Recommendations for neighborhoods in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will he get to NYC? Do you need to be close to IAD, DCA, or Union Station?

Old/historic and good schools don’t have a lot of overlap.

Have you researched VA vs MD? I think you will want to have an idea which is a better fit for your taxes, future employment opportunities, and other lifestyle preferences. We didn’t have any ties to the area and visit family just outside NYC often, but we chose VA because I work in IT and the Arlington - Reston area is where I would most likely find employment if I left my current company.

You can get old, historic, good schools in Georgetown/Burleith/Glover Park, but you will not find big yards there.

op - i think ok if not big yard! little yard would be nice though (we have no yard rn)

In that case, these neighborhoods would be perfect for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why here?

we want to be near a city and not too far from NY so it's either DC or boston (we don't want philly) and we prefer dc

Why not a NY, CT, or NJ suburb? Many have excellent public schools. I live in Princeton, NJ and many NYC transplants have moved here since 2020. We also thought about moving to the DMV for work, but ultimately decided to stay and are happy. Love the schools, people, town, small class sizes for elementary, activities and no violence! There are multiple clean and cheap compared to DC town pools, swim teams, loads of athletics kids can easily get into, etc. I LOVE DC, but after speaking with friends in DC we are happy we stayed.

As others said if you are looking for good public schools and are planning to stay after elementary do some research. I have close friends in DC proper including Palisades (that has issue with planes so I would nix), Mt. Pleasant, Capital Hill, and CCDC. Public schools in DC are a mixed bag and more of my friends are complaining/looking at privates/looking to move in the last couple years. Most were happy in elementary. Also, check out Woodly Park, but unless you want your child to attend immersion program, look at properties that go into Eaton.

Go visit and check out different neighborhoods. Go to a playground, park, farmers market, something and talk to people and ask about the neighborhood. Do you know anyone who lives in the area? Ask them! Good luck.

ty!!

it is really almost impossible to find a rental for less than $8k anywhere in ny burbs that am remotely excited about living in with 2 kids. hence why we are looking further afield. i have heard great things about princeton, but i grew up and have always lived in a city so def want that proximity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you looking to rent or buy? I'm guessing rent based on how you said your budget is 6-8k per month. With making schools the priority I would cross DC off the list (unless you are willing to go private, but you mention schools in your post so I'll assume you want public) and look at NoVA or MD. I only know about NoVA so I'll leave MD to others.

Your budget is large, but that won't change the fact that inventory is low. Old Town Alexandria is very historic, but good luck finding a big yard and I don't think the schools are great. I love Hollin Hills for gorgeous mid-century homes, but they never come on the market and I think the schools aren't great there. Finding a historic property is generally going to be tough and most NoVA neighborhoods are full of new development. I'm in Falls Church and can think of some incredible historic homes, but they are sprinkled in with the McMansions and crumbling ramblers and finding one to rent would be tough to impossible. Schools are wonderful, though.

If you don't cross DC off the list, I will say that I love Capitol Hill. But when I lived there someone broke into my home while I was sleeping, so ... I'm a little gun shy about that area. Oh, and my car was stolen too. But my car was stolen in Rossyln, as well. So whatever. I think there are some elementary schools there that people like, but I don't know much about it. Georgetown has been mentioned and I love it there (I work at Georgetown), would even live there if I had a bigger budget than I do, but like PP said, finding a big yard there might be tough if not impossible.

Really, with your budget, I'd suggest you find a good real estate agent who works with folks looking to rent and tell them what you want/need. Because it's going to be difficult to figure this out, especially with inventory being what it is, but a real estate agent is going to know a lot more about what all is available and how to get it than we do.

TY!!!
i think we are going to rent just bc our plan is to keep our NYC property and rent it out, see how we like DC (that's how we got to our budget - is our NYC property minus its bills and minus some more so that I can take a beat from working - have burned out in absolutely epic and emergent way).
I love georgetown (one of only areas I know) and when i went to alexandria I loved that too, but assume those are sort of 'obvious' (like when people want to move to nyc and live in west village) and people would say impossible to find inventory.

With your budget, I think you could find a place in Old Town or in Georgetown, and if you are okay with a small yard given that you don't have one now, that might work well. But look at the schools -- that could be a problem. With your budget though, you might be able to spend less on rent and have some left over for private school.

