How did you pick between MD and VA?

[Anonymous]

When I first moved here my job was in Bethesda and I had relatives in Montgomery County so I lived there. Then met DH and he owned a house in Arlington so I moved in with him and we've stayed there. My job is now in DC.

All other things being equal, I'd say move to where the commute is better for that initial job.

[Anonymous]

Easy.
Move to DC is you don’t mind getting shot.
Move to VA is you want a gun to shoot someone.
Move to MD if you don’t want to get shot or own a gun

[Anonymous]

To me, having a one term governor is a big turn off.

[Anonymous]

I find the toll lanes system in VA complicated. As soon as you cross the bridge you are bombarded with signs/arrows/new lanes..and the cost of 66 is so high.

Of course it seems like MD wants to make 270 the same way (but only for a few miles)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you moved to the DMV from somewhere else, how did you decide which state was the right place to buy? Are taxes that different? The commute? There are excellent schools in both VA and MD. Not asking about DC proper because budget/yard/parking struggles.

We moved here last year and it looks like our jobs are staying local remote, so that takes our commute concerns off the table. We’re primarily looking to buy in Montgomery County because that’s where we’ve been renting, but we’ve never lived in an area with so many jurisdictions so we’re not sure what to look for.

1) taxes - why do we have to pay a 3% income county tax in MD? If you are high earner it makes a big difference.
2) politics - MD is toooooooo blueeeeeee, they just need to calm down a little.

[Anonymous]

Pro Virginia vs Md: tax burden is less, a larger selection of overall higher quality public colleges and universities, no radar speed cameras, generally more moderate political environment.

[Anonymous]

Virginia has conservative laws.
Maryland does not.

I would rather pay more taxes to support more social services and better education at the state level. I'd rather live in a state with an assault weapons ban. I'm not fooling myself that NoVa can single-handedly push Virginia into the 21st century in terms of guns, women's rights, and education.

Taxes are not a small price to pay. They are a WORTHWHILE SOCIAL INVESTMENT.

[Anonymous]

Commute, bilingual school options through high school, and in state university options. Ended up in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ MoCo defector PP again. Tell us your housing budget and how important school ratings are, and we will tell you where we think you should live.

OP here… Looking for a 4 bedroom house under $800K with a little yard. Safety is big… I’ve lived in other cities where I’ve actually caught intruders inside my house mid-break in. We’ll get an alarm system and have dogs now but it was still pretty traumatic. Schools are important, and bilingual/immersion would be our preference. We like going out to restaurants/happy hour. We need parking for 2 cars, but would love to be able to have metro as an option, especially when people come to town to visit.

[Anonymous]

As a VA resident, you cannot beat the public, in-state options for college. That is nothing to sneeze at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once I was freed from forced Maryland residency I turned south and never looked back. It wasn't even a choice it was so obvious (DC was an option but never made it work).

As someone from the west coast, I could not make myself go further south of the river.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a VA resident, you cannot beat the public, in-state options for college. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Except ZERO of my kids have any interest of going in state. I say vast majority of my oldest two kids HS did not go in state. Problem in state too many kids from in state. VA in particular overly favors in state so not much of a college experience. So a crap shoot to mover there for the schools. Unlike K-12 you where you pick a good school district kids go. You pick a state with good in-state options it is a good chance they wont get in or wont want to go.

[Anonymous]

Commute is King

[Anonymous]

Grew up in New England, went to college >n DC, have lived in DC, Alexandria, Vienna, Silver Spring, and settled permanently in Bethesda.

Never understood the "don't cross the river" thing people have. Overall, taxes are similar, the politics are more blue in MD, purple in VA (although blue in Northern VA and red in the capital), you can find good public schools in both, woth good, and bad, commutes in both.

To us it was about finding the nicest house we could where there were excellent schools. At the time, we were looking in North Arlington and Bethesda, and found the house in Bethesda first. We've now been here going on 25 years, kids are in college and we are thinking about where our next move will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a VA resident, you cannot beat the public, in-state options for college. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Except ZERO of my kids have any interest of going in state. I say vast majority of my oldest two kids HS did not go in state. Problem in state too many kids from in state. VA in particular overly favors in state so not much of a college experience. So a crap shoot to mover there for the schools. Unlike K-12 you where you pick a good school district kids go. You pick a state with good in-state options it is a good chance they wont get in or wont want to go.

Same. One kid went out of state and the other is majoring in comp sci, where UMD is great (also for Econ and poly sci). It’s really hard to predict what your six-year-old will want to major in.

If in-state tuition is important to you, you will need to insist they go in-state and borrow the difference.