Why is Arlington so hot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that some poster is so insecure and threatened by Arlington’s “cool” factor they are posting about Bethesda test scores.
Bethesda is nice. Great.
Arlington is nice. Great. Arlington (parts of it) seems to have the “it” factor recently.
Does not mean there aren’t other nice places to live in the dmv.

This is a moment that will live in DCUM history. Arlington boosters are so mad that someone brought out data showing how bad APS schools are in the most expensive area of Arlington that they are resorting to fantastical claims that someone in Bethesda is jealous that Arlington is “cool.” Hahaha!!! Arlington is so “cool” everyone. Arlington is the new Williamsburg and DUMBO apparently. The strip malls along Lee Highway are teaming with young creatives, exclusive cocktail bars, and some of the best restaurants in the country. Get a boxy brick house in Westover before they turn the whole area into the new Flatbush.

[Anonymous]

Arlington and "cool" does not go together

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is the hottest area because NOVA is hot for jobs and real estate.
Arlington just seems hotter than other parts of NOVA because it is so small. Let’s be real here, we really mean north Arlington when people on this bored post 99% of the time.

Arlington is more expensive than places like fairfax or whatever because of its location and urban-like areas on orange line.

I agree people usually mean north Arlington when they say only Arlington but in this instance south Arlington is just as hot or hotter, and appreciating faster (at least at certain price points). Literally the only advantage north Arlington ever had was the schools, and now it’s clear they are all crap.

Why is this? There are no Metro stops anywhere in South Arlington, right?

Yes of course there are!!! Pentagon city, crystal city, the airport, and the new one at Potomac Yards (technically Alexandria but right on the border of Arlington).

Also the metro is permanently closing stations in north Arlington because ridership is down, so I don’t think the metro is as desirable as it once was.

Yeah but if you live anywhere near Glebe and Columbia Pike there are no Metro stops you can walk to. Isn’t that what most people think of as “South Arlington”?

I live on Columbia pike. I can pick up the bus and be in dc in 10-15 minutes. Not much longer if i transfer to metro at pentagon city. It’s effortless. However, I’m renting and entirely priced out of any part of Arlington unless we go into a duplex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is the hottest area because NOVA is hot for jobs and real estate.
Arlington just seems hotter than other parts of NOVA because it is so small. Let’s be real here, we really mean north Arlington when people on this bored post 99% of the time.

Arlington is more expensive than places like fairfax or whatever because of its location and urban-like areas on orange line.

I agree people usually mean north Arlington when they say only Arlington but in this instance south Arlington is just as hot or hotter, and appreciating faster (at least at certain price points). Literally the only advantage north Arlington ever had was the schools, and now it’s clear they are all crap.

Why is this? There are no Metro stops anywhere in South Arlington, right?

Yes of course there are!!! Pentagon city, crystal city, the airport, and the new one at Potomac Yards (technically Alexandria but right on the border of Arlington).

Also the metro is permanently closing stations in north Arlington because ridership is down, so I don’t think the metro is as desirable as it once was.

Yeah but if you live anywhere near Glebe and Columbia Pike there are no Metro stops you can walk to. Isn’t that what most people think of as “South Arlington”?

I live on Columbia pike. I can pick up the bus and be in dc in 10-15 minutes. Not much longer if i transfer to metro at pentagon city. It’s effortless. However, I’m renting and entirely priced out of any part of Arlington unless we go into a duplex.

That said, non covid it’s like a 45-60 min commute to my dc office if driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that some poster is so insecure and threatened by Arlington’s “cool” factor they are posting about Bethesda test scores.
Bethesda is nice. Great.
Arlington is nice. Great. Arlington (parts of it) seems to have the “it” factor recently.
Does not mean there aren’t other nice places to live in the dmv.

This is a moment that will live in DCUM history. Arlington boosters are so mad that someone brought out data showing how bad APS schools are in the most expensive area of Arlington that they are resorting to fantastical claims that someone in Bethesda is jealous that Arlington is “cool.” Hahaha!!! Arlington is so “cool” everyone. Arlington is the new Williamsburg and DUMBO apparently. The strip malls along Lee Highway are teaming with young creatives, exclusive cocktail bars, and some of the best restaurants in the country. Get a boxy brick house in Westover before they turn the whole area into the new Flatbush.

