Thinking through staying in a condo in Arlington or moving to a SFH in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

We really love Arlington but will never be able to afford anything larger than the small condo we live in now. We can get a small SFH in Silver Spring. Lots of my coworkers live in Silver Spring and recommend it. But can I admit that reading about the schools and neighborhoods on DCUM gives me the impression that they are a bit more dangerous than the Arlington schools (no idea if that’s accurate), which makes me hesitant. I also feel like everything I need is within 15 minutes’ drive in Arlington. Do you have to drive a lot in Silver Spring (for example, to get kids to activities)?

[Anonymous]

Given how past discussions of Silver Spring tend to devolve pretty rapidly on this board, I think your question will generate more heat than light. I think people want to defend their decision to live in pricey neighborhoods, so they make false accusations about Silver Spring. I would urge you to visit neighborhoods and the downtown area to judge them for yourself (including walking around) because there can be pretty hyperbolic claims made on here that simply don't match the day-to-day experience of those of us who live here. But everyone is different, so maybe you'll love it and maybe you won't.

We live in the downtown area (zip 20910) and love it, and we rarely use our car because we can walk to do all of our errands and to get to metro. But we don't have kids so I can't speak to your question about kids' activities and the schools.

[Anonymous]

google DTSS. Make informed decision. Some prefer pricey (and sometimes safer) neighborhoods and schools.

[Anonymous]

Silver Spring is a big place. Certain parts are popular with young families on DCUM and are likely to meet your parameters. I advise looking into those. Search by elementary - e.g. Woodlin, Flora Singer, Oakland Terrace.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. We wouldn’t be living in downtown Silver Spring. I don’t know which neighborhood we’d be living in, because it depends on where a house pops up, but not downtown. What the first poster says is helpful. From the outside it’s hard to tell if what some folks are saying is overblown. I will say that we live in the Ballston neighborhood in Arlington now, which actually has shootings from time to time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring is a big place. Certain parts are popular with young families on DCUM and are likely to meet your parameters. I advise looking into those. Search by elementary - e.g. Woodlin, Flora Singer, Oakland Terrace.

Thank you. Are you able to give me a list of the elementary schools that are popular with young families? Is it the three above, or are there more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring is a big place. Certain parts are popular with young families on DCUM and are likely to meet your parameters. I advise looking into those. Search by elementary - e.g. Woodlin, Flora Singer, Oakland Terrace.

Thank you. Are you able to give me a list of the elementary schools that are popular with young families? Is it the three above, or are there more?

I’d say those three plus Highland View, Pine Crest/Oak View, and Rock View.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring is a big place. Certain parts are popular with young families on DCUM and are likely to meet your parameters. I advise looking into those. Search by elementary - e.g. Woodlin, Flora Singer, Oakland Terrace.

Thank you. Are you able to give me a list of the elementary schools that are popular with young families? Is it the three above, or are there more?

Forest Knolls.

[Anonymous]

I used to live near Wheaton and you could not pay me to move back to Maryland. I’m in Arlington now. Of course a place that’s cheaper is going to have more crime. MD has a lot more Ms 13 than Arlington does. Taxes are a lot higher too if that matters to you.

[Anonymous]

Used to live in Arlington, 20 years now Silver Spring area. Stonegate is cute neighborhood, Woodmoor, Indian Springs, lots of great family friendly neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

I live near Ballston. Unfortunately not in the high rise condo area where I see people walking around on shoveled sidewalks and driving in plowed roads. Looking at traffic cams. We probably won't be able to drive anywhere for 2 more days going on past experience. Maybe we can walk to Metro by then.
If I were in a walkable area I would not move to an unwalkable one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring is a big place. Certain parts are popular with young families on DCUM and are likely to meet your parameters. I advise looking into those. Search by elementary - e.g. Woodlin, Flora Singer, Oakland Terrace.

Thank you. Are you able to give me a list of the elementary schools that are popular with young families? Is it the three above, or are there more?

I’d say those three plus Highland View, Pine Crest/Oak View, and Rock View.

Rock View is on the Wheaton side of
Kensington, not Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

I loved living in North Arlington as a single person. But then as a married person with kids I like living in Silver Spring, 20902. Entrenched in neighborhoods filled with young families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near Ballston. Unfortunately not in the high rise condo area where I see people walking around on shoveled sidewalks and driving in plowed roads. Looking at traffic cams. We probably won't be able to drive anywhere for 2 more days going on past experience. Maybe we can walk to Metro by then.
If I were in a walkable area I would not move to an unwalkable one.

This is OP. The grass is always greener, I suppose. I hate that there’s no where walkable for my child to sled when it snows. The fact that we can walk to the metro in the snow doesn’t help us a whole lot. And being walkable to closed restaurants and shops also isn’t that helpful. (But we’re not considering moving just because of snow days, obviously!)

[Anonymous]

OP again. Thank you for the list of schools.