Relocating to DC...what's life like?
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Anonymous
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Hello,
We are likely relocating to DC in the summer 2022 from Wisconsin. We have lived in several cities before, including Hong Kong and London, however, each city has their vibe. Can anyone share what the overall feeling is in the district, such as is it friendly, fast-paced, open to meeting transplants, kid-friendly, etc. What should I be aware of before coming? Will probably focus on finding a house in NW quadrant for kid's schools. Thanks! |
Anonymous
OP, I really truly wish you the best. I, myself, am from the midwest and have met many midwesterners in DC. The area is full of transplants...but no...it's not a friendly area by any definition. |
Anonymous
| Definitely open to meeting transplants--seems like 9 out 10 people here are transplants! If you're in upper NW DC yes it is kid-friendly (as are some other areas too). |
Anonymous
I don't think you can say that about everyone. Maybe it is where you are that they aren't friendly? |
Anonymous
Also, people from the midwest maybe friendly but, they never really let you in. |
Anonymous
It's Minnesota nice. The most superficially pleasant people in the world. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks so much and these replies are making me laugh! Yes, we are quite bored living in Wisconsin and most of the people here are from here, so to the poster that said "nice, but don't let you in"...totally true! We miss the city buzz, anonymity yet we want to have some relationships, especially as we have three young kids. |
Anonymous
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DC is very open to transplants. I live in Alexandria and have found it incredibly kid friendly. Great parks/playgrounds/rec centers, etc.
Among people 35 and older there are a lot of feds, lawyers, and military folks. Not a ton of politicos; they flame out young. So we got that going for us. |
Anonymous
| NWDC is friendly and a great place to raise kids, especially if you want them to have a sense of confidence in navigating cities as they grow into adolescence. A great mix of interesting people. I love living here. Good luck with your move! |
Anonymous
+1 yes, Alexandria mom here (the part near the river, not the Fairfax County part). Very kid friendly place. Also I've found it a great place to be in the pandemic. NYC, in comparison, was too cramped with too little green space to have good outdoor dining, recreation with social distancing, etc. DC area has plenty of outdoor options if you want to go that route. |
Anonymous
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Are you considering private schools?
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Anonymous
| OP here - Currently, we are not looking at private schools. Have registered for the online EdFest next weekend. Do families with kids live in row houses or are they typically in single family detached homes? Really miss the walkability of Hong Kong and being close to good food, shopping, coffee, etc. Thanks so much for everyone's feedback!! |
Anonymous
Stressful, cut throat, superficial, competitive, sneaky, petty too when it comes to kids. The schools in NW can be pressure cookers. Works for some kids but if you have kid who are not top students they will feel behind. |
Anonymous
| NW is mostly detached. |
Anonymous
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It has a lot of areas that can feel suburban even in the city (conversely, some suburban areas are more densely built up), so one question is whether you want a true "urban" experience where you are walking everywhere, or whether you want more of a SFH with yard and a car experience.
Also traffic is terrible so location relative to jobs and school matters. |