Moving to DC Area from Westchester, NY, Want a Different Vibe...Where Should We Definitely Avoid?

[Anonymous]

Just starting the search and feeling overwhelmed because I don't know the DC area at all.

We definitely want to avoid the Westchester vibe - everyone is wealthy, white, and acts like their bubble is real life, and the towns are tiny with not much to do everyone knowing each other's business.

We also want to be somewhere where we can meet educated, smart people from all over the world, and can buy a house with a yard (.25 acres or more, so not right in the middle of the city). We don't want to be too far out from DC. And a bigger town with different parks, playgrounds, restaurants, nice library, nature center or other kids' activities would be great. Diverse schools so my kids don't stick out like they did in Westchester.

I realize we may be looking for the impossible here, but would love to hear thoughts about areas we should definitely avoid in our search, so we don't make the same mistake and end up in the DC equivalent of Westchester. And any ideas for areas that might fit most of our criteria would also be much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Do you have kids? If not, Old Town (although I think the schools are fine, others will disagree)

[Anonymous]

I would avoid Fairfax, Bethesda, and McLean based on your criteria. Maybe also Takoma Park — it is more diverse and crunchier but has a definite small town vibe.

For close in, I think Silver Spring could be a good fit for you, including the Kensington and Wheaton areas. In DC itself Brookland might also work, though schools can be challenging there (a lot of people do charters). But lots are bigger than elsewhere in DC. Upper Northwest is a possibility, but it may be whiter and cliquier than you’d like.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have kids? If not, Old Town (although I think the schools are fine, others will disagree)

. The schools are not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would avoid Fairfax, Bethesda, and McLean based on your criteria. Maybe also Takoma Park — it is more diverse and crunchier but has a definite small town vibe.

For close in, I think Silver Spring could be a good fit for you, including the Kensington and Wheaton areas. In DC itself Brookland might also work, though schools can be challenging there (a lot of people do charters). But lots are bigger than elsewhere in DC. Upper Northwest is a possibility, but it may be whiter and cliquier than you’d like.

Upper NW (and Chevy Chase) is the most like Westchester of any place in the DC region, so your lack of objectivity and geographical bias are on full display.

[Anonymous]

Arlington

[Anonymous]

Chevy Chase DC, where you will find educated, smart people from all over the world, can buy a house with a yard, won't be too far from downtown and will be close to parks, playgrounds, restaurants, libraries and even a nature center in Rock Creek Park. The public schools will be more diverse than Westchester, too (Murch more so than Janney or Lafayette at the elementary level).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would avoid Fairfax, Bethesda, and McLean based on your criteria. Maybe also Takoma Park — it is more diverse and crunchier but has a definite small town vibe.

For close in, I think Silver Spring could be a good fit for you, including the Kensington and Wheaton areas. In DC itself Brookland might also work, though schools can be challenging there (a lot of people do charters). But lots are bigger than elsewhere in DC. Upper Northwest is a possibility, but it may be whiter and cliquier than you’d like.

Upper NW (and Chevy Chase) is the most like Westchester of any place in the DC region, so your lack of objectivity and geographical bias are on full display.

Hard disagree. Potomac and the parts of Bethesda that are close to Potomac are the most like Westchester, and it's not particularly close. I've lived in all three places.

[Anonymous]

Budget? Commute? Where in Westchester did you live?

This area just doesn’t have the town centers like Westchester does. And lots tend to be small, so you may have to look around for .25 acres if that’s important to you.

[Anonymous]

Reston, VA. It might be too far out, but it's very diverse and is filled with parks and walking paths. I don't live there, but I often wish I did.

[Anonymous]

I’m from Westchester and I live in Bethesda. I think you will find a tremendous amount of diversity here, it is quite multicultural and very educated. There is a lot to do, a lot of nature as well. It is close to DC also. Bethesda has many different areas, check out all of the different ZIP Codes: 20814, 20816, 20817.

Avoid Potomac like the plague, you will absolutely hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would avoid Fairfax, Bethesda, and McLean based on your criteria. Maybe also Takoma Park — it is more diverse and crunchier but has a definite small town vibe.

For close in, I think Silver Spring could be a good fit for you, including the Kensington and Wheaton areas. In DC itself Brookland might also work, though schools can be challenging there (a lot of people do charters). But lots are bigger than elsewhere in DC. Upper Northwest is a possibility, but it may be whiter and cliquier than you’d like.

+1. You'll find good options in zip codes 20910, 20901, 20902, and 20895.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just starting the search and feeling overwhelmed because I don't know the DC area at all.

We definitely want to avoid the Westchester vibe - everyone is wealthy, white, and acts like their bubble is real life, and the towns are tiny with not much to do everyone knowing each other's business.

We also want to be somewhere where we can meet educated, smart people from all over the world, and can buy a house with a yard (.25 acres or more, so not right in the middle of the city). We don't want to be too far out from DC. And a bigger town with different parks, playgrounds, restaurants, nice library, nature center or other kids' activities would be great. Diverse schools so my kids don't stick out like they did in Westchester.

I realize we may be looking for the impossible here, but would love to hear thoughts about areas we should definitely avoid in our search, so we don't make the same mistake and end up in the DC equivalent of Westchester. And any ideas for areas that might fit most of our criteria would also be much appreciated.

Bethesda and McLean fit those bills. In McLean, aim for McLean HS or it you want IB in HS aim for Marshall.

FYI, schools here are by city and county. So, Montgomery County runs the schools in Bethesda and Fairfax County runs the schools in McLean. The HS are all large.

[Anonymous]

I think Silver Spring and Takoma Park would work for you. Parts of Kensington might also work. There are parts of Kensington that has that sort of white/wealthy bubble, but even so, it's nowhere as isolating/isolated as Westchester feels to me.

For Silver Spring, you want to look at the areas adjacent/in downtown Silver Spring.