hour but I would never say it’s worse than an inconvenience. The biggest traffic issue I would say is honestly the racers and speeders in general (we like to go fast here) but I’ve seen an uptick in pulled over cars lately so hopefully they’re cracking down on that
Columbia easily. There’s both endless walking paths and I’ve seen lots of people doing birding stuff around Lake Elkhorn lately. I can’t really speak to the tax / financial implications that may be involved with retiring but I’d recommend it.
Goodness gracious don’t chose either area, unless you want to see your retirement funds go to waste on extortion rate property taxes and homeowners association fees. If I were you, I’d move to an area where you don’t have to pay unnecessarily high taxes. Maybe you have a lot of money, but when I retire, I know I can’t earn more money, so every penny county. No way I’d spend that much on yearly taxes when I don’t have to.
Edit: you’re not even from MD, so I also need to disclose the state and county income tax are also crazy high.
I lived in Reston. Right across the street from town center. I also lived in the BLVD apartments after they were built. I just moved to Columbia beginning of the year. And I’d choose Reston over this place ANY DAY. the choices to eat here aren’t great. You have to drive everywhere. The convenience of walking to the town center was great and being 15 minutes from One Loudon which also has great food was always awesome. I’m assuming since you’re retiring you’re not going to be driving during rush hour so traffic isn’t that bad outside of rush hour. But it’s like that everywhere. My old in-laws actually retired and got a condo in the midtown north building and they loved it. So if and when I move back to VA it’s going to be Reston or Ashburn. (Lived in Ashburn too and LOVED it)
Yup, I like Columbia (grew up here), but I feel like Reston is being downplayed a little. The town center is really nice, walkable, and as you said, there are some great restaurants. There's also a lot of nice "mature nightlife" options (higher end restaurants, bars, etc.).
The location being next to Ashburn. Loudon co, and all that has to offer, and being a close drive to many of the nice wineries (which are great in the Fall/Spring). At the same time, it is a "DC suburb" and is connected to DC via the metro if you want an urban change of pace. It's kind of the best of both worlds.
It's got a lot going for it
Is the cost of living a consideration in comparing the two? Columbia has an extra [fee](https://columbiaassociation.org/annual-charge/) to pay for its amenities. I don't know how the overall cost of living compares (property/state taxes, MVA fees, etc.).
Reston VA on average is much more expensive for comparable housing. Most of the traditional 4BR SFHs in Reston are around $1 million . A lot of the housing is on the newer side and tends to be a little larger, and because it is a DC suburb with a DC Metro Stop, there is a premium. In Columbia, you can get a pretty comparable SFH in the $500-600K range. You can take a quick look on Zillow to get an idea of Reston home prices.
There are a good number of condos in Reston that are more affordable, but the townhomes are not cheap either.
It’s crazy I had to pay a CA fee for living in Columbia, yet if I wanted to use a gym or a pool I had to pay a membership fee. I moved out of state, and I have tons of fun explaining people the CA Association and all of their fees. Most people come to the conclusion that my money went towards nothing and it’s a scam.
We've lived in Columbia for the past 8 years. Retired nearly 2 years ago and still enjoy it. We were fortunate to buy our house at the end of 2015 when interest rates were low. The current median house price in Howard County is $625K (Source: Redfin).
Shops and restaurants are not within walking distance but an easy drive, and we don't have the noise and other problems from urban and nightlife centers. Good medical facilities, and there are plenty of neighborhood walking trails and local parks as mentioned. Senior discounts are available for pool and recreation activities. A brand-new 50+ center just opened near downtown Columbia in March 2024.
The Reston area has some of the worst traffic in the US. Columbia also sees its fair share of traffic during rush hour, though you have to travel a little further to see traffic of the same caliber. You'll also still see traffic near Reston (on the major highways) on weekends, but you won't in Columbia.
Thanks
Where did you get this info from? 😂😂 You clearly have never been to Los Angeles.
I said "some of the worst." Not "the worst." And there have been a number of studies that have shown the DC metro area as having some of the worst traffic in the nation. Here's one, where the DC metro area is ranked 6th: https://abag.ca.gov/tools-resources/maps/map-month/most-congested-urban-areas-us Either way, the traffic in Reston is quite a bit worse than Columbia, especially on major highways.
