Welcome to this week’s installment of the Home Sweet HoCo blog series! In #HomeSweetHoCo, we bring you weekly updates on everything Howard County has to offer in one place, distraction-free, cost-free, and born out of a love for the place we call home.
Finding a great location for your dream home is pivotal. School districts, house prices, and even outdoor space are all determined by where your home is located, and it can be incredibly difficult to find all the information you need when searching for your perfect home. So we’ve put together a straightforward guide to HoCo’s Best Neighborhoods in two parts, including information on school districts, amenities, and more!
Dorsey’s Search
Columbia’s ninth village to be developed, Dorsey’s Search has two major communities: Dorsey Hall and Fairway Hills. The communities include single family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and apartments. The neighborhood overlooks the Fairway Hills Golf course, and amenities include a village center for your shopping needs, a meeting room, and an outdoor pool for the summertime.
Elementary Schools: Running Brook, Northfield, Centennial Lane
Middle Schools: Dunloggin, Wilde Lake
High Schools: Wilde Lake, Centennial
Harper’s Choice
Harper’s Choice has three communities: Longfellow, Hobbit’s Glen, and Swansfield. The community includes a village center, and has walking/biking trails throughout the neighborhood. The Columbia Association’s Athletic Club is in the neighborhood, and residents receive a free membership!
Elementary Schools: Longfellow, Swansfield, Bryant Woods
Middle School: Harpers Choice
High Schools: Wilde Lake, Atholton
Hickory Ridge
Hickory Ridge is Columbia’s second largest neighborhood, and includes three communities: Hawthorn, Clary’s Forest, and Clemens Crossing. A village center, the Howard County General Hospital, and Howard Community College are all located within Hickory Ridge.
Elementary Schools: Clemens Crossing, Pointers Run
Middle Schools: Wilde Lake, Harpers Choice
High Schools: Atholton, Wilde Lake
Kings Contrivance
Three communities are within Kings Contrivance: Huntington, Macgill’s Common, and Dickinson. The neighborhood is surrounded by many scenic and recreational parks, such as Gorman Park and Savage Park, and includes many trails and a village center.
Elementary Schools: Atholton, Guilford, Hammond, Gorman Crossing, Clemens Crossing, Bollman Bridge
Middle Schools: Murray Hill, Hammond, Patuxent Valley
High Schools: Hammond, Atholton
Long Reach
One of Columbia’s oldest villages, Long Reach is home to four communities: Jeffers Hill, Kendall Ridge, Locust Park, and Phelps Luck. The neighborhood includes a community center, a newly renovated village center, and the Columbia Art Center, which provides classes and exhibitions.
Elementary Schools: Phelps Luck, Waterloo, Jeffers Hill, Deep Run
Middle Schools: Bonnie Branch, Mayfield Woods, Lake Elkhorn
High Schools: Long Reach, Howard, Oakland Mills
Oakland Mills
Oakland Mills includes three communities, Steven’s Forest, Talbott Springs, and Thunder Hill, all of which have their own outdoor pool. The neighborhood also features the Columbia Ice Rink, a village center, and a community center.
Elementary Schools: Thunder Hill, Talbott Springs, Stevens Forest
Middle School: Oakland Mills
High School: Oakland Mills
Owen Brown
The fifth village in Columbia, Owen Brown has three communities: Dasher Green, Elkhorn, and Hopewell. The neighborhood has many amenities, such as the Supreme Sports Club, East Columbia library, and a village center. The neighborhood is also home to Lake Elkhorn, and has a two-mile walking path and picnic pavilion in the park.
Elementary Schools: Talbott Springs, Cradlerock
Middle School: Lake Elkhorn
High School: Oakland Mills
River Hill
Columbia’s newest village, River Hill is home to around 6,000 residents living in single family homes, condos, and townhomes. The neighborhood amenities include free access to the Columbia Gym, an outdoor pool, and a village center. The neighborhood is known for its outstanding school districts!
Elementary Schools: Clarksville, Pointers Run
Middle School: Clarksville
High School: River Hill, Atholton
Town Center
There are six residential communities within Town Center, as well as many of Columbia’s attractions. The Mall in Columbia, Lake Kittamaqundi, and the Central Library are all found in the neighborhood of Town Center, so there is plenty to do!
Elementary Schools: Running Brook, Bryant Woods
Middle School: Wilde Lake
High School: Wilde Lake
Wilde Lake
The village of Wilde Lake has a diverse mix of housing, including single family homes, apartments, townhomes, and condominiums. It includes the Bryant Woods, Faulkner Ridge, and Running Brook communities, and it is home to the Slayton House. Amenities include a village center, the Splashdown water park, and walking paths along the lake.
Elementary Schools: Running Brook, Bryant Woods
Middle School: Wilde Lake
High School: Wilde Lake
If you are interested in seeing what you can afford in one of these neighborhoods, contact one of our mortgage bankers!
Missed any of Home Sweet HoCo? Find previous posts below:
Home Sweet HoCo: Best Farmers Markets
Home Sweet HoCo: Best Summer Activities
Introducing... Home Sweet HoCo!
Upcoming Events
| Lakefront Concerts When: July 14, 16, 17, & 20, 7 PM Where: Columbia Lakefront |
Howard County Film Festival When: July 19, 6-8 PM Where: Clark’s Elioak Farm |
| Friday Farmers Market When: July 15, 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM Where: Howard County General Hospital |
Full Dome Morning Movie When: July 20, 10 AM – 1 PM Where: Robinson Nature Center |
| Friday Nights at the River Hill Garden Center When: July 15, 6-9 PM Where: River Hill Garden Center |
Penta-Play When: July 20, 6:15-9:30 PM Where: ShadowLand |
| Public Star Party When: July 16, 6-9 PM Where: Alpha Ridge Park |
Sunset Serenades (Join us—we’re sponsors!) When: July 20, 7 PM Where: Centennial Park |
Blogger Spotlight
I’m Julia, your HoCo native here at Apex Home Loans, Inc. Apex sits on the corner of 108 and Ten Oaks Road, and is one of the largest independent mortgage companies in Howard County. This little place I like to call my home away from home is just as #HoCoProud as I am. Find out more about Apex Home Loans and our mission here.
Topics: Buying a Home, Homeownership
