Recommendations for neighborhoods in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Don’t do it, OP. DC is really not that fun or exciting. The schools anywhere with city/urban feel are ok for elementary but I personally don’t think are good enough for middle/high school. Different people will have different thresholds on good enough. I’ve lived in both places. Even my kids find DC boring and beg to move back to NY. They say they don’t care about their yard or basement.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it simply because having your spouse away that much isn't good for the family, especially your marriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Just providing a view separate from the naysayers. I am from the NJ burbs (Monmouth County) and absolutely love it in DC. I work from home, as does my husband, and am not tied here because of a job (although DH has to head to client sites in the DC area sometimes). We're in Cleveland Park and I love it! I second those who recommend Georgetown (especially for the charm though you'd lack yard space), Cleveland Park, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, etc. I don't have any children yet, but I know that those neighborhoods' elementary schools get excellent ratings on Good Schools. Capitol Hill is also really charming, but safety is more of a concern.

I love the old homes, (mostly free) cultural institutions, dining scene, and park space that DC has to offer. Plus I'm only a 2.5 - 3 hr Amtrak or 3 hr drive away from family in the NJ/NY area. I find DC to be a clean, walkable place with friendly-enough people that's less overwhelming than NY.

Good luck!

Do you visit family once a week though?

No. Fair point - this commute would be a killer for the husband (still better than commuting from Boston, which was OP's other idea) unless he only has to go into the NY office once a month or so.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down Commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

This oversimplifies. There is a ~40 min stop in DC while they change the engine.

[Anonymous]

We love DC, OP. (My spouse and I both grew up here and spent some time in NY, but we prefer to live here. We are not “forced” to by our jobs.)

I think it’ll be hard to find all the things you want but that’s true anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Just providing a view separate from the naysayers. I am from the NJ burbs (Monmouth County) and absolutely love it in DC. I work from home, as does my husband, and am not tied here because of a job (although DH has to head to client sites in the DC area sometimes). We're in Cleveland Park and I love it! I second those who recommend Georgetown (especially for the charm though you'd lack yard space), Cleveland Park, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, etc. I don't have any children yet, but I know that those neighborhoods' elementary schools get excellent ratings on Good Schools. Capitol Hill is also really charming, but safety is more of a concern.

I love the old homes, (mostly free) cultural institutions, dining scene, and park space that DC has to offer. Plus I'm only a 2.5 - 3 hr Amtrak or 3 hr drive away from family in the NJ/NY area. I find DC to be a clean, walkable place with friendly-enough people that's less overwhelming than NY.

Good luck!

I grew up in both Woodley Park in Cleveland Park and agree they are great. However, they are very expensive now especially if you want a house. And there aren’t really hardly any three bedroom apartments. Doesn’t sound like the original poster wants to live in a two bedroom apartment, she wants a house. Cleveland Park, that’s at least a couple million realistically speaking. Maybe you could find one like a semi detach for 1.5 if you get lucky, I live in the burbs now because the houses are cheaper the public schools are a little bit better and we can’t afford private. It’s a completely different experience. I really don’t see any reason to move to Washington suburbs if you don’t have a job in Washington. Your husband has to commute to New York City. That’s just a bizarre idea. If they have tons of money, you can live in Woodley Park or Cleveland Park and afford private high school and are OK with Wilson, sure. Moved to Woodley Parker Cleveland Park. But moving out to the DC suburbs and her situation? It really doesn’t make sense.

I'm not debating the concerns about this idea, but the cost issue just doesn't seem applicable to OP. We're looking for a rental in upper NW now to live in during renovations and there is a fine supply of rental housing below 8K/month. We're looking closer to 5K and there are decent options. Again, not a historic Cleveland Park mansion, but a simple detached house in AU/Park Tenleytown or rowhouse in Woodley. There are also options for small rowhouses in Georgetown (perfectly fine for a small family used to NYC, but not the outside the beltway types that post on this forum frequently and seem to be dominating this thread). If he/she is looking at that rental range, they likely could afford a 1.6 million+ house in upper NW. The basic Hill rowhouses are cheaper.

OP, I don't fully understand the commute plan, but I have met some former New Yorkers who decided to settle in DC - lots of amenities and solid public transit and proximity to other cities on the NE corridor but a bit more relaxed and livable. I have my quibbles but overall can see why they would make the decision to live here. The cultural options aren't as good, but there still are many, esp in comparison to other metro areas. And the restaurants have steadily been getting better. It is significantly more affordable than SF and NYC, although it is still expensive.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down Commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

This oversimplifies. There is a ~40 min stop in DC while they change the engine.

But there are people posting here who don’t seem to know that there is an Amtrak station in Alexandria. There are ten trains a day from Alexandria to Penn Station. Getting the train in Alexandria does add about 45 minutes to the trip. The only way to avoid that would be to live walking distance to Union Station, since you’d have to allow that much time to travel from Cleveland Park (or wherever) to Union Station (source: I used to live in Cleveland Park and work on the Hill).

https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down Commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

This oversimplifies. There is a ~40 min stop in DC while they change the engine.

But there are people posting here who don’t seem to know that there is an Amtrak station in Alexandria. There are ten trains a day from Alexandria to Penn Station. Getting the train in Alexandria does add about 45 minutes to the trip. The only way to avoid that would be to live walking distance to Union Station, since you’d have to allow that much time to travel from Cleveland Park (or wherever) to Union Station (source: I used to live in Cleveland Park and work on the Hill).

https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html

I mean, it depends but early in the morning you can zip into the parking lot at Union station from Cleveland park pretty quickly. But I would probably drive and take the Acela if I lived in Alexandria anyway.

The OP’s husband should just get the divorce now. OP wants to quit her job, move the whole family to DC for no reason except to be “near a city” and force him to commute once a week to NYC from Rockville or wherever. It’s not going to be good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

Yes Alexandria to Union Station is fine. Alexandria to Penn Station is not. What are you smoking?

Did OP say they were using Penn Station?

I'll answer that for you. No.

Next.

How does one get to NYC on the train if not by way of Penn Station?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down Commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

This oversimplifies. There is a ~40 min stop in DC while they change the engine.

But there are people posting here who don’t seem to know that there is an Amtrak station in Alexandria. There are ten trains a day from Alexandria to Penn Station. Getting the train in Alexandria does add about 45 minutes to the trip. The only way to avoid that would be to live walking distance to Union Station, since you’d have to allow that much time to travel from Cleveland Park (or wherever) to Union Station (source: I used to live in Cleveland Park and work on the Hill).

https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html

I mean, it depends but early in the morning you can zip into the parking lot at Union station from Cleveland park pretty quickly. But I would probably drive and take the Acela if I lived in Alexandria anyway.

The OP’s husband should just get the divorce now. OP wants to quit her job, move the whole family to DC for no reason except to be “near a city” and force him to commute once a week to NYC from Rockville or wherever. It’s not going to be good.

The Acela is often 4 times the cost of Amtrak fares. Not all of us are made of money.