Historic rural community with estate homes and highly rated schools
With a lot of history, rolling hills, quiet farmland and large, mansion-like homes, Glenelg is a quiet part of Howard County. Glenelg’s name is actually a Scottish palindrome, meaning it is spelled the same way from front to back. “Glenelg is one of the original areas where settlers started, and Howard County grew out from there,” says Michelle Boucher, a Realtor with Keller Williams Lucido Agency. “It’s very rural, but it’s also very affluent. Most of the residents are doctors or one-percent earners who commute.”
The area is also home to Glenelg Country School, one of Maryland's premier private schools. “People move here for the schools and for the rural lifestyle, but it's also within reasonable driving distance of any major metropolitan area and only 10 to 12 minutes to a grocery store or shopping center,” Boucher says. Though shopping might be a drive away, many residents don’t mind. With large parcels of land, nearby parks and neighboring agricultural towns like Cooksville and Glenwood, locals enjoy the slower pace of living here in Glenelg. The CAP Index Score is 1 out of 10, which is significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Highly rated public and private Howard County schools
Students in Glenelg benefit from access to highly rated public and private schools in Howard County. Public school students can start at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School before moving on to Folly Quarter Middle School and then finally Glenelg High School. All three schools are graded an A on Niche and are highly regarded for their STEM and arts classes, championship soccer and lacrosse teams, as well as their diverse student populations. Glenelg Country School is a private, nonsectarian school that teaches kindergarten through 12th grade and is rated an A-plus on Niche. Even with highly rated public schools, many families often choose private options
Mansion-like homes on three or more acres in rural Glenelg
Made up entirely of single-family mansions and estates, houses in Glenelg are often priced between $900,000 and $1.5 million. "Homes tend to be larger, more sprawling, with a lot of acreage. There are many subdivisions that require homes to be on three acres in order to subdivide them, but older farmhouses may be on larger lots, like five acres,” Boucher says. Homes often have large outdoor living spaces, such as private pools, patios with kitchens or barbecues, firepits and lounging areas.
Though neighbors are not as close as they are in the suburbs, most folks prefer the peace and quiet. “A lot of these neighborhoods are designed with small streets, and maybe five to 10 houses on them. It gives it that neighborhood feel, even if the area is mostly driveways branching off of a main road,” Boucher says. Many single-family homes are more like mansions, between 3,000 and over 6,000 square feet, with Colonial and modern traditional aesthetics. Homes often feature large bay windows, wide porches, columned front stoops and rolling green lawns.
Locally owned stores in nearby Glenwood
When it comes time to shop or dine, most folks have to drive elsewhere to reach the nearest restaurant or gas station. Glenwood, to the west, is a popular spot for quick trips on Route 97. Walker’s Tap & Table, a comforting gastropub with a modern design, and Rosie’s Delicatessen, a sandwich shop and convenience store, are two local favorites in Glenwood. Ten Oaks Tavern is a popular spot to gather, and residents can travel south to Clarksville to reach major grocery stores like Giant Food. They can head even farther south to the Maple Lawn planned community in Fulton, just 12 miles away. Maple Lawn is famous for its shopping square, with dozens of restaurants, bars and boutiques.
Nearby major parks, library and community center
Glenwood is also home to several parks and recreation options for Glenelg residents to explore. Most popular is Western Regional Park, which has a large playground and several sports fields for little league teams, after-work adult leagues or weekend games of tennis and pickleball. Next to the park is the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, which has opportunities for indoor recreation, classes and clubs. Next door is the Glenwood public library, which offers interactive children’s spaces and a quiet atmosphere for reading or studying. Warfields Pond Park has several hiking trails through the trees and circling the pond, as well as its own tennis courts and a playground.
Commutes to Washington D.C., Baltimore and nearby Ellicott City
Less than 16 miles from Ellicott City, most drivers can take Interstate 70 to reach downtown in less than half an hour. Commuters can head east to Baltimore, which is about 27 miles and 40 minutes away via I-70. Baltimore is also home to Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Washington, D.C., is about 38 miles south, and it takes about an hour to reach it via Route 32 and then Interstate 95. Drivers can stop at the Clarksville Park & Ride to take a bus into the city if they prefer, though the journey is about two hours.
