A small Maryland suburb between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore
Halfway between the nation’s capital and Charm City, Scaggsville is a southern Howard County community offering a small-town feel. The Rocky Gorge Reservoir hugs this small enclave off Interstate 95 along the Patuxent River. Originally a rural stagecoach stop, Scaggsville today is a suburban enclave of more than 9,200 people. The community’s unique name traces to the Scaggs family, which planted roots in the early 19th century. “My husband and I joke, ‘Who would want to live in Scaggsville?’ because of the name, but it’s a pretty desirable community,” says Bonnie Gregorio, a Re/Max Professionals Realtor with an office nearby in Laurel. “It has that small community feel. They have little mom-and-pop restaurants where everybody knows everyone.” The community is also a desirable choice for work commuters heading to Baltimore or Washington, D.C., as they’re both about 25 miles away. Top employers in the area include the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
Colonial Revivals, New Traditional homes and townhouses
The median price for a single-family home in Scaggsville is about $720,000, nearly double the national median. Colonial Revival and New Traditional homes fill the community’s network of neighborhoods, such as North Laurel , which also has a large collection of townhouses. Gregorio says the challenge for homebuyers here is finding an available property as inventory is low. “People don’t move out of Scaggsville. It’s really hard to get a home.” Properties typically stay on the market for around 28 days, compared to the national average of 44 days. Maryland experiences heavy rainfall and can be hit by hurricanes. Some properties are along regulatory floodways, and a layer of dense forest provides a buffer for subdivisions backing up to the Patuxent River.
Maryland’s top school district
The Howard County Public School System serves Scaggsville and is a big draw for homebuyers. It earns an A overall rating from Niche, which ranks it the No. 1 school district in Maryland. HCPSS has more than 57,000 students and 78 schools, which offer two dozen career academies for high school students in fields ranging from architectural design and construction to animation and marketing.
Scaggsville has a few public parks, offering places to connect with nature and stay active. Tall, thin trees shade Scotts Cove Recreation Area, which rests against the Rocky Gorge Reservoir along the Patuxent River. This green space provides a launch point for canoe or boat trips and is used for picnics and fishing. Hammond Park is popular for families as it’s next to Hammond Middle School. Along with having typical park amenities like a playground and public pool, it hosts the annual Hammond Park Crab Feast each August. Over a dozen parks and a community center dot the surrounding communities of Laurel, Columbia and Fulton. Nearby greenways connect to the Patuxent Branch Trail for miles of smooth cycling through Howard County.
Everyday essentials at Market Place Maple Lawn
Aside from a few longtime eateries and the commercial corridor along U.S. Route 1, Scaggsville is primarily residential, so residents often shop and dine in neighboring cities and towns. Market Place Maple Lawn is less than 2 miles away in Fulton. The retail development, anchored by a national grocer, features a mix of chain and local restaurants, along with service-based businesses for haircuts and dry cleaning. Towne Centre at Laurel offers name-brand shopping, while the community of Columbia is a growing destination for international cuisine, art and culture. “They have the mall, movie theaters and so many new, unique authentic restaurants,” Gregorio says.
Laurel Park to host the 2025 and 2026 Preakness Stakes
Along Scaggsville’s eastern edge is Laurel Park, a historic horse racing track dating to 1911. While a new Maryland law will end thoroughbred racing at the facility in the coming years, the track will come alive for the 2025 and 2026 Preakness Stakes. This second leg of the Triple Crown ahead of the Kentucky Derby is typically held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. However, Laurel Park will host the upcoming events as Pimlico is under renovation. Laurel Park will permanently close following the 2026 season. Part of it will be turned into a mixed-use development with housing, retail and office space.
Quick access to Interstate 95, MARC trains stop nearby
Scaggsville residents have quick access to area highways, including Interstate 95, for commutes to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. “If you don’t have traffic, it’s half an hour either way, but if you have traffic, it can take an hour to get to D.C. and Baltimore,” says Gregorio, who adds that the Maryland Area Rail Commuter trains in Laurel provide an alternative. “It’ll take you to the [Washington] Metro stations and Baltimore.” Three commuter bus routes stop at the Scaggsville Park and Ride. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is the closest airport, less than 20 miles away.
As an unincorporated community, Scaggsville doesn’t have a police department or local government. Howard County Sheriff’s deputies patrol the area. However, crime statistics specific to Scaggsville are not readily available.
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