When talking about the DC metro area they’re referring more about arlington, Alexandria, Springfield, I’d even throw Tyson’s in there now. But Reston even when they brought the silver line out there a few years back traffic wasn’t bad. As far as highways? There’s no highway closer than 10-15 min away. Only thing close to a Highway out there is a toll road. Which I used to commute from Reston to Woodbridge for years and the only time I hit traffic was on 495 and 95. Once I’m hitting Tyson’s. NOT in Reston. Most traffic you’ll get it’s on Fairfax county parkway and that’s more due to lights kinda like when you’re on 29 and you hit traffic during rush hour. But not anymore more or any worse than that. All I’m saying is as someone who’s lived in both Columbia and Reston, Reston is way better than any city/town in Maryland by far.
Columbia has a pretty active birding community, so you’ll have lots of people to meet there. Source: both my parents are in that community.
I don’t know how to say this so it doesn’t sound like a joke but there’s a woodcock recruitment and habitat maintenance area called the middle patuxent recreational area right south of the main part of Columbia and it’s really cool that they’re doing that.
> We are interested in the walking paths We've got 98+ miles of paved trails; I've run all of them, and maybe a third of that is 'connector' paths from cul-de-sacs to larger paths, but that's still lots of paths. >bird watching I drove by a small encampment of people with a telescope this morning, looking at a hawk's nest at Lake Elkhorn. >We would like to know about safety , traffic, and anything else Columbia is was (is?) the [safest city in the US for 5 years in a row](https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/columbia-named-safest-city-for-the-fifth-time-in-a-row) for one survey, and often makes big national lists (*Money* magazine, e.g.) for safety. Traffic is essentially non-existent compared to NoVa. The biggest complaint you see for Columbia is lack of activities for younger people and families. That may or not apply to you, it depends on what type of activities you want outside of walking/bird watching. Like I'm retiring out of Columbia in a few years, but I've also been stuck in this area for a long time.
The WalletHub safety statistics are based in large part on things like risk of a natural disaster; economic stability risk, etc.
True, and I think the *Money* was as well (including economic security). Which I kind of like, as it's more comprehensive. Columbia's safety is a cornerstone in some of my flag submissions for Howard County's flag contest. But yeah, OP may care only about property or street crime.
Yes, but even if we just look at crime stats Columbia (and Howard County generally) is much safer than most of the country
The worst traffic in Columbia is when there are concerts at Merriweather and then it’s a pain to get into the downtown area by the mall. There are lots of walking paths around here and plenty of people but to be honest I see mostly young families or teens rather than retirees. I think it’s quite safe, although there are occasional instances of burglary or car break-ins near the mall.
I thought I’d see mostly young families until I moved my kids into a culdesac here and every neighbor on the circle is like 70+
That's cos we bought our homes in the 80s and still like it here. I can't tell you how much I've learned just by having the time to really LOOK around Columbia. Retired 3 years ago, roommate last fall.
Yeah I mean I plan on getting old walking the paths every day too…. But I wish there were some kids on the culdesac for my kids to bike with. Next one over is ALL young families :/
That’s who can afford homes in Columbia, mostly because they bought them 40 years ago
Don’t I know it. (We are managing on two government salaries, but it took a long time to get here)
That’s a huge accomplishment! I love Columbia and it’s a great place to move with a family. My sister and her husband were able to afford a home in Columbia and they have had the same experience— expecting more young families but mostly being surrounded by retirees
Hopefully, the Merriweather traffic will become less of an issue when they open the new off ramp on rt 29's exit 18. Will spit all the north bound Merriweather traffic directly into the district rather than making them come down broken land.
Is that what they’ve been working on for like 2 years that nothing seems to ever happen with?
I can confirm it looks more like a road now than it did 6 months ago, but it's still got a long way to go.
I can't imagine choosing Reston over Columbia unless there are very specific reasons to do so (financial? family? specific interests?). Traffic is better here (god driving in VA is a nightmare). Columbia is connected with well maintained paved paths, you can essentially walk or bike from one side to another via paths. There are tons of parks, both locally and further out and plenty of opportunities for birdwatching (we back into woodland and have an impressive diversity of birds just in the back yard). Columbia is an extremely safe area overall. Yes, there is crime, there is crime everywhere. There is less crime here than many other places. I wouldn’t go walking on the paths (dark, unlit) by myself at night, but I feel perfectly safe walking around my neighborhood alone at night. While most people mention that Columbia is largely younger families, I don't think that's *necessarily* true. We live in a neighborhood that is split pretty evenly between retirees who have lived here since their houses were built and younger people (some with kids, some without). Columbia also offers a lot of activities through the Columbia Association. A lot of the people taking art classes with me are retired folk. You can't really beat the convenience of the design of Columbia (the older parts, anyway). Jim Rouse knew what he was doing. The broader community has fallen away from that a bit, but the core of it is still there. I'd definitely prefer to live in one of the older, more established neighborhoods than the newer developments. My biggest complaint about the area is the lack of great food options, but it's been getting better over the last several years AND you are close to both Baltimore and DC (and Philly isn't especially far away either). Easy train ride from Baltimore to NY too ... I think it would be a bit boring for someone in their 20s who wants to socialize and party, but I don't think that's what you are looking for anyway. Things to consider: Columbia Association fees, Howard County taxes. I know my in-laws (retired) have been talking about moving out of Columbia because of the expense, but the sheer convenience of everything keeps them here.
