Savage, MD, located immediately south of Columbia, is convenient to many major Maryland city centers, but it retains a charming small town environment that captivates you the moment you step foot in the downtown area. This historic town lets you experience a welcoming and relaxing way of life, which is a stark contrast from the urban hustle and bustle of nearby D.C. and Baltimore.
Savage is home to 7,054 people, many of which are families with children under 18. The vast majority of families living in this town are homeowners, with a 59.9 percent owner-occupied housing rate. Over 84 percent of people have lived in the same house more than a year, so you get to enjoy a consistent community in this area. The typical family size is 2.52 and there are 2,434 households in the area. Many residents have pursued higher education, with 46.7 percent of the population holding a bachelor's degree. The median household income is $82,242 and Savage residents have a typical commute of about 27 minutes. The typical house in Savage is $298,800.
Savage, MD is a family and creative community built around the Savage Mill Historic District. This town has been around in one form or another since 1650 and you can see pieces of the past throughout this national historic district. As you can assume from the historic district's name, the town started to flourish because of the milling industry. Historic buildings such as the Savage Station and the Carroll Baldwin Hall date back to the 1800s and can be seen today. The town's emphasis on its historic district also creates significant pride in its local population. The shopping available throughout the town reflects these values, with a strong emphasis on small business, especially artists and craftspeople. Antique shops are another specialty that's fitting for a town known for its historic sites, and the Antique Center spans two buildings and many dealers. Franchises and chain stores are not present in this small town for the most part, but nearby Columbia and Laurel both provide you with these options. The community also holds concerts and other events throughout the spring, summer, and fall. During winter, Christmas becomes quite an event, with many stunning light displays, a parade, and a lot of holiday spirit.
The Savage Mills artist studios are the true gems of this town, as it's not often that you see so much support of the arts and the artists who create these pieces. Artcraft is one of the centerpiece stores that features the handmade work of hundreds of artists, giving you a taste of the handmade experience from many artists. There are also individual artist galleries and studios, such as Murillo's Jewelry. Everyone is friendly and happy to talk to you about their work, which is great for making local connections within the crafting and arts community. As you make your way around the town, you also find many unique professional services and trades, such as clock repair. Sometimes it's easy to feel like you've stepped 50 or so years into the past.
You have access to a wide range of stores and services in this area, with many of them located centrally in the Savage Mill building. Local restaurants, crafts, art, and specialty food stores provide you with many unique options for your needs. If you need a larger grocery store, it takes less than 10 minutes to get into Columbia for access to Wegman's, farmer's markets, grocery stores, Columbia Mall, and other shopping options. The schools in this area are highly rated and there are plenty of family friendly activities around, with a lot of emphasis on outdoor recreation with an adventure park. The weather is fairly hot and humid in the summer, with an average high temperature of 88 degrees F in July. The spring and fall are relatively mild, with temperatures ranging in the 40 to 70 degrees F range. Winter gets cold with temperatures averaging between 20 and 30 degrees F. Occasional snowfall occurs in the area, but it's rare to see many major winter storms. The region is used to handling snowfall, so most areas are pre-treated and plowed out quickly.
Savage is also ideally located for commuters going to work in southern Maryland, Baltimore, or D.C. You can easily get access to the highways taking you to these cities and you have public transit options available. The MARC commuter train has a station and runs to DC and Baltimore, which is ideal for missing out on the famous Maryland rush hour traffic jams. Additionally, local transit is provided through the Howard County RTA throughout the week. This variety of options helps to minimize the amount of commuting residents have to do throughout the week. While Savage has a collection of small businesses throughout the area, many residents work outside the city, particularly at nearby Fort Meade.
Savage MD is best known for its historic shopping district, much of which is situated in the Savage Mills building and immediate area. Its support of artists helps attract significant local flavor, both from artists in residences and those whose work is represented in the multi-artist galleries. Like many historic small towns in Maryland, Savage is also known for its haunted areas. Ghost tours are held throughout the year, with most of the attention focused on the nine original buildings in the historic district.
