What DC neighborhood would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

PP here-- and to all of those saying DC is becoming unsafe, I think that's really exaggerated. most crime in DC in concentrated on specific targets, for example, if there is a shooting it is never random, its gang on gang violence. always a risk to be a bystander but they're not seeking out susie to shoot at the metro. i understand that's scary.

and yes theft or car jackings are up but this is the same for friends i have in Minnesota and friends in arlington so not specific to dc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here-- and to all of those saying DC is becoming unsafe, I think that's really exaggerated. most crime in DC in concentrated on specific targets, for example, if there is a shooting it is never random, its gang on gang violence. always a risk to be a bystander but they're not seeking out susie to shoot at the metro. i understand that's scary.

and yes theft or car jackings are up but this is the same for friends i have in Minnesota and friends in arlington so not specific to dc.

OP, another way to think about this is to compare to the place where you already live. DC has a fairly similar violent crime rate to Chicago overall. Immediately pre-2020, Chicago's was a little lower than DC, but the pandemic rise in crime has been larger in Chicago than it has been in DC (based on homicide data anyway). If you feel comfortable in parts of Chicago, you will probably feel comfortable with their analogues in DC.

I agree with the Capitol Hill, Glover Park, and Mt. Pleasant suggestions. People use the term Capitol Hill to refer to a very wide area, some parts of which are safer (and more Lincoln Park-like) than others. If you stick to areas that are not too far East of... Lincoln Park... you shouldn't have issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is becoming not safe.

Then stay out in Ashburn! No need for you to come in and see that DC is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here-- and to all of those saying DC is becoming unsafe, I think that's really exaggerated. most crime in DC in concentrated on specific targets, for example, if there is a shooting it is never random, its gang on gang violence. always a risk to be a bystander but they're not seeking out susie to shoot at the metro. i understand that's scary.

and yes theft or car jackings are up but this is the same for friends i have in Minnesota and friends in arlington so not specific to dc.

Fear on the mean streets of Cleveland Park..

[Anonymous]

Glover Park, Dupont Circle, Tenleytown, Cleveland Park

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP that the people warning you off about crime must not be familiar with Chicago, OP -- DC is pretty analogous to Chicago in terms of crime. You will find it in pretty much every DC neighborhood, but also, as someone who has lived her for 20 years (since I, too, was a young single professional looking for a neighborhood-y spot with a good coffee shop), I've never really felt unsafe. You learn to distinguish between crime you genuinely need to worry about (there has been an uptick in violent crime and I am more careful about myself now than I was a few years ago) and crime that actually probably shouldn't even be classified that way (like homelessness, loitering, a lot of the minor drug use -- all of which has also risen in recent years due to the pandemic and joblessness/closed schools, but which does not actually make me feel any less safe).

Anyway, back to your search! I'm going to put in another plug for Capitol Hill, which I think best suits your request for a cute, rather than urban-feeling, neighborhood, with good coffee shops and a neighborly feel. Plus tons of dogs! Also babies -- there are a lot of families on Cap Hill. But also plenty of young professionals like yourself. It bridges that gap better than many other neighborhoods in the city.

With more specificity, you should consider the obvious option of moving from Lincoln Park, Chicago, to Lincoln Park, DC! Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill is close to Eastern Market (coffee shops, indoor market, outdoor farmers market on weekends, cute bookstores, good restaurants, plus a metro stop), extremely dog friendly (it's an unofficial and very popular dog park on the Hill), and very social and chill. Depending on budget, you could look at some of the newer buildings in Eastern Market (pricy), the older buildings along East Capitol (much less expensive, though may lack amenities like in-unit laundry, parking, etc.) or see if you can find a rental in a converted row house (becoming more common, can vary in price depending on size, floor, and how recently renovated). Real estate in DC is a lot pricier than Chicago right now, so be prepared to make some compromises for location -- your money will buy less space and amenities in DC than it did in Chicago.

You could also look at H Street NE, which borders Cap Hill to the north. It will definitely meet your coffeeshop requirement (Wydown, Maketto, Sidamo, the cafe in Solid State books) and you might find more affordable housing options if you look in the neighborhoods north of H Street (the older row homes between H Street and Florida, or up in Trinidad, which is very residential but also very close in proximity to H Street. This neighborhood is rougher around the edges than Lincoln Park -- more aggressively gentrifying which creates some tough tensions. But it also has more true diversity, and more affordable housing options, especially if you look into places like Trinidad. If you are looking to buy, I'd especially recommend this area because it's a terrific investment and you will likely be priced out of it within the next 10 years. The development on H Street plus the development of the Union Market area (north of Florida) is already driving rents and housing costs much higher. But it's also bringing tons of great businesses and amenities -- the double edged sword of gentrification.