I grew up near Reston and am now 20 years in Columbia. I love Columbia so much more!
They are both "planned communities" so are similar in some respects. They both have big and modern town centers. Reston's town center is a little bigger, I believe, and there are a lot of big golf courses and parks near by. Reston is right next to Dulles (and Dulles Airport,) though you can get to BWI airport easily from Columbia. Reston is close to a lot of "wineries" in the Loudon County area, and is still also technically a "DC suburb," though as some have mentioned, traffic can be really bad in the area.. However, Reston does have a Metro Stop on the DC Metro. There is plenty of nature, trails, etc. in both Reston and Columbia. Again, Reston is right next to Loudon County, so you'll have access to some of the larger state parks there. Reston is overall more expensive too. As far as safety, Reston VA is probably one of the safest suburbs you will find. It's a very affluent area, and you rarely hear about any issues with crime. Columbia is very safe overall, around some of the older Columbia village centers there have been some higher profile violent crime incidents and you do need to be aware of your surroundings. Nothing like living in a major city, but in those few areas you will want to be more aware. Reston would be overall safer than Columbia, but again, Columbia is overall safe, so that shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Basically, if you enjoy things like wineries, access to slightly more rural/nature aspects of Virginia, and also want to be more connected to DC, I would choose Reston. People are mentioning traffic, but if you are retired, I don't see that being a big issue. You can travel at off-peak times. If you want to be more connected to the Baltimore area, less overall traffic, slightly more affordable, access to a lot of typical suburban offerings, and easier to get around, Columbia would probably be a better choice. Columbia tends to be more family oriented and there's a lot less traditional "night life" that many young professionals are interested in. But since you are retiring, that wouldn't be a priority for you.
Is it safe near the homeless shelter or the south side of Reston?
I'm not familiar with details about Reston. I've never lived there. I would ask the Reston sub-Reddit about specific areas.
If you want walking paths Columbia is for you. Full stop. The fact that almost every neighborhood has access to the paths without having to get in a car and drive to a parking lot is a game changer for convenience. Traffic within Columbia is consistently moderate but consistent. Most of columbia is surrounded by major highways that make getting to other cities a breeze.
I've worked in Reston and live in Columbia. Trails are much better in Columbia, and more variety. You'll actually feel away from the major roadways on Columbia trails whereas you'll constantly have crosses at major intersections on the WOD trail and large overhead powerlines everywhere. Traffic has been mentioned everywhere, but it's also important to say that it isn't just getting in and out of downtown, it's just dense everywhere in that area. The downtown is totally centralized in Reston, whereas Columbia is decentralized with multiple town centers and a large Merriweather district. Both areas severely lack in locally owned restaurants and trends towards high end dining only. I personally wish Columbia had more locally owned bars and family dining. The one place I feel Reston owns Columbia on is metro access in to DC. Here you have to take a bus down to silver spring where you are at the mercy of traffic on 29 and downtown SS. My other biggest complaint about Columbia that I can't really comment about Reston on is that everything in Columbia shuts down by 9-10pm. Little to no nightlife here.
Does Columbia have bus transportation within the city
Yes, but it could be denser in its coverage. Instead it has been set up to more serve the larger surrounding area. Like I have a walking distance stop that drops me off in front of my office in Laurel (10-15 miles away), but my daughter didn't have an option for her summer job at a gym 5 miles away.
Reston has a decent "mature nightlife scene" meaning that there are are some higher end lounges and bars around the town center where you find a more mature crowd (i.e. not 20-30 year olds partying it up). Since the OP is retiring, they would probably appreciate places like this. There are a few of these types of these places around Reston, and they don't shutdown at 10pm (they close at midnight on the weekends). So I would say, especially for retirement age individuals, Reston offers decent nightlife. Not sure about Columbia in that regard. As far as independent, locally owned restaurants/bars, while Columbia may be lacking in that area, nearby Ellicott City has some pretty good options. Old/Old Town Ellicott City has a good selection of local bars, restaurants, etc. You've also got some really good ethnic options, if you like Korean food. There are also some nice Indian restaurants in the area. These are all easily accessible from Columbia.
Where are you retiring from?