Wow. So much butthurt here.

Yes, Arlington isn't "cool", but it's better than the countless other lame places to live in VA or MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is hot because people want to live there. There is not any extra land so the land there is very valuable. There's a shortage. So it goes at a premium. I have kids in APS and am perfectly happy with the education they are getting, supplemented by what I am able to provide in terms of experiences, tutoring as needed, etc. as an UMC/ higher SES family. I'm glad that Whitman has such great scores. Good for Whitman. Doesn't change the fact that I'm happy in Arlington and have no intention of moving out to Bethesda or Potomac or whatever.

People on here arguing that Arlington sucks or that Whitman is better than Yorktown are just butthurt that their area isn't hot like Arlington. Sorry you are mad. Doesn't change the market.

Exactly.

Don't like Arlington? Then don't live there.

But plenty of people do like it and do choose to live there. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that some poster is so insecure and threatened by Arlington’s “cool” factor they are posting about Bethesda test scores.
Bethesda is nice. Great.
Arlington is nice. Great. Arlington (parts of it) seems to have the “it” factor recently.
Does not mean there aren’t other nice places to live in the dmv.

This is a moment that will live in DCUM history. Arlington boosters are so mad that someone brought out data showing how bad APS schools are in the most expensive area of Arlington that they are resorting to fantastical claims that someone in Bethesda is jealous that Arlington is “cool.” Hahaha!!! Arlington is so “cool” everyone. Arlington is the new Williamsburg and DUMBO apparently. The strip malls along Lee Highway are teaming with young creatives, exclusive cocktail bars, and some of the best restaurants in the country. Get a boxy brick house in Westover before they turn the whole area into the new Flatbush.

From your lips to gods ears. I am selling a boxy brick house in Westover. It is near the Westover Flats, so I suppose we could be the next Flatbush, if not we Park Slope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yorktown vs Whitman SAT data for those that don’t want to do the research and comb through data.

Yorktown
Asian = 1786
Black = 1506
Hispanic = 1610
White = 1788

Whitman
Asian = 1901
Black = 1561
Hispanic = 1827
White = 1917

Whitman like Yorktown is within the Beltway and close to DC. Housing prices are demographics are similar.

I was looking at W-L data since that is more popular than YHS. It’s also 34% FARMS. How about Whitman?

W-L
Asian 1582
Black 1523
Hispanic 1442
White 1856

Did you find the breakdown by FARM vs non-FARM scores?

There are unique populations in Arlington that make even comparing by “race” less meaningful.

SES would make more sense.

So many of the rich white kids zoned for W-L do private HS now. I say about 60% of HS kids in my neighborhood attend a private HS in DC or VA.

+100

This has been a trend the past 5 years or so as housing prices have gone way up and the APS product has gone down.

The majority of HS kids in our W-L neighborhood now attend private HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in N Arlington and I don’t find it friendly at all.

Weird. My N Arlington neighborhood is so friendly I feel like I have to put a bag over my head to get to my car without a chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is hot because people want to live there. There is not any extra land so the land there is very valuable. There's a shortage. So it goes at a premium. I have kids in APS and am perfectly happy with the education they are getting, supplemented by what I am able to provide in terms of experiences, tutoring as needed, etc. as an UMC/ higher SES family. I'm glad that Whitman has such great scores. Good for Whitman. Doesn't change the fact that I'm happy in Arlington and have no intention of moving out to Bethesda or Potomac or whatever.

People on here arguing that Arlington sucks or that Whitman is better than Yorktown are just butthurt that their area isn't hot like Arlington. Sorry you are mad. Doesn't change the market.

Exactly.

Don't like Arlington? Then don't live there.

But plenty of people do like it and do choose to live there. Get over it.

This. No, it's not "cool" but it hits the sweet spot on a lot of things. Basically, it's a good compromise. I've lived here for 20 years. Have been reasonably happy with the schools (2 teens at W-L), have great, friendly neighbors. Easy commute for me to a job in DC and for DH to a job off the Dulles toll road. I like that my teens can get around independently by walking/biking/metro. County services are generally pretty good. I don't love all the teardowns and how much traffic has increased but time marches on and I do appreciate the better retail and dining options than when we moved here in 2000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in N Arlington and I don’t find it friendly at all.

