$989,551Average Value$259Average Price per Sq Ft18Homes For Sale
A diverse village community with highly rated schools and annual festivals
Designed by founder James Rouse in the late 1960s, River Hill is one of 10 villages that make up Columbia, Maryland’s first planned community. The area is comprised of single-family homes, townhouses and condos. “I believe people move here because of our neighborhood’s extraordinary diversity,” says Renee Dubois, the village manager of River Hill and its neighborhoods, Pheasant’s Ridge and Pointer’s Run. “We’re also located near Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, the nation’s largest university-affiliated research center and a major employer for the county. As far as educational standards go, our schools have a high proportion of graduates entering STEM programs at major universities.”
Walking trails weave throughout River Hill and its neighborhoods, Pheasant’s Ridge and Pointer’s Farm, with plenty of places to walk dogs or jog through nature. Highly rated schools draw families from all over, and nearby shopping centers in Fulton and Clarksville make it convenient to run errands or dine out. Annual community festivals and weekly farmers markets get neighbors outside and involved, and shared spaces like River Hill Pool and Claret Hall make gathering easier. Built to create a healthy and sustainable community, River Hill balances nature, commerce and residential living in Columbia, Maryland. The CAP Index Score is 1 out of 10, which is significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Highly rated Howard County public schools
Students can start at Clarksville Elementary School and then move on to Clarksville Middle School. Both are graded an overall A on Niche and have an extensive list of after-school clubs and sports. “Our census data shows that we’re predominantly young families with school-age children attending Clarksville Middle and River Hill High, two of the best schools in the county,” Dubois says. At River Hill High School, rated an A-plus, nearly 1,500 students work toward their education in STEM studies, as well as the arts. Many graduates move on to attend top universities in Maryland and beyond. “Because of those two schools, parents want to move here and keep their kids in that pipeline through graduation. Once the kids graduate, many of those families move out or downsize," Dubois says.
Clarksville Middle School is located in Columbia, MD.
River Hill High School is located in Columbia, Md.
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A wide range of townhouses, condos and single-family homes
According to Dubois, River Hill has roughly 200 townhouses, 150 condos and probably over 1,500 single-family homes. Inside the village are two neighborhoods: Pheasant’s Ridge and Pointer’s Farm. “Many of these homes are gorgeous,” says Realtor Matthew Zielinski with Cummings & Co. Realtors. Zielinski moved to Columbia in 1977 with his family and returned to build his real estate business over 20 years ago. “The trend right now with buyers from D.C. are first-floor primary and in-law suites, which fit their multigenerational needs. Now we see requests like this all over Columbia.”
Single-family homes in River Hill come in various styles and floorplans and can range between $650,000 and $1.5 million. “River Hill was Columbia’s first foray into McMansions because of its proximity to Route 29 and D.C. Commuters gave it a big bump in income and added to the village’s cultural diversity," Zielinski says. Most are modern traditional styles, built between the 1980s through the 2020s, taking inspiration from Colonial and Cape Cod aesthetics. Yards are not necessarily spacious, but they are private with fenced lots and sometimes even pools. Mature trees line the backyards and streetscapes of River Hill, giving the area a quiet, natural atmosphere.
Condos and townhouses support residents who are 55 and older, as well as those who prefer something cozier. However, there are also several units that have three floors and more than 2,000 square feet. Buyers choose attached townhouses with their own garages and back decks, or pick apartment-style condos with modest balconies and modern interiors. Many townhouses and condos can range between $400,000 and $850,000 and can be found either near the River Hill Village Shopping Center or in the Cedar Creek community on the south side of town.
River Hill has great options for condo style living.
Homes with two car garages are common in River Hill.
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A network of walking trails right outside the front door
“We are a suburban community, but we have a few miles of walking paths that were built up through the Columbia Open Space project. There are Tot Lots along the trails with swings and climbing for little kids. But mostly, people love walking their pets around town,” Dubois says. The walking paths can be accessed from most residential streets and weave behind homes within the thickets of forest and natural areas nearby. The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area off Trotter Road is a protected area with 150 species of birds and other wildlife on one of the largest preserves in Howard County. More than 5 miles of hiking trails run through the park, and 100 miles of paved trails connect River Hill to other villages in Columbia.
Mary's Land Farm has a variety of activities for children and adults. Visitors can shop at the farm store, pet barn animals, attend creative workshops, go on field trips, and even stay at the farm’s on-site inn. The Clarksville Commons is popular for its evening concerts and Saturday farmers’ market, while St. Louis Church has a two-week-long yard sale and picnic in June. The Robinson Nature Center offers indoor exhibits, trails, a children’s discovery room and a planetarium. Heritage Heights Park is mostly wooded, except for the Clarksglen Park playground, which features a climbing wall. The Columbia Gym in the River Hill Village Center offers fitness classes, equipment and an indoor pool.
River Hill has quiet spots to hike in the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area.
The colorful & interactive exhibits at The Robinson Nature Center makes it fun to learn.
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Annual and weekly community events and festivals
“We sponsor a few large events every year, like our huge 4th of July Parade. It’s a 2-mile-long parade path where people throw candy and beads like it’s Mardi Gras. The kids love it, and it takes months of preparation. We register parade participants six months in advance.” The community also hosts pool parties in August and a Halloween pumpkin patch in October. They are working toward hosting a River Hill Community Day that will involve the local firehouse with activities for adults and children alike. “The Village office is located at Claret Hall, where people can rent the banquet room for birthday parties, small wedding receptions and Christmas parties,” Dubois says. What makes the community strong, though, according to Dubois, are the volunteers who make these events happen. “I have some of the greatest volunteers ever. We pull invasive plants, put on a Halloween magic show and work together to make this place a really great community.”
Long-time locally owned restaurants, car dealerships and major stores
Most of the shopping and dining in River Hill takes place on the Clarksville Pike, where there are a few shopping centers, major grocery stores and locally owned restaurants. There are several car dealerships and stores such as Giant Food and Roots Market. Chain spots like Wendy’s and Starbucks mingle with small businesses like Anthony’s NY Pizza and Bushel and a Peck Kitchen & Bar. “El Azteca started as a mom-and-pop place 20 years ago,” Zielinski says. “Today, the owners are a pillar of the community.” Locals can also head 5 miles south to Fulton’s bustling Maple Lawn district, a planned community with dozens of shops and restaurants in its square. The Mall at Columbia features over 200 retail stores, a food court and a movie theater. Merriweather Post Pavilion is next door, one of the top outdoor concert venues in the country. Columbia is also home to Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, which offers a full range of hospital and wellness services. Beside it, Howard Community College offers over 100 degree and workforce development programs.
River Hill Village Center brings you Giant for all your grocery needs.
There is an abundance of shopping options in River Hill Village Center.
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Commutes to Baltimore and bus lines to Washington D.C.
River Hill is closest to Ellicott City, which is about 13 miles away via Route 29. Baltimore is about 23 miles northeast of town, which is about a half-hour drive on Interstate 95. Baltimore is home to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as the Baltimore Washington International Airport. Washington, D.C. is about 27 miles south via Route 29 and takes about an hour to reach when traffic is light. Commuters can also take the Clarksville Park & Ride bus service south to Washington, which takes about two hours.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
28 min drive
Bus
Clarksville Park & Ride
River Hill Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in River Hill, Columbia sell after 15 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in River Hill, Columbia over the last 12 months is $970,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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