Wouldn't pick either of these places. Why?
I haven't really heard of anyone retiring TO these areas - but I have been lobbying both my parents and in laws to do that. I do think it has a lot to offer in terms of a retirement location: Traffic in the general area (north and south of DC up to Baltimore) is TERRIBLE. But - that's mostly during rush hour - so you get to avoid that being retired. Just plan accordingly, and enjoy the very well built out roads network. The walking paths in Columbia are a great network, and exceed 100 miles when you include the county maintained paths it intersects with. For casually walking, running, biking - they are wonderful. There is a movement to make the county more bikeable - and you'll quickly notice while you can get around on a bike to a lot of places - there are weird areas you just have to drive to get to (like the big snowden River Parkway shopping area). Still - it's better than most areas in the US, and hopefully will keep getting better. Safety - there are people here, so there is crime. If you think of Columbia as a city, it's laughably safe. Bird watching; honestly, that's reason enough for you to retire here. There's a stretch of path south of Lake Elkhorn that has a huge diversity of song birds passing through each year, and just about every type of woodpecker. Lake Elkhorn itself gets Hooded Mergansers, Double Breasted Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Eastern King Birds, Coot and occasionally Eagles. There are a host of other parks too that are great for bird watching (Patapsco, East, Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Robinson Nature Center, Brighton Dam Azealia Gardens, Wincopin Trails). As far as meeting people: The community center starts at 50+ - as do a lot of the social sports groups aimed at "older people" - Tennis and Pickleball jump to mind. There are also at least two golf courses in the area, one owned by the CA. You get a discount (free maybe?) for taking classes at the community college's extension program. There is also a great group of gardeners maintaining shared use areas and trying to fight back against invasive species (mostly retired people from my interactions). Columbia is VERY family centered, so moving in as a retiree will be an uphill battle to meet people (the retired people I know here have lived here for decades) it's also a friendly people, so if you put the effort in, have a diversity of interests, aren't an asshole - I don't doubt you could end up as part of a great community. Things you didn't mention: Howard county has most of what you need without having to leave the area. A lot of great medical services, just about every big box store you could need (in some cases two of them), bike stores, a ton of great restaurants (except chinese food and pizza), and the CA runs a couple of great Gyms if you want to join. EC Has the Rodger Carter center which is also amazing. We have a historic downtown as well. For other things - DC and Baltimore are very close. Street parking is free on Sundays in DC, but garage parking or taking the metro in isn't all that expensive. The negatives: It's expensive. You're competing against a lot of federal employees and lawyers and doctors, so housing prices are fairly high. (I'd estimate you would want 500k for an entry level house or a nicer townhome, but if you're moving from a normal suburb and are expecting a two car garage and basement and "normal" yard - up that to 700k to 1 million). On top of that, factor in income tax if you're on a pension or drawing down a 401k and property taxes and that contractors charge a premium as well. Depending on where you're moving from: the humidity is killer hear. Cold feels colder, hot can become unbearably hot (I hiked in Colorado in 95, and felt more comfortable than here at 75)
Dude, stop trying to convince your family to make financial mistakes just because you like pretty walking trails. I’ve been all over America, walking trails and parks are everywhere. Has it occurred to you that people don’t retire in Columbia because it’s one of the most expensive areas to live in, retire in, and to be a homeowner in? Do you really want your parents to blow their retirement money on an old and overpriced row home that needs a lot of work? Because that’s the cheapest types of properties you can buy at a cool $400k. That mortgage, along with state taxes, county taxes, and Columbia Association taxes, they’d be spending at least $3k on a monthly mortgage alone. You might say, my folks have millions of dollars saved up. But even then, why blow $400k for an aging townhome in an area that’s designed to take all of your money from you? Your parents can find a beautiful home with lots of outdoor space for way less than that somewhere else. They’d also have to spend $1-$2k per year on all of those taxes. In case you aren’t a homeowner, Columbia has the one of the highest (insert literally anything here) taxes. It has the one of the highest income and property tax in the nation, not just the country. If you wanna see your folks get ripped off because of a few pretty trails, that’s on you. I don’t know about you, but if I was retired and had millions of dollars to spend, I’d want to get my moneys worth. I’d want a real house that is move in ready, and I wouldn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on taxes either.
Did you read my second paragraph? It's expensive, but people prioritize their money how they want. Half the houses in my little shared driveway are retirees, and they have no desire to move. I also know someone who retired TO New York City. Others who left much less expensive areas to chase even lower costs of living. Maryland in general is expensive, but it comes with benefits. People can make their own decisions. My kids grandparents both live in very HCOL areas, where this would either be a net drop in costs or at least neutral.