I think Petworth and Columbia Heights are also good options for you (and might make more sense commute-wise, if you have a commute -- look at bus and metro lines because if you have to commute downtown, this is very relevant to your quality of life), but I personally think the Hill and H Street areas is a bit more up and coming and better suited to someone in your situation (Petworth, in particular, seems to be struggling a bit during the pandemic, with a lot more crime and businesses closing/struggling, despite housing prices continuing to rise). Columbia Heights feels more established but is also small and wedged between other neighborhoods, so it can be a tough destination to focus on. I also have a bias against it because I lived there around the time the big Target development went in and I hate that development and what it did to the neighborhood and especially traffic in the neighborhood.

Good luck and welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised no one has said Woodley Park. There’s a ton of dogs here and Open City (coffee shop/cafe) on Connecticut and Calvert. Honestly I think you’ll be happy anywhere on Connecticut Ave between Van Ness and Woodley Park, though Woodley Park has a little bit better access to the “cool” neighborhoods (AdMo, U Street, Dupont, etc).

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why no one has said Dupont Circle, West End, Foggy Bottom, and Georgetown. These are the most comparable to Lincoln Park Chicago, and great, safe neighborhoods with tons of restaurants, bars, etc. I would suggest that this is what the OP wants. OF those neighborhoods I think West End is the best (I'm biased b/c i live here). It is central yet quiet, upscale but not obnoxious. It will be more expensive here , but I believe rents are pretty stable and there are plenty of options currently. A PP's suggestion that someone new to town plant herself in Trinidad is borderline criminal negligence. That area still feels rather uncomfortable, plus there's no Metro, and I venture to guess that the OP will be viewed by some as an unwanted gentrifier. The crime over there is high, and although it is true it is usually targeted, the overall vibe that brings to a neighborhood hurts everyone. Shockingly bad advice. its the equivalnet of suggesting a young office worker transplant to Chicago live in Humboldt or Garfield Park - not the worst of the worst, but still pretty bad.

[Anonymous]

I think you should consider Brookland. Lots of Catholics and Catholic institutions give it almost a Chicago feel.

[Anonymous]

Definitely - Capitol Hill if you live in between barracks row and Garfield park you are walking distance to navy yard, Nats stadium, the Wharf is super close. It's great.

[Anonymous]

What's all the love for Capital Hill? It's quiet to the point of boring, and it's got as many babies as dogs. It's not a great place for a young single at all. It's only great for 30-something mommies and daddies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why no one has said Dupont Circle, West End, Foggy Bottom, and Georgetown. These are the most comparable to Lincoln Park Chicago, and great, safe neighborhoods with tons of restaurants, bars, etc. I would suggest that this is what the OP wants. OF those neighborhoods I think West End is the best (I'm biased b/c i live here). It is central yet quiet, upscale but not obnoxious. It will be more expensive here , but I believe rents are pretty stable and there are plenty of options currently. A PP's suggestion that someone new to town plant herself in Trinidad is borderline criminal negligence. That area still feels rather uncomfortable, plus there's no Metro, and I venture to guess that the OP will be viewed by some as an unwanted gentrifier. The crime over there is high, and although it is true it is usually targeted, the overall vibe that brings to a neighborhood hurts everyone. Shockingly bad advice. its the equivalnet of suggesting a young office worker transplant to Chicago live in Humboldt or Garfield Park - not the worst of the worst, but still pretty bad.

I did say Dupont Circle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's all the love for Capital Hill? It's quiet to the point of boring, and it's got as many babies as dogs. It's not a great place for a young single at all. It's only great for 30-something mommies and daddies.

Barracks Row has a decent strip of bars and restaurants, plus it's walking distance to Navy Yard and H St, but an English basement in Capitol Hill is significantly cheaper than a luxury apt in Navy Yard and significantly more transit accessible than H St. Capitol South is less than a 10 minute Metro ride to Metro Center whereas H St. is 20+ minutes on the bus. Plus lots of young people work on the Hill and walking to work is ideal.

It's also a beautiful area with lots of parks and old growth trees. Believe it or not single people appreciate that stuff too. One big reason people choose cheap English basements on Capitol Hill over group houses is because it's practically impossible to bring a pet with you to a group house, and a basement in Capitol Hill is only slightly more expensive than a group house in somewhere like U St or Columbia Heights and is incredibly dog-friendly.

[Anonymous]

Navy Yard is perfect for a yuppie transplant looking for coffee shops and dog hellos.