[Anonymous]

How about near Glen Echo? That area has some history. Here is a rental in your prince range:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/6901-Rannoch-Rd-20817/home/10701155

[Anonymous]

With a 10 year-old in the mix, so only a year or two until middle school, I would recommend focusing your search on the suburbs or DC inbounds for Deal MS.

Here's a curveball, though. Are you committed to being in the city? If I were looking at a big life change and commuting to New York, I'd look at someplace like Severna Park. Great schools, 25 minutes to BWI (flight or Acela), and a total lifestyle shift.

[Anonymous]

This budget should be fine for a nice but modest house or rowhouse/ semi-attached (like not a Spring Valley mansion, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're going for). Depends on your preferences for public transit and a few other things, but I'd consider (in no particular order) Georgetown, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Cathedral area, Mt Pleasant, Cleveland Park, Tenleytown/Van Ness/ AU Park, and the part of CCDC between Connecticut Ave and Friendship Heights. Those are areas that also have good middle schools. If you just want decent elementary schools or are ok with charters, there are more options. There are lots of threads on these neighborhoods and pros/cons.

[Anonymous]

OP I kind of think you're crazy to move to DC if someone has to commute to NYC and neither of you will work here. Why not a smaller town somewhere with a train to NYC? Just getting to the train with any of the places with good public schools here will be a miserable experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With a 10 year-old in the mix, so only a year or two until middle school, I would recommend focusing your search on the suburbs or DC inbounds for Deal MS.

Here's a curveball, though. Are you committed to being in the city? If I were looking at a big life change and commuting to New York, I'd look at someplace like Severna Park. Great schools, 25 minutes to BWI (flight or Acela), and a total lifestyle shift.

DP but I would live almost anywhere before Severna Park, so proceed with caution.

[Anonymous]

Historic Takoma Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Historic Takoma Park

This isn't a bad idea, but what about the schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I kind of think you're crazy to move to DC if someone has to commute to NYC and neither of you will work here. Why not a smaller town somewhere with a train to NYC? Just getting to the train with any of the places with good public schools here will be a miserable experience.

Amtrak has a station in Old Town Alexandria so another vote for there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about near Glen Echo? That area has some history. Here is a rental in your prince range:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/6901-Rannoch-Rd-20817/home/10701155

op - love this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about near Glen Echo? That area has some history. Here is a rental in your prince range:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/6901-Rannoch-Rd-20817/home/10701155

op - love this.

If I had to move here and commute to NYC every week I would get divorced. WHY?? It isn’t near the city. What are you going to do, hire a babysitter and drive 45 minutes to go to dinner? What is the point? The only reason to live in this location is if you work here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why here?

we want to be near a city and not too far from NY so it's either DC or boston (we don't want philly) and we prefer dc

Why not a NY, CT, or NJ suburb? Many have excellent public schools. I live in Princeton, NJ and many NYC transplants have moved here since 2020. We also thought about moving to the DMV for work, but ultimately decided to stay and are happy. Love the schools, people, town, small class sizes for elementary, activities and no violence! There are multiple clean and cheap compared to DC town pools, swim teams, loads of athletics kids can easily get into, etc. I LOVE DC, but after speaking with friends in DC we are happy we stayed.

As others said if you are looking for good public schools and are planning to stay after elementary do some research. I have close friends in DC proper including Palisades (that has issue with planes so I would nix), Mt. Pleasant, Capital Hill, and CCDC. Public schools in DC are a mixed bag and more of my friends are complaining/looking at privates/looking to move in the last couple years. Most were happy in elementary. Also, check out Woodly Park, but unless you want your child to attend immersion program, look at properties that go into Eaton.

Go visit and check out different neighborhoods. Go to a playground, park, farmers market, something and talk to people and ask about the neighborhood. Do you know anyone who lives in the area? Ask them! Good luck.

As someone who grew up in Princeton, I second this. I would move back to raise my family there in a heartbeat. Love that town.

[Anonymous]

If I were commuting to NYC every week- I would want to be near union station/capital hill area or maryland near I-95. I would look at Annapolis or Severna park or historic Ellicott City. Maybe university park