Living in Capitol Hill - Pros and Cons
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Anonymous
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Some of these things vary depending on where you live. In some places, crime is worse than in other places. But if you can't handle co-existing with street crime, this is not the place for you.
The thing I love about my corner of Capitol Hill that I don't think has been mentioned yet is that strangers say hello on the street. It's the friendliest urban neighborhood I've ever lived in. Also we are right by the Anacostia River and it's wonderful to be able to go for long walks along the river, especially during these times of covid! |
Anonymous
| If you are planning to have kids there are no good middle school options. If I had to do it over again I would pick NW or the suburbs. |
Anonymous
This. We've been on the Hill for 10 years but are soon moving to VA. While we've loved our time on the Hill, the middling elementary schools and no real middle/high school options did us in. When you factor in the large increase in nuisance crimes (as well as regular shootings - we are in Hill East), and total disregard from the city in regards to anything about quality of living, the city made the decision for us. |
Anonymous
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We love Capitol Hill for all of the reasons already mentioned. We have lived here 10+ years. Community, walkability, amenities, and schools have been great (Peabody and Maury). Less great is that we outgrew our house (<1300 sq feet) about 5 years ago. However, we have not moved because we enjoy everything else, and because we want to see where our kids get in for junior high school before moving again.
If you can live in a small place, go for it! I wish we stretched for a slightly bigger place when we bought initially, which would have perhaps allowed us to remain in Capitol Hill longer. |
Anonymous
I'd say this + price are my downsides (we live on the Hill and love it). Our elementary school is excellent but we know that we will be doing private, hoping to luck out in the lottery (fat chance, I know), or moving in 5 years when we hit middle school. For us, that's ok. We'll have spent over 10 years on the Hill giving our kid a lovely early childhood. After that, we will do something different. But likely a new family will move into our home and do the same thing. So if you're looking for your forever-forever home, this may not be the place unless you're willing to be more flexible on education. |
Anonymous
| Plenty of people are happy at Stuart Hobson |
Anonymous
Nope. Please see the SH threads on the DC school forum. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
I'm the person who made this comment and *I'm* quite happy with the school as are many of the people I know who send their kids there. I even know a few who, gasp, sent their kids there over coveted charters. |
Anonymous
LOL right because the couple who can afford a 2-bedroom rowhouse on the Hill is, like, salt of the earth. |
Anonymous
Right because two is the same as three. |
Anonymous
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Too close (walkable) to the hood. There were a few home invasions when we lived there. One very tragic.
I didn’t feel safe walking the dog or coming home late at night. I was over there last week and 4pm in broad daylight a drugged out woman was sprawled out on sidewalk in her own urine...near a pretty nice restaurant. Covid seems to have increased #s of this which is sad. |
Anonymous
A 2BR with 1 (unborn, future) kid is pretty spacious. |
Anonymous
| Recently sold my house in a Nearby more transitional neighborhood for a slightly smaller house with a smaller “yard” on the hill. What a world of difference and I’m so happy with our decision. Beautiful Family friendly streets. The trade off of less space was definitely worth it to us. I walk down the historic streets with beautiful row homes and can’t believe I actually live here. Saw Bernie Sanders out for a walk the other day lol. We intentionally bought near Stanton park inbound for Stuart Hobson middle school. I have read many of the threads on SH. Middle school is 8 years away for us and we will monitor. |
Anonymous
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Capitol Hill is lovely. It has some of the positive things that the suburbs have like tons of kids running around, friendly people that are invested in the community etc. It also has great urban amenities, close to downtown and night life. I really enjoy living here. I'm with your husband and would take a smaller house on the Hill over a big house in another part of the city, but i can appreciate your desire for more space. I have two suggestions for you to consider if you want more space and could be compromise with your husband.
1. You should check out the section of Capitol Hill/Hill East that is zoned for Miner Elementary School between 12th and 15th NE/H Street and D Street NE. It is considerably less expensive than the section of Hill East zoned for Maury as Maury is a highly rated elementary school and Miner is not. You will still have a lot of the Capitol Hill charm and walkability at a lower price. If you don't have kids this won't matter to you and if you do eventually intend to have kids Miner may improve as others have in the surrounding neighborhoods. 2. The area (i'm not sure the technical name for it....maybe Atlas District??) between H Street NE and Florida Avenue is worth consideration. It would also get you more space. It doesn't quite have the same charm as the Hill but it is amenity rich with tons of stuff on H Street and Union market. Well pre covid. You would be super close to the Hill. The elementary school JO Wilson is improving and feeds into the Capitol Hill middle school Stuart Hobson, so you would have a decent school options. |