Highland offers rural living close to major cities
Between Baltimore and Washington, Highland is a Howard County community favored for its rural setting and proximity to transportation. “We’re close to all major highways,” says Paula Fanning, a resident and Realtor with Northrop Realty. “And Highland has that country feel without being out in the middle of nowhere.” Once surrounded by farmland, the heart of Highland has grown into a small commercial area with locally owned shops and eateries. Remnants of the surrounding farms can still be found today, including Hickory Ridge Farm, which encompassed most of the downtown area and is now a horse farm. While farming is not as prominent as it used to be, many residents take advantage of their rural surroundings by starting hobby farms.
1950s-style homes on large lots
Defined by rolling hills and wide open spaces, Highland is at a higher elevation than its surroundings. “I live on a farm,” says Fanning. “And I had a historic architect confirm that this was part of the Underground Railroad.” Despite the rich history of the land, most homes were built in the 1950s onward, adds Fanning. Housing prices depend on location and construction date. Homes in Clarksville Crossing, a newly constructed subdivision, tend to be in the New Traditional style and range from $1.5 million to $1.6 million. Hickory Ridge Farm is selling some of its property through Williamsburg Homes, and the large, recently constructed Colonial Revivals go from $1.645 million to nearly $1.9 million. Homes not in these newly built subdivisions range from $855,000 to over $1 million. The Cap Index crime score for Highland is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Commuters use Interstate 95 and surrounding highways
Commuters head north on Interstate 95 to reach Baltimore, 26 miles away, in just over 30 minutes. In the opposite direction, I-95 south leads to Washington, 31 miles away, in just under an hour. There is no public transportation or sidewalks in the residential parts of Highland, though the small downtown area does have some sidewalks. The MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is 7 miles away using state Route 108. Dulles International Airport is 46 miles west on I-495. Houses of worship in the area include New Hope Adventist Church, Community Bible Church, Hopkins United Methodist Church and St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
Highly rated schools close to home
Howard County Public School System, which receives an A from Niche, serves the area and is listed as the best school district in Maryland. Depending on their address, children in the area may attend different schools, but most attend Dayton Oaks Elementary School and Lime Kiln Middle School, both of which receive an A. Students continue to River Hill High School, which gets an A-plus. River Hill offers career academies in more than 20 areas, including aerospace engineering, finance, health professions and marketing.
Horseback riding, sports and a historic home in Schooley Mill Park
Schooley Mill Park is central in the area and features 4.6 miles of trails, sports fields and courts, a playground and an equestrian ring for riders to run their horses. “You’ll see people riding horses,” says Fanning. “We do have an equestrian park, and horse trails there and a riding rink.” The historic James Marlow House, built in the 1850s, still stands on the site, a reminder that most of Highland was once farmland.
Shopping and dining in Highland and Fulton
Konstantine’s Greek Taverna, an upscale Greek eatery, is one of two restaurants in the area. The second is Highland Local, which serves pub food and brews. Most residents head to Boarman’s Old Fashioned Meat Market for groceries or head to Fulton, 3 miles away, for more shopping and dining. The owners of Boarman and Fulton Wine & Spirits sells fresh produce and, Fanning says, also delivers fresh news. “If anyone has lost a horse, I’ll get a phone call from the owner of Boarman’s,” says Fanning.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
