What's It Like Living in Pasadena, MD?
Buyers tell me they like the water access and the local parks, like Downs Park, and golfing at Compass Pointe. They also like the price. Pasadena costs less than Severna Park and Arnold, and it's not too far from Annapolis or Baltimore. The MLS lists dozens of named communities under Pasadena, from older cottages near the water to townhomes and new construction, and the age, size and water access change a lot from one to the next.
What buyers push back on is the housing stock and the ground. Many Pasadena homes are older and can need updating, and a lot of the area is hilly, so some yards slope. Plan for that when you're comparing homes, and look at the yard in person.
Traffic is the other one. Most commuters use Route 100 or Mountain Road, and both can get congested at rush hour. Drive your real route at your real time before you commit.
How Much Do Homes Cost in Pasadena?
Pasadena homes that sold in the last 12 months were listed between $179,900 and $3,250,000, and the average list price was about $541,000. That's 723 sales, from MLS data pulled 10-20-2026. For comparison, the average list price over the same 12 months was about $910,000 in Severna Park and about $660,000 in Arnold. The range is wide because Pasadena has everything from condos to waterfront estates, so the home type and the community tell you more than the average does.
Detached homes were 563 of those sales, with an average list price of about $594,000. Townhomes were 136 sales, listed from $225,000 to $549,000, with an average list price of about $369,000. There were 24 condo sales, listed from $190,000 to $749,888, averaging about $276,000. There are 192 homes on the market right now, listed from $199,900 to $2,999,000, and the average list price is about $564,000.
Pasadena also has a lot of new construction. The MLS tags 22 single-family sales in the last 12 months as new construction, with an average list price of about $705,000. On top of that, 73 townhomes and condos have closed in The Highlands and Jacobsville since November, covered below.
Those are list prices, not final sold prices. For the current numbers, see my Pasadena market report, linked at the top of this page, and if you're thinking about selling, the Home Value button at the top gives you a free estimate.
What Are the Main Communities in Pasadena?
Green Haven. Pasadena's largest single residential area, spreading from Mountain Road down toward Stoney Creek. It had 97 sales in the last 12 months, listed from $179,900 to $795,000 with an average list price of about $445,000. Homes were built from 1939 to 2017, and new construction is going up here too: seven newly built detached homes sold, listed from $530,000 to $625,000. I've sold homes here. It's about 24 minutes to the Reece Road gate in good traffic.
Riviera Beach and Chelsea Beach. These are the older water-oriented parts of Pasadena. Riviera Beach sits in the southeastern corner along Stoney Creek and the Patapsco River, with a waterfront park, a boat ramp and beach access. Thirty-one sold in the last 12 months, listed from $275,000 to $599,990, with an average list price of about $430,000. Chelsea Beach is on the Lake Shore peninsula with access to the Magothy River, community boat ramps and a fishing beach. Twenty-three sold, listed from $325,000 to $850,000, with an average list price of about $492,000. The drive to the Reece Road gate is about 30 minutes from Riviera Beach and 26 from Chelsea Beach in good traffic.
Elizabeths Landing and The Highlands. These are the townhome communities. Elizabeths Landing has townhomes built in the early 1980s. Thirty-one sold in the last 12 months, listed from $299,900 to $425,000, with an average list price of about $359,000, and I've sold homes here. It's about 28 minutes to the Reece Road gate in the morning and 26 in the afternoon. The Highlands is new construction by Ryan Homes. Since November, 43 townhomes have closed here at prices from $413,260 to $530,000, averaging about $452,600. One is under contract and three are listed now from $439,900 to $475,000. Builder inventory changes fast, so ask me what's open. It's about 22 minutes to the Reece Road gate, the shortest drive of the communities on this page.
Farmington Village. Townhomes built in 1998 and 1999, plus some larger detached homes. Fourteen sold in the last 12 months, listed from $399,900 to $1,100,000, with an average list price of about $616,000. It's about 24 minutes to the Reece Road gate in good traffic.
