Green Valley

Green Valley's name tells you everything you need to know about the suburb south of Frederick. "The Green Valley area has lovely scenery with rolling hills and meadows and many wooded areas," says Realtor Jim Bass of Real Estate Teams LLC, who grew up in Green Valley and has sold homes there for over 31 years.

Just south of Interstate 70, Green Valley first saw a wave of development in the 1970s and 80s that left behind a healthy mix of ranch-style homes, split-levels and Colonial revivals on lots that are usually one or more acres. Since the 90s, the area has seen several new builds in subdivisions containing neo-colonial single-family homes and townhomes on lots of less than an acre. The median single-family home price of $615,000 is a bit higher than the surrounding area and significantly above the national median. However, the actual price range can vary widely. Some sell from as low as $400,000 or as high as $875,000.

Without a doubt, Green Valley's selection of high-achieving schools is a major attraction for some home buyers. Frederick County Public Schools receives an overall grade of A-minus from Niche, which ranks the district as the 7th best in all of Maryland and the 4th best in the state for student athletes. When they begin elementary school, students attend Centreville, Green Valley or Kemptown Elementary Schools. All three schools earn an A-minus or higher from Niche. Next comes either Urbana or Windsor Knolls Middle Schools, which both score an A-minus from Niche. Finally, there's either Linganore or Urbana High Schools, which both offer AP classes. Linganore earns an A-minus score from Niche, while Urbana earns an A-plus and even has a girls varsity flag football team started by students in 2020.

Sports and recreation are a big community touchpoint in the area. "The Green Valley communities are very friendly, and the Linganore Oakdale Urbana Youth Athletic Association teams are a huge draw for youth sports," says Bass. If you live in one of Green Valley's subdivisions, such as Windsor Knolls, you can practice for the big game at the community's basketball hoop or swim laps in the pool. If you don't live in a subdivision, Kemptown Park offers several unique amenities, including a small amphitheater and pits for a game of horseshoes. But there are also plenty of sports amenities to practice on, such as baseball diamonds and tennis courts. Suppose you need a place to practice your short game or take a business client to. In that case, Rattlewood Golf Course is a public facility on the southern side of Green Valley that offers lessons on its challenging par 72 course and even offers both afterschool and summer camps for youth players.

The area's northernmost boundary abuts Interstate 70's eastbound lanes, offering envied access to major commuter routes. "One of the biggest benefits is the commutability to Montgomery County, Washington DC and Northern Virginia without having to go through traffic in the Frederick area," says Bass. A trip to the grocery store or doctor's office will require a drive of roughly 6 miles to Mt Airy on the other side of Interstate 70, or further. Green Valley needs more retail, but there is a small shopping area near the neighborhood's center. It offers a place to fill up your car's gas tank before perusing aisle after aisle of coriander, cumin and cardamom at Spice Basket, an Indian grocery store. Before heading home or to the office, swing into the Buzz Bakery for either a complete breakfast or just a blueberry scone for the road. For more of a sit-down option, or when you need an event space that will impress, the Mount Airy Inn is just across Interstate 70 and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as an extensive menu of craft beer.

Written By

Tom Jakob

Photography Contributed By

Tyler Priola

Video By

Mark Barakat