Dunkirk

After leaving DC to head into a few miles of cow pastures and abandoned tobacco barns, Dunkirk is the first significant area of Calvert County that one enters. This makes it a popular landing spot for many DC commuters and military personnel. "It's a very convenient location, and it's one of the best zip codes in the county because of that," says Realtor Patti Stueckler of Keller Williams, who has sold homes in Southern Maryland for the past 20 years. "You hit that town line and you feel a difference right away. I mean, even the air feels different."

Dunkirk is laid out in a somewhat spoke and wheel design, with a central shopping center along Southern Maryland Boulevard and suburban connector streets swirling out from the middle toward residential country roads. According to Stueckler, there are "a lot of one acre lots in Dunkirk," which lends more space for things such as gardens and pools to the town's array of Colonial and midcentury homes in exchange for a high price range. The median for a single-family home in Dunkirk is around $605,000, but the price range can vary from mid-$400,000 to above $800,000 depending on lot size and location. "The prices are higher in Dunkirk than other parts of the county because you have that kind of country living lifestyle, but yet you do have some nice shopping in town as well," says Stueckler.

Many areas of Calvert County require a drive of over 5 miles to reach amenities for your weekly necessities and weekend excursions. But residents of Dunkirk enjoy plenty of shopping and entertainment options right in their town. You will still require a car to reach the town's Harris Teeter or Walmart Supercenter, but there's a Valvoline Instant Oil Change right in the center of town to help stay on top of your car's everyday wear and tear. While you're in town for a routine physical or restocking on dog food, swing into Anthony's Bar and Grill. This popular local watering hole has happy hours every weekday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and even sells wine for $3 a glass all day on Tuesdays.

Among the most significant appeals Dunkirk has to offer some home buyers is its selection of schools. Calvert County School District is among the best in the blue-crab state and is the first and only district to achieve a 100% green school status through the Maryland Green School Program. Students in Dunkirk may begin at either Windy Hill Elementary, which scores a B-plus from Niche, or Mount Harmony Elementary, which scores an A-minus from Niche. From there, they move on to Northern Middle (A-minus on Niche) and Northern High, which scores an A-minus from Niche and is distinguished for several factors, especially its teachers. In fact, two Calvert County teachers were finalists for the Washington Post's 2023 Teacher of the Year award, one of whom came from Northern High School.

When school gets out, or when the clock strikes 5 p.m., the town's centerpiece, Dunkirk District Park, is the place to go. Truly everyone can find something to do when they visit, even your furry friends can make acquaintances at the dog park. If you're someone who seeks a bit of adrenaline, a skatepark is there to accommodate you while others can get a friendly game of basketball or football in. During the spring and summer, you can enroll in pickleball lessons and clinics through Calvert County's Department of Parks and Rec. When you want a more secluded outdoor excursion, head over to the Ward Farm Recreation and Nature Center, which has six nature trails spanning several miles. Some even take you past weathered Colonial farm buildings.

Written By

Tom Jakob

Photography Contributed By

Tyson Le

Video By

Nathan Allen