To those who would divide us or drive us to the extremes of either political party, I remind you that Maryland has been called 'a state of middle temperament.' Our politics need that middle temperament as well.
-Larry Hogan
Ocean City might be the most aptly named city in the country. Everything here is about the ocean. Beautiful beaches? Check. Lively boardwalks, beach shops, and carnivals? Triple check. Great Seafood? You betcha. That annoying yet somehow simultaneously relaxing sound that seagulls make? Oh yeah. If you long for the nostalgic beach vacations of your youth, let Ocean City take it from here.
A note from a long-time beach-goer about how to do the beach right:
We don't go to the beach in the morning because it is crazy crowded. Mornings are for board games, puzzles, mini golf, going to see a movie. Afternoons are for the beach when it is less crowded. Since we stay so close to the beach, we do not make it big production and only take towels, water bottles, some sand toys, boogie boards.
People call the beaches nasty but at least up north, they drag them every night so they are actually pretty clean. The lifeguards are top flight…we have had the same guard for the past 20 years.
For more reviews of Ocean City from locals check out: The Buzz
Move away from the shores and there are definitely some cons. Ocean City’s got a reputation of not being safe during some hours of the day throughout the summer, highlighted by crime rates well above the national average. During those summer months, traffic around town can be brutal with all of the tourists coming in, and the presence of drug usage does not go unnoticed, typically stemming from groups of high school and college age kids that frequently set up camp for a week or two. It’s a paradise, don’t get me wrong, but be prepared to share it with all different kinds of people throughout the summer who see it that way too.
Cautionary note from a long-time visitor:
We stay in the same place up on 140th Oceanside and have for the past 45 years. It is quiet and very family oriented up there, everything within walking distance, same people own the restaurants, the same lifeguard has been riding the 140th street chair for the past 20 years (shoutout to Jake!). It is certainly more built up but still pretty chill. My kids and I have met some good friends on that stretch of beach. Would I go to the Boardwalk at night these days? No way. We have only gone during the early afternoon for the past 10 years.
Most full time residents own homes rather than rent. West Ocean City is a great example of the typical vibes here, with a lot of suburban type, medium sized single family housing less than a ten minute walk from the ocean. Housing prices are a little above the national average, but definitely below what you might expect for a town as close to the ocean and with all of the amenities that Ocean City offers. One neighborhood in particular that’s a little different than this is North Ocean City, which is right in the heart of the action. Due to its location, you’re probably going to be living in a nice condo or a more expensive home up there.
If you're interested in what happens in Ocean City check out the calendar of events: https://www.ococean.com/events
Unlike most of the other coastal towns you might stop in on a summer road trip, Ocean City is actually a great place to live year round as well. The nightlife here makes Ocean City a solid spot for younger people, and the great public schools and laid back vibe in residential areas make Ocean City a great place to move to whether you’re starting a family or looking to retire. Especially in an age where more and more jobs are going remote and many now find themselves sitting in front of a computer all day, the time has never been better to move to one of the best beach cities in the states.
Ocean City, like a lot of beach towns, doesn’t have a traditional Young Professional community that lives here for the Downtown business district. Instead you tend to get seasonal workers and some full-time, all year round service/tourist industry workers who live in the Downtown apartment communities, with their families a bit further out. Downtown is convenient if they’re working on the beach or in the service economy but again, it’s largely a tourist scene so there is a transience to the community that makes the Downtown less appealing to permanent residences.
West Ocean City is on the Sinepuxent Bay and is the home of fishing charters, marinas and seafood restaurants to many of the people and families who live in the area work in that industry. Generally the suburban areas of the area are filled with locals and the waterfront properties are more second homes or top of the food chain locals. Locals like living here because while you can live quietly you’re also close to downtown so you get a bit of both worlds.
North Ocean City is another option although generally these are condo housing options so there is a tendency to find younger families in the neighborhood. Ocean Pines is the most popular choice for families that crave to be away from Downtown and embrace the peace and quiet the more wooded section of Ocean City has to offer. The area also has Ocean Pines Golf Club and Yacht Club so plenty of hoi polloi available as well.
