Well, how about living in Columbia? very nice place, more mid class diversity neighbors, cheap apartments as well, Downtown Baltimore is 10-15 mins away, and you use small regular roads..or if you want you can use 95North highway.

Or you can live on the edge of Montgomery county, around Burtonsville, you can take highway 95 North to downtown baltimore. School wise Montgomery county is best for kids.

Remember, if you use North route in the morning is no traffic at all, because South route, east route, everybody is coming to Washington and Virginia, traffic is mess in the morning.

Welcome neighbor!!!