Silver Spring vs. Takoma Park

[Anonymous]

We are near the Forest Glen metro and it's a very nice neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't make the same mistakes we made and buy into the hype and pay a premium for a small older house in TP without knowing what you are truly getting, scope out exactly where you will be living and come back at multiple times before deciding. The oldtown part of TP is cute but now kind of a pain to drive through and Carrol is just the worst. There are some cute neighborhoods in the historic parts but they turn shady and crappy quickly as you get closer to New Hampshire, University Blvd, Maple Ave (non-SFH part) and Flower Ave. The bane of TP is it really is right on the edge of what many would consider civilization, many don't agree with me but drive around the close by PG and the DC neighborhoods and judge for your self.


Silver Spring is huge and ranges from Ok to forgettable down to pretty bad with some of the worst being right on the edge of DTSS and TP like Piney Branch and University. Obviously you would want to close to downtown preferably south of Dale Dr or just north. Even then you have to be careful with school expectations as the best neighborhoods (Woodside and Woodside Park) goes to one of the lesser school clusters where the other decent neighborhood (Sligo Park Hills) has a very sub par elementary school and is on the far edge of what could be consider walkable. There are a few compromise neighborhoods (Woodmore and Forest Glen) that are cheaper and rightly so but offer decent options for the area if your budget is south of 600k.

The problem with the DTSS area is it is just recovering for decades of being the dumping ground of low income housing and neglect form the county and while it is going though a transformation it still has many of the cons of poorer urban areas and the cons of the suburbs.

I would agree with some of these comments. I do not agree that the homes close to New Hampshire are crappy. There is a just a bit more diversity as it relates to homeowners. Put more plainly, there is a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic SF homeowners than in the historic district which is uber expensive 100% white, and a bit over hyped. Not saying this is an issue for you, but if being around people of color, or low income families is an issue for you, then Takoma Park is NOT the place you want to search. Unlike places west of the county like Bethesda and such, interacting with them in your schools and everywhere else in the area is absolutely unavoidable.

Before buying in TKPK 5+ years ago, we did a lot of research on the area as well as SS (for months). Ultimately we settled on TKPK because we really liked the neighborhood we bought in (not the historic district), the schools are good, crime isn't really much of an issue, and we are close to the city for our commutes (40-45 mins door to door). Also, both DH and I are city folks and TKPK doesn't have that "sleepy suburb" feel like say Woodmore. Five years in, even with the ability to cash out, we are very happy with our decision and do not plan on moving anytime soon.

There are definitely some cons to TKPK, with the largest for me being the taxes. Someone posted on here that the rate swings wildly from year to year. Thats not true at all. But its definitely more expensive tax wise than SS. Wherever you look, just look at the county records. There also some annoying issues like the process required for cutting down a tree, or laws against using weed killer. Various quality of life/environment laws that are passed that, depending on your political leanings, may annoy you (DH is republican so sometimes he struggles with this).

You can get more bang for your buck in places like Forest Glenn and Woodmore IMO, however its a longer trip on the Metro. We weren't fans of the neighborhoods, but we know many people who are and who love it. Wheaton is also another popular place, but I'm not sure about the schools.

If looking in TKPK be aware of which schools you are zoned to. Almost everyone(someone correct me if I'm wrong) is zoned to TKPK MS and Blair for MS and HS, both good schools IMO. For elementary school some are zoned to Rolling Terrace (k-5) and others are zoned to TKPK ES (K-2) and Piney Pranch ES (3-5). Rolling Terrace was an out for us, although we have heard great things about their Spanish immersion. TKPK is a bit overcrowded, but is very good. Piney Branch is good as well, but folks on here generally bash it since it has a higher FARMS % (35-40%ish) and correspondingly doesn't have the best test score results.

[Anonymous]

There is also Takoma in DC, not nearly as strong as a pull school wise. Check out greatschools.org if you haven't already.

