Crofton is awesome. You could not pick a better place in my opinion. It's close to major highways and there is a metrobus that comes here. Plus, it's pretty much in between Baltimore and Washington. AA county schools are great. I don't know of any daycares because I don't have kids but I know there are a lot around. There's also a lot of sports teams, karate, dance studios, gymnastics, etc. Bowie is right up the street (bigger city) and they have a lot of stores, restaurants, and a mall. There's a new shopping center opening up in Gambrills with a Wegmann's, a Imax/3D movie theater, Target, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and other great stores. There are a lot of shopping centers. Gambrills and Crofton are practically intertwined if you look at them on a map. If Crofton/Gambrills doesn't have it then Bowie will. And if Bowie, doesn't have it then Annapolis will. I can seriously go from my house to Giant, walk up and down every aisle, and be back home in an hour. I live in the Crofton Triangle (original Crofton) and have never had any issues with crime, violence, etc. My family and I have lived in Crofton for years and years. There is no place we'd rather be. Crofton is a big place nowadays and like all places, there are some parts you want to stay away from. Nothing to really worry about. Also, Rt. 3 gets heavy traffic at rush hour. Those are the only bad things I can say. CNN Money magazine ranked it as a top small town to live in for multiple years.

wow... this is very impressive :) sounds like a pretty good fit for my itty bitty sub-compact family. Thank you very much for your feedback Amanda, it feels good hearing stuff like this from an actual person. I took my vacation this year for the sole purpose of coming up here and looking around :) the old saying "too good to be true" tends to apply to real life and from what ive seed during my expeditions up and down this area im starting to believe the hype. I got an email from a real-estate agent saying alot of the same stuff about the safety and convinience of the area, and not knowin anyone around here made gathering intel pretty sketchy (i was about to walk into a bar and ask some "locals" :) this very much puts my mind at ease in some areas, im hoping tommorrows paper has a few other answers in it. Thank you tremendously

Hi Jason.
I, too, live in Crofton in "the triangle" and live it!!
Disclosure: I am also a Realtor. :)
My husband and I moved here in '99 with the military. When my husband retired 2 years ago, we could have moved anywhere and decuded this was the place for us. We have 2 school age kids and I love our schools and pool and community. Many of my friends refer to it as "Pleasantville". I am originally from SoFl and have family there but I wouldn't move back. You can jump on a Southwest flight and be there nonstop in 2 1/2 hours. I cant say enough. I see many homes and neighborhoods in my line of work and I think Crofton is really special. This whole area is wonderful!!

I meant "love" it. "decided". I swear we are not illiterate. Lol!

You can tell how many families live in Crofton just by the amount of daycares. There is practically a daycare center on every corner in Crofton and all have great reps: The Young School, Newberry School, Beaver Creek, Creative Gardens, Children of America, Kindercare, La Petite, Community United Methodist Church (CUMC) to name a few. My daughter has been to two of these and have been very happy with both. We love Crofton!

Excellent schools and caring, top-notch teachers.
Another observation: When I moved here, I noticed that there are actually people out walking, riding bikes, running and being active as families. In comparison to other areas, people enjoy the outdoors in this community and we have several great parks with bike paths and playgrounds also. Lots to do with your daughter!

Jason - whether you call it Pleasantville or Mayberry (my favorite description!), I wouldn't go anywhere else to raise a family. We are big enough (and close enough to major metro areas) to have access to anything you might want, but still small enough that people know each other. We are The Village you've read about. As my son has said, if he got into trouble I'd know about before he got home. And I wouldn't have it any other way as it takes a Village these days.

PS - and when you decide to join us here in Mayberry, you can trust Laura as your realtor. Because, of course, I know her.

Thank you Terry... im amazed at how many daycares there are around here... depending on when I move shes either gonna need a daycare or one of those pre-k learning centers since she turns 4 in Jan :) I really appreciate your help!

ive noticed that too, lots of people walking and bicycling (on very clean streets and sidewalks I MUST add) im a runner so depending on circumstance it would be nice to get some outside air in the evenings and soak in it :) im from an area where getting outside seems to be a chore and rarely a pleasure... nice to know i wont be out there alone

i gotta say i'm amazed at how many nice people are taking time from life just to write to a stranger :) it may not be much but know im sitting at a computer in a strange place in a strange room 1000 miles from anyone I know or anyplace ive been and im smiling because of the feedback... im terrified honestly... i spend half of every minute telling myself this is wrong and the other half reminding myself how right it really is... where im from is a dead end street... where no one (not even family) expect much from you and many knock you down if you try to climb out of the hole... im on a quest to make something out of nothing and bringing a little girl along for the ride... i question it everyday... find reasons to fail everyday... but i KNOW there isnt much of a life for her there... and here its at least a 50/50 shot... i just gotta do my part RIGHT... so hearing this means tons... it does... i feel like maybe I dont have to worry about her as much... maybe I can spend more time fixing me and getting ME right... cuz from what all of you ladies say... if I can just get here here... the rest will be just fine :) so to each of you.. a sincere thank you and I hope you read this and smile too knowing youve helped a complete stranger feel a little better today :) made him sit up a little straighter and feel a little less overwhelmed...

We just moved to south Florida from Crofton. We have been here since June. I miss Crofton. The people are great. The schools, sports programs and small town feel. My daughter went to beaver creek from the age of two until kindergarden. Certain areas get congested (main roads) but when you are home, you are home! There is still one light that blinks at 10pm. It's the little things :) we are military and that was the first assignment out of 4 I was perfectly content to stay. We even kept our house in the event that if we don't want to keep the heat , we can move back in time for high school. I've never felt so at home :). Good luck in your decision.