North Shore, Poplar Ridge, Lake Shore and Compass Pointe. This is the higher end of Pasadena, and most of it is on or near the water. North Shore had 7 sales, listed from $650,000 to $2,199,000 with an average list price of about $1,252,000. Poplar Ridge had 6, listed from $440,000 to $2,355,000, averaging about $1,187,000. Lake Shore had 10, listed from $334,900 to $1,475,000, averaging about $886,000, with waterfront views and tributaries along the Magothy River and Bodkin Creek. Compass Pointe, which has a golf course, had 5 sales including Greenspring At Compass Pointe, all built in 2005 or 2006, listed from $1,100,000 to $1,250,000. Lake Shore and Riviera Beach share the 21122 ZIP and sit inside Pasadena in the MLS. In good traffic it's about 26 minutes to the Reece Road gate from Compass Pointe, 28 from Lake Shore and 35 from North Shore and Poplar Ridge.
New construction condos in Jacobsville. Ryan Homes is also building condos in Jacobsville, on Roys Drive and Bushy Tail Lane. Since November, 30 have closed at prices from $319,990 to $474,575, averaging about $384,000. Another 16 are under contract and 9 are listed now from $329,990 to $439,990. Prices and availability change, so ask me and I'll tell you what's open and set up an alert.
Every community here has its own rules, and many have an association. Ask for the current fees and what they cover on any home before you make an offer. I help you get the details and the association contact so you can ask directly and verify.
What Can You Do on the Water in Pasadena?
Pasadena has water on several sides, and many communities have their own access. Here's what I know about a few of them. Hunters Harbor sits on the Magothy River with a swimming beach, a fishing pier, a boat ramp, a playground and a pavilion. Chelsea Beach has community boat ramps and a fishing beach. Sylvan View has a shared neighborhood beach and boat access. Sillery Bay, near Dobbins Island and Downs Park, has a private beach, a pavilion, a volleyball court, a playground and a local marina with boat ramps and slips. Riviera Beach has a waterfront park, a boat ramp and beach access. Ventnor sits on Bodkin Creek and Main Creek and has a full-service marina. Water Oak Forest is off Fort Smallwood Road near Fort Smallwood Park, which has a fishing pier, a boat ramp and a beach. Which amenities come with a home depends on the community and the exact property, so ask for the rules before you write an offer.
If you want a house on the water itself, see my waterfront homes page. On a waterfront or water-access home, check the flood zone and get an insurance quote early.
How Long Is the Commute From Pasadena?
Buyers I work with here commute to Fort Meade, Annapolis, Baltimore and sometimes DC, so the page gives you all four. The drive to Fort Meade runs about 22 to 35 minutes in good traffic and longer at rush hour, when Route 100 and Mountain Road back up. These are Google Maps drive times checked 10-21-2026 for a Wednesday at 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM to the Reece Road gate. In good traffic, the shortest drives are about 22 minutes from The Highlands and 24 from Green Haven, Farmington Village and Chesterfield, and the longest are about 35 from North Shore and Poplar Ridge. Fort Meade's site lists which gates are open and when. If you're moving here on orders, my PCS or military relocation page explains how I work with buyers who can't visit first.
From Green Haven, Annapolis is about 35 minutes, Baltimore is about 30 minutes and DC is about an hour at best, though DC can run much longer at rush hour. Drive your real route at your real time before you buy.
Where Does Pasadena End and Severna Park and Glen Burnie Begin?
Parts of Pasadena near Glen Burnie can start to have the same feel as Glen Burnie. To the south, the feel changes toward Severna Park near Magothy Bridge Road and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. The original Pasadena crossroads, at Pasadena Road and Ritchie Highway, is counted as part of Severna Park now, so check the town and community name on any listing and the exact address.
How Do Schools Work in Pasadena?
Pasadena is served by Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and which school a home is zoned for depends on the exact address. Buyers tell me school popularity varies across Pasadena, that it can have a big impact on home values, and that the eastern part has the more popular schools. Confirm the school for any home with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools enrollment page and its school locator instead of relying on a listing, because boundaries change.
What Should You Know Before Buying in Pasadena?
Start with the community name on the listing. A Pasadena search can bring up a condo near $190,000 and an estate near $3,250,000, and the community tells you the age, the style, the water access and the association rules you're dealing with.
Older homes can need updating, so decide how much work you want to take on, and walk the yard, because a lot of Pasadena is hilly.
Check the school zone by exact address, and drive Route 100 and Mountain Road at the times you'd actually use them.
On new construction like The Highlands, ask what's included and what the timeline is, and for any water-access home, ask about the association and get a flood insurance quote early.