We live in shepherd park DC and it's about a 20 minute walk to the SS red line metro, but a nice tree lined walk. Not much for sale here, but good elementary option and it feeds into Deal middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park has an insane tax rate compared to other areas in DC. There were a few recent threads about the recent increase in taxes. Before you settle on TPK, research the historical records. The tax rate can differ wildly over the years.

Also, Takoma Park has growing divide between the halves and the halves not due to the increasing housing prices. Its a nice little place to live but there are SES differences. . . check out the local play groups at the library and some of the other local events.

Is a Halves not a whole?

It is truly better to be a halves not than a halve that's for sure

[Anonymous]

Yes, the taxes are higher Takoma Park. We decided to pay the premium because we liked living near Sligo Creek, the housing stock is nice, and I wanted my child to attend Takoma Park Middle School and Blair. If you can find a house in SS with schools that you like, go for it to save on taxes

I live in downtown Silver Spring and TPMS and Blair are my kids' schools as well so you don't have to live in Takoma park to get into either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park has an insane tax rate compared to other areas in DC. There were a few recent threads about the recent increase in taxes. Before you settle on TPK, research the historical records. The tax rate can differ wildly over the years.

Also, Takoma Park has growing divide between the halves and the halves not due to the increasing housing prices. Its a nice little place to live but there are SES differences. . . check out the local play groups at the library and some of the other local events.

Tell me a place where there is not a growing divide?

[Anonymous]

If looking in TKPK be aware of which schools you are zoned to. Almost everyone(someone correct me if I'm wrong) is zoned to TKPK MS and Blair for MS and HS, both good schools IMO. For elementary school some are zoned to Rolling Terrace (k-5) and others are zoned to TKPK ES (K-2) and Piney Pranch ES (3-5). Rolling Terrace was an out for us, although we have heard great things about their Spanish immersion. TKPK is a bit overcrowded, but is very good. Piney Branch is good as well, but folks on here generally bash it since it has a higher FARMS % (35-40%ish) and correspondingly doesn't have the best test score results.

The one piece that's wrong here is that Rolling Terrace doesn't feed to TPMS. It feeds to SSIMS, which is a perfectly fine school. Piney Branch is also a great school, and has the only swimming pool at a MCPS school, but I've heard they are going to get rid of it to make room for an expansion.

So, if someone wants TPMS with the preference it gives you for the STEM magnet, the choices are Piney Branch (GS 5) or East Silver Spring (GS 4). But both have much happier families than you would know by their Great Schools scores.

However, if someone wants SSIMS with the IB program, there are good choices there as well. If I had it all to do over again, I might choose Sligo Creek (GS 7 with a magnet program) --> SSIMS (GS 7) --> Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't make the same mistakes we made and buy into the hype and pay a premium for a small older house in TP without knowing what you are truly getting, scope out exactly where you will be living and come back at multiple times before deciding. The oldtown part of TP is cute but now kind of a pain to drive through and Carrol is just the worst. There are some cute neighborhoods in the historic parts but they turn shady and crappy quickly as you get closer to New Hampshire, University Blvd, Maple Ave (non-SFH part) and Flower Ave. The bane of TP is it really is right on the edge of what many would consider civilization, many don't agree with me but drive around the close by PG and the DC neighborhoods and judge for your self.


Silver Spring is huge and ranges from Ok to forgettable down to pretty bad with some of the worst being right on the edge of DTSS and TP like Piney Branch and University. Obviously you would want to close to downtown preferably south of Dale Dr or just north. Even then you have to be careful with school expectations as the best neighborhoods (Woodside and Woodside Park) goes to one of the lesser school clusters where the other decent neighborhood (Sligo Park Hills) has a very sub par elementary school and is on the far edge of what could be consider walkable. There are a few compromise neighborhoods (Woodmore and Forest Glen) that are cheaper and rightly so but offer decent options for the area if your budget is south of 600k.

The problem with the DTSS area is it is just recovering for decades of being the dumping ground of low income housing and neglect form the county and while it is going though a transformation it still has many of the cons of poorer urban areas and the cons of the suburbs.

