Why is Bethesda so expensive?

[Anonymous]

Is it mostly the proximity to DC and good schools? And downtown Bethesda…? What else about it makes the houses so expensive? All these small, old houses that going for 1.2M+ and it just seems absurd.

[Anonymous]

You’ve got your finger on the reasons.

[Anonymous]

It’s a red line neighborhood, which means it’s still historically, mostly white.

[Anonymous]

It’s the white flight destination for people leaving DC and eastern MoCo.

[Anonymous]

I’m with you - I find it baffling. I grew up in DC and then Fairfax. When I met my husband he already owned a home up in Bethesda so I moved in with him. We lived there for about 15 years. I never understood what made Bethesda so desirable - we moved recently and I don’t miss Bethesda at all. I didn’t hate living there or anything, but it wasn’t anything special.

[Anonymous]

Good schools, proximity to shopping and good restaurants, close to DC. Why is this surprising to you? Do you wonder about the other expensive close-in areas as well?

[Anonymous]

All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you - I find it baffling. I grew up in DC and then Fairfax. When I met my husband he already owned a home up in Bethesda so I moved in with him. We lived there for about 15 years. I never understood what made Bethesda so desirable - we moved recently and I don’t miss Bethesda at all. I didn’t hate living there or anything, but it wasn’t anything special.

Then try San Francisco, where a 6 figure salary will have you living out of your car.

[Anonymous]

Its the proximity to the schools and hospitals, to DC and it's safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

I love how internationally diverse Bethesda is, one of my very favorite things about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

I love how internationally diverse Bethesda is, one of my very favorite things about it.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

Don’t let your guard down. Things happen in Bethesda, too.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the Bethesda haters and I live in Bethesda. The houses are ugly and downtown is a rip off. That said, if you live near the river and have access to the capital crescent trail, the tow path, etc. it's a good life. Plus, Strathmore is a great venue, Pike & Rose is fun, and Barnes & Noble is thinking about returning to Bethesda Avenue.

But as pp's have said, it's safe and that's the reason it's so expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

Don’t let your guard down. Things happen in Bethesda, too.

Pp you replied to. Yes, I stay on top of the news, because my kids are teens and out and about. But statistically, there is no comparison between the two downtowns.

And to the person laughing that there might be diversity in Bethesda, maybe they're forgetting that foreigners can be white but still provide plenty of diversity. I can tell you what I'm living - that there are more foreigners living next to me than there ever were when I lived in Silver Spring. BCC high school has a significant percentage of international students. There are World Bank families and NIH families. My kids go to the French weekend school at St Jane de Chantal, just 5 minutes away. There is a Spanish weekend school right across the street. There is a community of Japanese families in the luxury downtown apartments (because most of the mothers don't drive), and a Japanese weekend school not far away. As another PP said, the international feel is one of the things I really like about this little place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the safe, human-sized, walkable, leafy, sidewalked, small town neighborhoods with reputable public schools close to DC are expensive.

I lived in downtown Silver Spring, and moved close to downtown Bethesda for the schools and the better quality of life as a pedestrian. Downtown Silver Spring does not have that small town feel, and it is unsafe in the evening (and sometimes during the day). As a pedestrian, it's much more pleasant to walk in downtown Bethesda than downtown Silver Spring (there are more street crossings, the shops/restaurants are closer together and the buildings mostly aren't as tall). I've personally witnessed multiple fights in the pedestrian alley in Silver Spring, none in Bethesda.

- multiethnic foreigner, living on a Bethesda street full of people from all over the world.

Don’t let your guard down. Things happen in Bethesda, too.

Pp you replied to. Yes, I stay on top of the news, because my kids are teens and out and about. But statistically, there is no comparison between the two downtowns.

And to the person laughing that there might be diversity in Bethesda, maybe they're forgetting that foreigners can be white but still provide plenty of diversity. I can tell you what I'm living - that there are more foreigners living next to me than there ever were when I lived in Silver Spring. BCC high school has a significant percentage of international students. There are World Bank families and NIH families. My kids go to the French weekend school at St Jane de Chantal, just 5 minutes away. There is a Spanish weekend school right across the street. There is a community of Japanese families in the luxury downtown apartments (because most of the mothers don't drive), and a Japanese weekend school not far away. As another PP said, the international feel is one of the things I really like about this little place.

Walked right into that “right type of diversity” racism. Good girl.