Beltsville

When looking at it on a map, Konterra might not seem like much, just a vast expanse of government-owned land for agricultural and wildlife research that is roughly equidistant to D.C. and Baltimore. But the landscape alone should say a lot for a place just beyond Interstate 495. “It’s kind of astonishing,” says Realtor Kim Kash of Compass, who has sold homes in Konterra for several years. “The communities surrounding it are very fortunate because we have this incredible protected land right in our backyards, and yet we’re 20 minutes from Capitol Hill.” But as you get closer to Interstate 95, things get a bit more developed as subdivisions and town house complexes come into view, along with some low industrial buildings east of the highway. Most single-family homes in Konterra take the form of Colonial Revival designs and raised ranch-styles with two-car garages and driveways spliced by a narrow sidewalk. According to Kash, most home buyers come to Konterra seeking its price range, which is competitively low for a D.C. suburb. Both single-family homes and town houses sell for a median of $430,000, and only occasionally do they sell for more than $500,000. “Home buyers in the D.C. metro area are starting to look at Prince George's County as a realistic, affordable alternative to neighboring Montgomery County,” says Kash. “There are many communities in Konterra where there's just a little bit more open space than in Montgomery County.” While home prices have been drawing people to Konterra and away from Montgomery, the schools are not the main attraction. That said, the schools in Konterra receive generally positive reviews and offer students several unique educational opportunities that focus on social justice and career readiness. Children begin at Vansville Elementary, which earns a C-plus rating from Niche and has twice been recognized as a Maryland “Green School” for its sustainable environmental practices. Martin Luther King Junior Middle comes next, which receives a C-minus from Niche. Finally, students in Konterra may end up at one of two high schools in the area: High Point (C-minus from Niche) or Laurel High School (C on Niche). Students at both schools can apply for a long list of specialty programs, which include courses such as 3D Scholars, Aerospace Engineering, or Visual and Performing Arts. Although much of Konterra is undeveloped and thus lacks many amenities, its proximity to Highway 1 and Interstate 95 provides excellent access to crucial resources such as a Lidl grocery store and healthcare providers in nearby Beltsville. You’ll also need to get in your car to find a family-friendly activity, as most locals head to nearby Laurel for a weekend adventure. One such option is Dinosaur Park, where youths and adults can learn about paleontology from experts and maybe even witness a rare fossil discovery like in July 2023. A more blood-pumping option is Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, located 10-minutes up U.S. Highway 1 in Laurel. If you don’t own a car, life in Konterra will be a bit difficult. But if you can find a way there, a MARC train station in town makes access to two major cities even better. Konterra is also home to a number of outdoor recreation options for when you are looking to get out of the house for a bit. In the center of Konterra, Muirkirk South Community Park is where young children come to play on the jungle gym while teens hit home runs on the park’s baseball diamond. On a rainy day, locals go to the Vansville Community Center and break a sweat in the indoor gym or by enrolling in a guided fitness class. The Center even provides daycare options for working parents. While it might not be a cultural hub for the Blue Crab State, Konterra offers something unusual for somewhere that sits just beyond the Capitol Beltway: quiet, rural landscapes with close proximity to major retail spots.