There is a lot of truth in this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park has an insane tax rate compared to other areas in DC. There were a few recent threads about the recent increase in taxes. Before you settle on TPK, research the historical records. The tax rate can differ wildly over the years.

Also, Takoma Park has growing divide between the halves and the halves not due to the increasing housing prices. Its a nice little place to live but there are SES differences. . . check out the local play groups at the library and some of the other local events.

Tell me a place where there is not a growing divide?

Spring Valley

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone--this is super helpful!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone--this is super helpful!!

You're most welcome. If you could share your housing budget we can give you even more info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't make the same mistakes we made and buy into the hype and pay a premium for a small older house in TP without knowing what you are truly getting, scope out exactly where you will be living and come back at multiple times before deciding. The oldtown part of TP is cute but now kind of a pain to drive through and Carrol is just the worst. There are some cute neighborhoods in the historic parts but they turn shady and crappy quickly as you get closer to New Hampshire, University Blvd, Maple Ave (non-SFH part) and Flower Ave. The bane of TP is it really is right on the edge of what many would consider civilization, many don't agree with me but drive around the close by PG and the DC neighborhoods and judge for your self.


Silver Spring is huge and ranges from Ok to forgettable down to pretty bad with some of the worst being right on the edge of DTSS and TP like Piney Branch and University. Obviously you would want to close to downtown preferably south of Dale Dr or just north. Even then you have to be careful with school expectations as the best neighborhoods (Woodside and Woodside Park) goes to one of the lesser school clusters where the other decent neighborhood (Sligo Park Hills) has a very sub par elementary school and is on the far edge of what could be consider walkable. There are a few compromise neighborhoods (Woodmore and Forest Glen) that are cheaper and rightly so but offer decent options for the area if your budget is south of 600k.

The problem with the DTSS area is it is just recovering for decades of being the dumping ground of low income housing and neglect form the county and while it is going though a transformation it still has many of the cons of poorer urban areas and the cons of the suburbs.

This is a matter of opinion, not a matter of fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the MoCo side of TP. Sorry about the "go"--still learning here. We're moving for my husband's job. His office is near Farragut, so he needs to be close to the Red Line. I work from home, so it's less important for me, though since we're moving from out of state it would be nice to walk downtown so I can be around people.

We are as you describe almost exactly and we live in old town TKPK. Love it. Long-ish walk to the metro, and the downtown of TKPK is small, but Takoma Park Elementary School is excellent and you won't regret choosing a house zoned for it.

[Anonymous]

We wrestled with this same question. Best advice I can give is to come and take a drive through the various neighborhoods. Talk to your agent, but also ask if h/she has former clients in some neighborhoods of interest you can talk to. Ultimately, this type of thread will fill up with a lot of noise and people grinding axes about this or that. But you don't really know much until you dig a bit deeper -- esp. re schools (school ratings are very limited -- how do the families in that school feel about its pros/cons? that's more helpful). Also, don't dally. If you opt for a closer in neighborhood at higher price points (e.g., TKPK MD, Woodside Park -- really just means bigger houses/lots and better walkability to metro and shopping, etc.) the inventory can be tight and things can move quickly (but who knows what this year's spring market will look like).

[Anonymous]

We live in the historic district of Takoma Park. Things we love: our house (better than anything else we looked at), our neighbors (lots of young families like us), walking distance to metro (both commute to red lines stops downtown), walking distance to grocery store & restaurants, walking distance to lots of playgrounds. Things we don't like: the extra taxes, living on a busy road (don't think we could have afforded our house if it was on a quieter street), the hoops of living in the historic district.

Silver Spring is a HUGE area, which we found overwhelming to look at when house hunting, and just couldn't find the combination of house/neighborhood we looking for. (We moved from downtown DC.)

Not that it's helpful, but just if you're interested, there was a House Hunters on just a couple nights ago where they look at a place in TP and a place in SS.