Weird. My N Arlington neighborhood is so friendly I feel like I have to put a bag over my head to get to my car without a chat.

+1

It's always easy to find a friend out to join for a walk.

If I'm in a rush though, I peek out to see who is walking by before I head out. lol

Our neighborhood has been extra active during the pandemic. I love the energy and everyone has been so friendly (from a distance).

[Anonymous]

Bethesda is good. Arlington is good. Some people like Bethesda. Some people don't. Some people like Arlington. Some people don't. There's plenty of people that want to live in both places.

Compared to DC, Arlington Public Schools are fantastic. Compared to most of the country, Arlington Public Schools are fantastic. Compared to Montgomery County (at least around Bethesda) perhaps those schools are better. So? Everyone makes compromises - personally, my commute is much shorter from Arlington and we are closer to the things we go to in DC.

I can be at the Kennedy Center in 12 minutes for a Saturday evening show (when those return). I can be at DCA in 15 minutes. I love my house and I like my neighborhood. No place around here is perfect, but its likable enough for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is hot because people want to live there. There is not any extra land so the land there is very valuable. There's a shortage. So it goes at a premium. I have kids in APS and am perfectly happy with the education they are getting, supplemented by what I am able to provide in terms of experiences, tutoring as needed, etc. as an UMC/ higher SES family. I'm glad that Whitman has such great scores. Good for Whitman. Doesn't change the fact that I'm happy in Arlington and have no intention of moving out to Bethesda or Potomac or whatever.

People on here arguing that Arlington sucks or that Whitman is better than Yorktown are just butthurt that their area isn't hot like Arlington. Sorry you are mad. Doesn't change the market.

Exactly.

Don't like Arlington? Then don't live there.

But plenty of people do like it and do choose to live there. Get over it.

This. No, it's not "cool" but it hits the sweet spot on a lot of things. Basically, it's a good compromise. I've lived here for 20 years. Have been reasonably happy with the schools (2 teens at W-L), have great, friendly neighbors. Easy commute for me to a job in DC and for DH to a job off the Dulles toll road. I like that my teens can get around independently by walking/biking/metro. County services are generally pretty good. I don't love all the teardowns and how much traffic has increased but time marches on and I do appreciate the better retail and dining options than when we moved here in 2000.

You had me until you said that the dining options are better. The restaurant offerings are mostly pretty abysmal in Arlington for a place with so much money and so many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is hot because people want to live there. There is not any extra land so the land there is very valuable. There's a shortage. So it goes at a premium. I have kids in APS and am perfectly happy with the education they are getting, supplemented by what I am able to provide in terms of experiences, tutoring as needed, etc. as an UMC/ higher SES family. I'm glad that Whitman has such great scores. Good for Whitman. Doesn't change the fact that I'm happy in Arlington and have no intention of moving out to Bethesda or Potomac or whatever.

People on here arguing that Arlington sucks or that Whitman is better than Yorktown are just butthurt that their area isn't hot like Arlington. Sorry you are mad. Doesn't change the market.

Exactly.

Don't like Arlington? Then don't live there.

But plenty of people do like it and do choose to live there. Get over it.

This. No, it's not "cool" but it hits the sweet spot on a lot of things. Basically, it's a good compromise. I've lived here for 20 years. Have been reasonably happy with the schools (2 teens at W-L), have great, friendly neighbors. Easy commute for me to a job in DC and for DH to a job off the Dulles toll road. I like that my teens can get around independently by walking/biking/metro. County services are generally pretty good. I don't love all the teardowns and how much traffic has increased but time marches on and I do appreciate the better retail and dining options than when we moved here in 2000.

You had me until you said that the dining options are better. The restaurant offerings are mostly pretty abysmal in Arlington for a place with so much money and so many people.

Do you mean in general or compared to other similar DC locations (close-in suburb)?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused by the suggestion that Arlington is "so hot". Here are the # of single-family houses now on the market for under $1M in various school zones, according to Redfin:

Yorktown - 10

Madison - 6

Marshall - 6

Churchill - 3

McLean - 3

Langley - 2

B-CC - 2

George Mason - 0

Whitman - 0