Fueled by the extension of Maryland Route 228, the population of this community has grown consistently since the 1990's. This growth has guaranteed the increase of residential development, and this is likely why one out of every three homes in the area is less than 20 years old.
Bensville is a relatively large chunk of land. It takes up nearly 17 square miles of Maryland's landscape. Strangely, the population is relatively small when considering the amount of available land in the area. This is why anyone moving to Bensville can expect to have plenty of space to themselves. There's literally only about 710 people per every square mile.
Moving to Bensville
If you're looking for a bit of tranquility, your search for apartments will undoubtedly lead you to Bensville. Just look at a Google Map of the place. Seriously, we'll wait. See all those woods? This is one of the most sparsely populated areas you're going to find, and in many areas, you could literally camp out in the woods behind your backyard. Don't get too excited just yet, though; you've got a little work and preparation ahead of you if you're going to be moving into this census-designated area.
When to Start Looking
It's hard to express just how far in advance you should be looking for a home for rent in Bensville. In fact, simply reading that last sentence was wasting time! Alas, you're going to need all of this information. Even though new residential development is taking place, it's not moving fast enough to keep up with the population increase that's occurring. There are very few homes to go around, and with renters making up less than 8% of the overall population, those who are getting places are obviously trying to turn their temporary abode into a mortgage. This means you should start looking at least two months in advance of a move.
When to Make the Move
You'd be smart to avoid moving here during the summer -- and it's not even about the heat. In fact, the daily average high in Bensville in the summer doesn't really push past 85 degrees (though, oh the humidity). You're going to want to avoid the Washington D.C. tourism traffic. Yes, Bensville is a short 40-minute drive from the capital, and if you end up trying to drive a box truck on the Beltway when tourism is at its highest, you're going to have a bad time.
What to Bring Along
If you're looking for apartment complexes, you could check out Coachman's Landing; and if you're looking for a home to rent, you can look just about anywhere else. Regardless, though, you're going to need to have some documentation. Bring along proof of income and a credit check. These are really necessities. You can help your case, though, by tossing some references from previous landlords and even a background check into the mix. Come on, wouldn't you rather rent your apartment to someone you know is going to be good in it? So would these landlords.
Bensville Neighborhoods
Though Bensville is huge on the map, its sparse population gives it more of a small community feel. This often means that there's not much to do in an area, and this kind of holds true for Bensville as well. Don't get confused, though; there's plenty of positive features to enjoy in each of the neighborhoods around here. If you wanted hustle and bustle, you would've settled on D.C. Since you didn't, stop complaining about not having anything to do and check out what you'll really be getting.
Brentwood: Brentwood is a development in central Bensville, and it along with the surrounding area makes up a decent chunk of Bensville's residential area. Don't expect to find much more than a gas station nearby, but with a short trip down Highway 229, you'll be able to enjoy Bensville Park.
Kingsview: The Kingsview area makes up the bulk of western Bensville. In fact, the only other populated area is along Chapel Springs Place, and those are huge homes with large pieces of land that are well spread out. In the Kingsview development itself, you'll find a few businesses and the Kingsview Community Center.
Northern Bensville: This area is adjacent to Highway 228, and the extension of that highway is what really put Bensville on the map. You'll have gorgeous streams and walking trails around you, but the big perk is ease of access to the roads that can easily take you to Alexandria and D.C. So yeah, finding rental homes here wouldn't hurt.
Southeastern Bensville: This is definitely one of the most sparsely populated areas in Bensville. In fact, the majority of homes are separated from their neighbors by at least a few dozen feet of trees. You will have ease of access to Middletown Road, though, and there's even a Zipcar pick up and drop off location here. If you don't know what Zipcar is, look it up; and then thank us for introducing you to something so amazing.
Living in Bensville
The neighborhoods in the Bensville community undoubtedly have some great features, but you'll find many others in and around the area. Sure, you're right next to the Potomac River and a short drive from the Thomas Stone National Historic Site, but you need a few places that are closer to enjoy. Well don't you worry your excited head off. We've got you covered.
Great Parks
Although Bensville Park is the only major park in this census-designated community, the place is surrounded by many other green spaces to enjoy nature in. Within just a short drive, you can get to the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Area, Chapman State Park (right on the Potomac River) and Piscataway Park. And no, we didn't make up that last park name -- Google it if you're skeptical.
Peaceful Serenity
Honestly, if you're looking to get away from the larger cities, this is the place to do it. You're surrounded by natural beauty, chirping birds, frolicking wildlife and all of that other mushy stuff, so enjoy.
Darn Cool with a Capital D.C.
Being only a 40-minute drive from our nation's capital, Bensville puts you in a pleasant position to brag to all of your online buddies across the nation. Oh, they're paying $300 to fly in and visit the Smithsonian? Who cares? You've already gotten so bored with those dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum that you're waiting until new ones come out.
No matter what tickles your fancy, you'll find what you love in Bensville (or at least a short drive away).