Moving to Calvert County (family of 7, DC commute) – St. Leonard vs Owings/Huntingtown?

Hi all! We’re seriously considering a move to Calvert County, MD and would love some local insight.
We’re a family of 7, looking for space, quiet, and a slower pace of life. My husband will be commuting into DC, but only for about 3 more years until retirement—so we’re trying to balance quality of life with a doable (even if not ideal) commute.

We’re very drawn to the water lifestyle. We currently have a Sea Ray and spend a lot of time boating, and we’d love to eventually learn to sail and work toward owning a larger catamaran someday. So being near the Chesapeake and having access to marinas/water is a big plus for us.

We’ve been looking at both northern Calvert (Owings, Huntingtown) and a bit farther south like St. Leonard, and honestly—we like both for different reasons.

From what I can tell:
Northern Calvert seems a bit more “commuter friendly”
St. Leonard seems quieter, more rural, and closer to the water

For those who live there (or have lived there):
How different do these areas feel day-to-day?
Is the commute from places like St. Leonard to DC realistically doable for a few years, or is it pretty brutal?

Do you feel a big difference in community, schools, or amenities between north and south Calvert?
Any pros/cons we might not be thinking about?
We’re not looking for nightlife or anything—just space, water access, and a good place to raise our kids for the next chapter.

Would really appreciate any insight!