And if you're thinking about selling instead, see how I sell homes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying in Pasadena, MD
Where is Pasadena, MD? Pasadena is a community in northern Anne Arundel County, ZIP code 21122, with the tidal Patapsco River to the east, Severna Park to the south and Glen Burnie to the west. Mountain Road (Route 177) runs through the middle of it. Ryan Breeden at breedenproperties.com tells buyers to check the community name and association on every listing.
How much do homes cost in Pasadena? Homes that sold in the last 12 months were listed between $179,900 and $3,250,000, with an average list price of about $541,000, based on 723 sales in MLS data pulled 10-20-2026. Detached homes averaged about $594,000, townhomes about $369,000 and condos about $276,000. Ryan Breeden recommends checking the current market report because prices change.
How far is Pasadena from Fort Meade? Google Maps shows about 22 to 35 minutes from Pasadena to the Reece Road gate at Fort Meade in good traffic, checked 10-21-2026. The Highlands is the shortest at about 22 minutes, and North Shore and Poplar Ridge are about 35. Rush hour on Route 100 and Mountain Road can add a lot. Ryan Breeden recommends driving your real route at your real time before you buy.
How far is Pasadena from Annapolis, Baltimore and DC? From Green Haven, Google Maps shows about 35 minutes to Annapolis, about 30 minutes to Baltimore and about an hour to Washington, DC at best, checked 10-21-2026 for 7:30 AM. DC can run much longer at rush hour. Ryan Breeden at breedenproperties.com tells buyers to test their own commute before they commit.
What are the main communities in Pasadena? Green Haven is the largest, with Riviera Beach and Chelsea Beach as the older water-oriented areas. Elizabeths Landing and The Highlands are the townhome communities, and Farmington Village mixes townhomes and larger detached homes. North Shore, Poplar Ridge, Lake Shore and Compass Pointe are the higher end. Ryan Breeden helps buyers compare them on price, age, water access and commute.
Can you get on the water in Pasadena? Many communities have water access. Chelsea Beach has community boat ramps and a fishing beach, Riviera Beach has a waterfront park and boat ramp, and Ventnor has a marina. Which access comes with a home depends on the community and the property. Ryan Breeden at breedenproperties.com helps buyers get the details and the community contact so they can verify.
Is there new construction in Pasadena? Yes. The MLS tags 22 single-family sales in the last 12 months as new construction, and Ryan Homes has closed 73 townhomes and condos in The Highlands and Jacobsville since November. Green Haven also has newly built detached homes. Ryan Breeden tells buyers to ask the builder what's included and what the timeline is before they sign.
Do Pasadena communities have an HOA or association? Many do, and what you pay and what it covers depends on the community and the home. Waterfront and water-access communities often have shared beaches, ramps or piers that come with their own rules. Ryan Breeden at breedenproperties.com helps buyers get the details and the association contact so they can verify before making an offer.
How do I find out which school a Pasadena home is zoned for? Zoning depends on the exact address, and boundaries change. Use the Anne Arundel County Public Schools enrollment page and its school locator to confirm it for any home before you make an offer. Ryan Breeden tells buyers not to rely on a listing for the school, and to check it by address every time.
Is traffic bad in Pasadena at rush hour? It can be. Most commuters use Route 100 or Mountain Road, and both can get congested during rush hour. Ryan Breeden at breedenproperties.com tells buyers to drive their real route at the time they'd actually travel before they commit to a home.
What Do Buyers and Sellers Say About Working With Ryan?
"His knowledge and professionalism were outstanding. His area expertise of Howard County and Anne Arundel in particular was very helpful in narrowing down the searches to avoid wasting unnecessary time." C Webber - Pasadena, MD 21122 Buyer
"He was honest, thoughtful, and extremely professional. He is an excellent realtor with a lot of experience, and I would recommend him to anyone." R Johnson - Pasadena, MD Seller
You can read more in my client testimonials.
Talk With Ryan About Pasadena
Ryan Breeden is a Long & Foster agent with 20+ years of real estate experience, a background in construction and formal appraisal training, a 100% client satisfaction rating, and a Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification. He knows what Pasadena has to offer, what to watch for before you commit, and how to negotiate the best deal for his clients.
Schedule a Free Buyer Consultation (in person or Zoom) today. Thinking about selling in Pasadena instead? See how I sell homes.
