Quality of life issues drew newcomers to Calvert and Charles counties, while jobs were the main draw in St. Mary's, according to a Washington Post survey of residents in the three counties.
Why the newcomers came, by county:* (Percentage who cite each as a "major" reason for moving to the county)
CALVERT COUNTY
Less developed area:
57%
Low crime rates:
56%
Housing prices:
52%
Quality of schools:
42%
Work reasons:
37%
Access to the outdoors:
35%
CHARLES COUNTY
Low crime rates:
50%
Housing prices:
43%
Work reasons:
36%
Less developed area:
34%
Quality of schools:
26%
Access to the outdoors:
18%
ST. MARY'S COUNTY
Less developed area:
57%
Low crime rates:
56%
Housing prices:
52%
Quality of schools:
42%
Work reasons:
37%
Access to the outdoors:
35%
* Among those who moved to the county in the past five years.
SOURCE: Washington Post poll. Interviewing conducted by Chilton Research of Radnor, PA.
Quality of Life Issues
Residents of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties give their area high marks for quality of life, with Calvert County dwellers particularly enthusiastic. Views about the future of the region are mixed. In Charles County only, more residents say things will get worse in the next decade than say things will get better.
Happy now, but...
Q. Overall, how would you rate [your county] as a place to live: Excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?
Calvert
Charles
St. Mary's
Excellent
55%
30%
31%
Good
41%
61%
59%
Poor
3%
8%
8%
...maybe not later
Q. And what about the next 10 years, would you say the quality of life in the county will get better, get worse or stay about the same?
Calvert
Charles
St. Mary's
Better
37%
28%
46%
Worse
37%
42%
31%
Same
23%
27%
19%
Growing Concerns
When asked to identify the biggest problem currently facing their county, about 6 in 10 residents volunteered "growth" or a growth-related problem such as crowding. Majorities in each county say the pace of growth is too rapid, though newcomers to the area are less likely to express this concern. Similarly, newcomers to Charles County are much more positive than others about the development around Waldorf.
Q. In general, do you think the development of the Waldorf area has been mostly a good thing or mostly a bad thing for the county? (Asked of Charles County residents.)
LIVED IN CHARLES COUNTY:
Good Thing
Bad Thing
Both
TOTAL
66%
27%
5%
5 years or less
88%
8%
1%
6-15 years
73%
22%
4%
16 years+
52%
39%
7%
Q. Do you think that [your county] is growing too fast, too slowly or at about the right pace?
CALVERT
All
Moved in past 5 years
Too fast
67%
44%
Too slowly
3%
7%
Right pace
29%
45%
CHARLES
All
Moved in past 5 years
Too fast
72%
60%
Too slowly
2%
2%
Right pace
26%
38%
ST. MARY'S
All
Moved in past 5 years
Too fast
58%
38%
Too slowly
5%
14%
Right pace
37%
47%
Limiting Growth
A majority in all three counties would support limits by county government on construction of strip malls, town houses and waterfront development, though less than half would limit development of new single-family houses. Willingness to limit future construction is least strong in St. Mary's County.
Yes, put strict new limits on construction of...
Strip malls
Town Houses
Waterfront development
Single family homes
Calvert
73%
63%
71%
46%
Charles
72%
75%
61%
47%
St. Mary's
59%
52%
55%
33%
Commuting
St. Mary's residents are the most likely to work in their own county. They also enjoy shorter commutes.
Percent who work in their own county
Commutes under 15 minutes*
Commutes over 45 minutes
Calvert
42%
29%
28%
Charles
37%
21%
31%
St. Mary's
75%
43%
10%
* Those whose commute takes 0 minutes (i.e., work at home) are not included.
Making Their Move
Why they came
The rural nature of St. Mary's and Charles was a draw for a greater number of those who moved to those counties before the early 1990s than it was for newer arrivals. In Calvert County, however, similar numbers of new and older residents say the less developed nature of the area was a major reason they moved.
Where they came from
Over the years, St. Mary's County has been the most likely to attract new residents from other parts of the nation, and it continues to do so. Calvert and Charles counties have attracted new residents from other parts of Maryland, particularly Prince George's County.
Percent who say a major reason they moved was to live in a less developed area:
Main Page
55%
66%
73%
42%
57%