A peaceful life on the river in Centreville
Centreville has homes near the water and swaths of farmland on the Corsica River, which flows into the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay. Locals in this small Maryland town enjoy a quiet life on the water but are still a quick drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore. “People always say when they commute and hit that bridge, you just take a breath and calm down,” says Deborah Shiley, Realtor at Long & Foster Real Estate and longtime Centreville resident. “It’s perfect if you want that laid-back lifestyle, you don’t want the rat race.”
Boating across the Chesapeake Bay and more recreation
Centreville’s rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay offer ample opportunity for boating, crabbing and fishing. “It’s within a 30-minute boat ride to many different little towns in the area. You can easily get to Saint Michaels, to Oxford, to Annapolis. That is one of the huge attractions for a boater,” Shiley says. Centreville Landing has a public boat ramp and slips, and larger marinas such as Mears Point and Cedar Point are throughout the region. Next to Centreville Landing, Centreville Wharf has a nautical-themed playground and kayak launch. The town has plans to upgrade the park with a new band shell and picnic shelters. A trail connects the wharf to nearby Millstream Park.
Single-family homes accommodate different budgets
Cape Cods and ranch-style homes typically sell for between $250,000 and $430,000, while newer contemporary and New Traditional homes with two-car garages usually sell for between $440,000 and $1 million. Symphony Village at Centreville is a 55-plus community in town where homes typically sell for between $440,000 and $750,000. A small number of riverside estates are valued at several million dollars, though these rarely come up for sale. “Wealth is not always seen. When we first moved here and I met people, I was surprised seeing people dressed down and driving an old truck, and you go to their house, and they have a $4 million home,” Shiley says.
Private and public schooling options in Centreville
Students attending Queen Anne’s County Public Schools may go to Centreville Elementary, which has a B rating from Niche, for pre-kindergarten through second grade, and Kennard Elementary, which has a B-plus rating, for third through fifth grade. Centreville Middleand Queen Anne’s County High also earn B-plus ratings. Students at QACHS can participate in dual enrollment with Washington College, Anne Arundel College and Chesapeake College to earn college credits while they’re still in high school. Private options are also nearby and include The Gunston School, a popular high school on the Corsica River that earns an A. Wye River Upper School, not rated by Niche, is a private school that covers eighth through 12th grade for students with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning differences.
Locally owned restaurants and a historic courthouse
Centreville has several historic buildings and locally owned shops and restaurants. At the center of town, the Queen Anne’s County District Court is the oldest continuously operating courthouse in Maryland. Down the street, Bay Shore Steam Pot has freshly caught seafood, and Commerce Street Creamery Cafe has breakfast platters and sandwiches. Centreville also has a Walgreens Pharmacy and Food Lion. “You don’t have to leave the area to get conveniences, but you can drive two minutes out of town and you’re on a rolling road of corn and soybeans and horses,” Shiley says. She notes that Kent Island also has more restaurants nearby.
The community comes together for Centreville Day
Each year in October, the Centreville Day fall fest welcomes locals to celebrate the season with activities like pumpkin painting, spooky lawn games and arcade games. Attendees can also participate in (or judge) the Centreville Idol Talent Contest and the Great Centreville Cookie Contest. Centreville also hosts the annual Queen Anne’s County 4-H Fair. Crowds gather to watch the corn hole and watermelon eating contests, local farms show off prize livestock and entertainers perform live music. There’s plenty more to enjoy over this week-long event, from tractor pulls and senior bingo to a barbecue dinner and rodeo.
Commuting to Baltimore, Washington and Annapolis
Centreville is a quiet place, but it’s only about 30 miles from Annapolis and 60 miles from both Baltimore and Washington. “We’re still very rural. The job sources where we live are farming, fishing and hunting. Most people here commute,” Shiley says. Drivers can take U.S. Route 50 across the bay and connect to other major highways into the city. Commuters to Washington and Baltimore can also take commuter buses from the Kent Island Park and Ride. Centreville has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1, lower than the national average of 4.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