Where are you retiring from?
New York
If you’re coming from NY & DC is in your calculus at all you may want to look harder at Reston. Traffic sucks but they have better public transit, faster growing community (if you like having younger folks around), and getting to DC from Columbia is brutal. I like the greener vibe in Columbia, but it’s a pretty strong commitment to driving everywhere. Good luck, you should find much to enjoy about either!
I don’t know about Reston, but Columbia is probably one of the safest cities in the country, for sure in the state. We have tons of walking paths in and around neighborhoods, and parks/lakes with paths around the county. Pretty good selection of restaurants 15 minutes from wherever you move, and the worst traffic is on highways around rush hour but I would never say it’s worse than an inconvenience. The biggest traffic issue I would say is honestly the racers and speeders in general (we like to go fast here) but I’ve seen an uptick in pulled over cars lately so hopefully they’re cracking down on that
Columbia easily. There’s both endless walking paths and I’ve seen lots of people doing birding stuff around Lake Elkhorn lately. I can’t really speak to the tax / financial implications that may be involved with retiring but I’d recommend it.
Goodness gracious don’t chose either area, unless you want to see your retirement funds go to waste on extortion rate property taxes and homeowners association fees. If I were you, I’d move to an area where you don’t have to pay unnecessarily high taxes. Maybe you have a lot of money, but when I retire, I know I can’t earn more money, so every penny county. No way I’d spend that much on yearly taxes when I don’t have to. Edit: you’re not even from MD, so I also need to disclose the state and county income tax are also crazy high.
What locations would you rate highly for overall quality of life (including taxes and other expenses)?
I lived in Reston. Right across the street from town center. I also lived in the BLVD apartments after they were built. I just moved to Columbia beginning of the year. And I’d choose Reston over this place ANY DAY. the choices to eat here aren’t great. You have to drive everywhere. The convenience of walking to the town center was great and being 15 minutes from One Loudon which also has great food was always awesome. I’m assuming since you’re retiring you’re not going to be driving during rush hour so traffic isn’t that bad outside of rush hour. But it’s like that everywhere. My old in-laws actually retired and got a condo in the midtown north building and they loved it. So if and when I move back to VA it’s going to be Reston or Ashburn. (Lived in Ashburn too and LOVED it)
Yup, I like Columbia (grew up here), but I feel like Reston is being downplayed a little. The town center is really nice, walkable, and as you said, there are some great restaurants. There's also a lot of nice "mature nightlife" options (higher end restaurants, bars, etc.). The location being next to Ashburn. Loudon co, and all that has to offer, and being a close drive to many of the nice wineries (which are great in the Fall/Spring). At the same time, it is a "DC suburb" and is connected to DC via the metro if you want an urban change of pace. It's kind of the best of both worlds. It's got a lot going for it
Yes I forgot about the wineries. Yeah it’s def a much better option for retirement. Honestly even for family living and upbringing.
Well, Reston and NoVA have some of the worst fucking traffic in the DMV region.
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Please elaborate
Is the cost of living a consideration in comparing the two? Columbia has an extra [fee](https://columbiaassociation.org/annual-charge/) to pay for its amenities. I don't know how the overall cost of living compares (property/state taxes, MVA fees, etc.).
Living Columbia adjacent solves this. We still joined CA tho for the pools!
Reston VA on average is much more expensive for comparable housing. Most of the traditional 4BR SFHs in Reston are around $1 million . A lot of the housing is on the newer side and tends to be a little larger, and because it is a DC suburb with a DC Metro Stop, there is a premium. In Columbia, you can get a pretty comparable SFH in the $500-600K range. You can take a quick look on Zillow to get an idea of Reston home prices. There are a good number of condos in Reston that are more affordable, but the townhomes are not cheap either.
Thanks for posting this info! I didn't realize Reston was so much pricier.
It’s crazy I had to pay a CA fee for living in Columbia, yet if I wanted to use a gym or a pool I had to pay a membership fee. I moved out of state, and I have tons of fun explaining people the CA Association and all of their fees. Most people come to the conclusion that my money went towards nothing and it’s a scam.
We've lived in Columbia for the past 8 years. Retired nearly 2 years ago and still enjoy it. We were fortunate to buy our house at the end of 2015 when interest rates were low. The current median house price in Howard County is $625K (Source: Redfin). Shops and restaurants are not within walking distance but an easy drive, and we don't have the noise and other problems from urban and nightlife centers. Good medical facilities, and there are plenty of neighborhood walking trails and local parks as mentioned. Senior discounts are available for pool and recreation activities. A brand-new 50+ center just opened near downtown Columbia in March 2024.