Trying to choose between West Annapolis and Murray Hill? If you are shopping in Annapolis, these two neighborhoods can both look appealing at first glance, but they offer very different experiences once you dig into the details. Understanding how the housing stock, lot patterns, walkability, and pricing differ can help you focus your search and make a smarter move. Let’s dive in.

West Annapolis vs Murray Hill at a Glance

If you want the shortest version, here it is: Murray Hill tends to be the pricier, tighter in-town market, while West Annapolis offers more variation in home type, lot size, and price range.

That does not mean one is better than the other. It means each neighborhood serves a different kind of buyer goal. Your best fit depends on whether you value a more urban, close-in setting or a little more room and variety near the water.

West Annapolis Character

West Annapolis is defined by the West Annapolis Civic Association as the peninsula bounded by Rowe Boulevard, Weems Creek, the Severn River, and government property to the southeast. The neighborhood is known for being a brisk walk to the city center and for having boutiques, restaurants, offices, and school-related activity in its commercial area. You can explore that local context on the West Annapolis Civic Association site.

The area also has meaningful internal variation. According to the neighborhood history shared by the civic association, the flatter section of West Annapolis was platted on 50-by-150-foot lots, while Wardour was designed around wooded topography with curving streets and more irregular lots. That planning history helps explain why the neighborhood can feel more varied from block to block.

Murray Hill Character

Murray Hill runs from Cathedral Street to Chase Street and from West Street to Spa Creek, according to the Murray Hill neighborhood association. It is known for tree-lined streets, Spa Creek views, and a highly walkable location near downtown Annapolis and Maryland Hall.

In day-to-day terms, Murray Hill tends to feel more in-town and more compact. Its location makes it easy to reach downtown, West Street, and waterfront green spaces, which is a major draw for buyers who want to stay connected to the core of Annapolis.

Home Types and Lot Patterns

West Annapolis Homes

West Annapolis and Wardour are a mixed market of attached homes and single-family homes, with housing dates that generally range from 1920 to 2016, according to Neighborhoods.com. The same source notes lot sizes ranging from 0 to 1 acre and describes the area as having mostly large, high-value homes.

That broad lot-size range is one of the biggest differences from Murray Hill. In practical terms, West Annapolis often gives you more variation in how a property lives, whether you are looking for a more compact home near the business district or a property with a little more breathing room.

Murray Hill Homes

Murray Hill is also a mix of attached and single-family homes, but the housing stock leans more toward older in-town homes and newer infill. Neighborhoods.com’s Murray Hill profile lists homes dating from 1900 to 2021, with sizes from 876 to 4,500 square feet and 2 to 6 bedrooms.

The result is a neighborhood that feels more urban in form. You may find character-rich older homes, renovated townhomes, and newer infill opportunities, but the overall impression is usually tighter lot lines and a stronger in-town footprint.

Water Access and Walkability

West Annapolis Lifestyle

West Annapolis benefits from proximity to both the Severn River and Weems Creek. The city’s West Annapolis planning materials describe it as a vibrant community with a unique commercial area, and the neighborhood association highlights its boutiques, specialty shops, restaurants, offices, and urban-village feel.

For many buyers, that creates a nice middle ground. You get neighborhood-serving businesses and water proximity, but the housing pattern can still feel more spread out than what you would typically expect in a denser downtown setting.

Murray Hill Lifestyle

Murray Hill’s water access is more tied to parks and corridors around Spa Creek. The neighborhood association points to Acton’s Landing, Lafayette Park, and Amos Garrett Park as key spaces for green space, water views, and water access, and it also notes easy access to West Street and Main Street. The association’s amenities page gives a good overview of those features.

This is part of why Murray Hill appeals so strongly to buyers who want a true in-town Annapolis lifestyle. You are close to downtown, close to Spa Creek, and close to some of the city’s best everyday walking routes.

How Prices Compare

Current market snapshots suggest that Murray Hill is generally the more expensive of the two.

For West Annapolis and Wardour, Homes.com market data reports 9 active homes, a 12-month median sale price of $815,000, an average of 25 days on market, and 1.9 months of supply. The same source lists a median single-family sale price of $899,000. Meanwhile, Neighborhoods.com shows a higher median sale price of $951,000 and a wide closed-price range from $525,000 to $5.3 million, which reinforces how broad the neighborhood’s pricing can be.

Murray Hill’s current portal snapshot comes in higher. Neighborhoods.com reports a median sale price of $1,102,750 and an average price per square foot of $819. The research also notes that Zillow showed 4 active listings during the data pull, ranging from about $999,990 to $3,495,000.

The cleanest conclusion is that Murray Hill is typically the tighter, pricier in-town market, while West Annapolis and Wardour offer a broader range of pricing outcomes. Because these figures come from different portals and time windows, it is best to treat them as directional rather than perfect apples-to-apples comparisons.

How Fast Homes Move

Murray Hill appears to reward decisiveness. Recent sold examples cited in the research include a Chase Street sale at $1.1 million that closed the same day it listed and a Murray Avenue sale at $1.075 million that closed after just 4 days on market, both referenced through Homes.com sold examples.

West Annapolis is also a relatively tight market, with 1.9 months of supply and an average 25 days on market based on the Homes.com neighborhood snapshot. Still, the broader product mix there can create more variation in pacing, depending on the price point, lot, and property type.

Which Neighborhood Fits You Best?

Choosing between West Annapolis and Murray Hill is less about picking a winner and more about matching the neighborhood to your priorities.

West Annapolis may fit you if you want:

• More variation in lot size and home type
• A village feel with shops and restaurants nearby
• Proximity to the Severn River and Weems Creek
• A broader price spectrum within the same general area

Murray Hill may fit you if you want:

• A shorter walk to downtown Annapolis
• A more classic in-town setting
• Spa Creek access tied to parks and public spaces
• A market that tends to be more premium and tightly held

Why This Comparison Matters

In Annapolis, neighborhood lines matter. Two areas that sit close to each other on a map can deliver very different experiences in pricing, inventory, walkability, and how a home lives day to day.

That is especially true with West Annapolis and Murray Hill. One gives you more range and a bit more room to spread out. The other gives you an especially strong downtown-and-creek lifestyle, often at a higher price point.

If you are weighing the tradeoffs between these neighborhoods, local guidance can save you time and help you focus on the right opportunities early. The team at The Tower Team brings deep experience across West Annapolis, Wardour, Murray Hill, and other lifestyle-driven Annapolis neighborhoods, and can help you evaluate what fits your goals best.

FAQs

How do West Annapolis and Murray Hill differ in price?

• Murray Hill generally trends higher in current market snapshots, with a median sale price above West Annapolis and a higher average price per square foot.

How do West Annapolis and Murray Hill differ in lot size?

• West Annapolis and Wardour tend to offer more variation in lot size, while Murray Hill usually feels tighter and more urban in layout.

Which Annapolis neighborhood is closer to downtown, West Annapolis or Murray Hill?

• Murray Hill is typically the better fit if your top priority is the shortest walk to downtown Annapolis.

What kind of homes are common in West Annapolis?

• West Annapolis includes both attached and single-family homes, with housing that generally dates from 1920 to 2016 and a wide range of lot sizes.

What kind of homes are common in Murray Hill?

• Murray Hill includes attached and single-family homes, often with older in-town character mixed with newer infill, and home sizes ranging from 876 to 4,500 square feet.