Dc area burbs: Help me figure out where I should look

[Anonymous]

AgentX wrote:The Virginia side will be a tougher commute for you to the Hill. Do you have a strong preference on VA or MD? Many people who are from here do have strong preferences.

If MD - I would say Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington

If VA - Falls Church City, Vienna is lovely but would be pushing it with a commute

If DC - AU Park, Glover Park, Chevy Chase

Alexandria and South Arlington are super easy commutes to the Hill. Way, way easier than Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Kensington. I'm a little concerned about your claimed real estate knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m hopelessly clueless about the areas surrounding DC. We are starting to think about moving from our townhouse in DC to somewhere out in the burbs, but “out of DC” is so many places I’m a bit lost as to where we should even start looking! If you moved out of DC, where’d you go and why?

About us: we’ve got two kids in elementary, and frankly the reason for the move is to be in a more established school and school system. It would also be nice to have some of those amenities I think of when I imagine moving out of the city—like a proper yard, parking, and a little extra space. But I go in to work almost every day down by the Hill, so don’t want to be spending too too much time commuting (or if there is a longer commute hopefully it would be all on train or something?). We also don’t want to completely abandon our mostly walking/biking lifestyle around our neighborhood, and hopefully some place that would welcome some aging hipsters who lean maybe a little bit crunchy. Does such an area exist?? I thiink we’d be hoping to find something around 1.5ish. Are we dreaming?!?

Anyone know where we should start looking?!

Easy. Bethesda. Woodacres/Pyle/Whitman. Done.

Not if you are an aging hipster! The neighborhoods that feed into those schools are full of preppy country club families!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park

How do the schools there measure up against other areas being discussed here? I’m especially thinking about class size in elementary and then MS and HS. My kids seem to be pretty smart in a normal sort of way, but they are a bit young to know for sure, and since the reason we are considering a move is to be in an established school system, the last thing I want is to jump into another school that is a bit of a project.

Thanks for all the good input!! Keep it coming!!!

[Anonymous]

Everyone posting recommendations, but what is the OPs budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone posting recommendations, but what is the OPs budget?

Oops, NM, saw it's $1.5M. Carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park

How do the schools there measure up against other areas being discussed here? I’m especially thinking about class size in elementary and then MS and HS. My kids seem to be pretty smart in a normal sort of way, but they are a bit young to know for sure, and since the reason we are considering a move is to be in an established school system, the last thing I want is to jump into another school that is a bit of a project.

Thanks for all the good input!! Keep it coming!!!

Not the PP, but the Takoma Park schools are extremely well-established. They are diverse, but certainly not a "work in progress" the way some of the DC schools are. People pick Takoma Park schools because they want economic and racial diversity, not because they think the racial/economic composition of the school is going to change.

Most kids who start in kindergarten stick with the school system through high school, following a pretty predictable path of Takoma Park ES (K-2) to Piney Branch ES (3-5), to Takoma Park MS (6-8) to Blair HS (9-12). Some may peel off for middle or high school magnets or private school, but the critical mass of kids are on that path and there are a number of enrichment opportunities along that path for kids who need them.

[Anonymous]

We’re ageing hipsters who enjoy our neighborhood in Chevy chase DC

[Anonymous]

Easy. Bethesda. Woodacres/Pyle/Whitman. Done.

Not if you are an aging hipster! The neighborhoods that feed into those schools are full of preppy country club families!

Many people in Bethesda fancy themselve aging hipsters, and if given the opportunity will explain at length how they chose the community for a more contemporary vibe that eludes staid suburban communities like Potomac, McLean and Great Falls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AgentX wrote:The Virginia side will be a tougher commute for you to the Hill. Do you have a strong preference on VA or MD? Many people who are from here do have strong preferences.

If MD - I would say Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington

If VA - Falls Church City, Vienna is lovely but would be pushing it with a commute

If DC - AU Park, Glover Park, Chevy Chase

Alexandria and South Arlington are super easy commutes to the Hill. Way, way easier than Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Kensington. I'm a little concerned about your claimed real estate knowledge.

NP here. you’ve clearly never crossed the bridge into virginia during rush hour. I could get from the hill to bethesda in the same time it takes me to cross the bridge.

[Anonymous]

Are you commuting to the house side or senate side of capitol hill? That matters a lot. Also do you have a sense of if you prefer in state tuition in MD or VA for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

AgentX wrote:The Virginia side will be a tougher commute for you to the Hill. Do you have a strong preference on VA or MD? Many people who are from here do have strong preferences.

If MD - I would say Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington

If VA - Falls Church City, Vienna is lovely but would be pushing it with a commute

If DC - AU Park, Glover Park, Chevy Chase

Alexandria and South Arlington are super easy commutes to the Hill. Way, way easier than Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Kensington. I'm a little concerned about your claimed real estate knowledge.

NP here. you’ve clearly never crossed the bridge into virginia during rush hour. I could get from the hill to bethesda in the same time it takes me to cross the bridge.

Op is planning to take the train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Easy. Bethesda. Woodacres/Pyle/Whitman. Done.

Not if you are an aging hipster! The neighborhoods that feed into those schools are full of preppy country club families!

Many people in Bethesda fancy themselve aging hipsters, and if given the opportunity will explain at length how they chose the community for a more contemporary vibe that eludes staid suburban communities like Potomac, McLean and Great Falls.

They will also explain at length how they just happened into a highly segregated community and they absolutely would have bought in Takoma Park except, you know, mumblemumble.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AgentX wrote:The Virginia side will be a tougher commute for you to the Hill. Do you have a strong preference on VA or MD? Many people who are from here do have strong preferences.

If MD - I would say Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington

If VA - Falls Church City, Vienna is lovely but would be pushing it with a commute

If DC - AU Park, Glover Park, Chevy Chase

Alexandria and South Arlington are super easy commutes to the Hill. Way, way easier than Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Kensington. I'm a little concerned about your claimed real estate knowledge.

Who moves to Alexandria for the school system?

[Anonymous]

Don't choose Montgomery County. Too much crime. Not enough police. Robberies, car jackings, rapes, and homicides are up. Worst than DC.

[Anonymous]

If you want to take a train for your commute, start there. If you want to drive, you don’t need to be near transit which may make your budget go farther.