Moving to DC area from Boston area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Herndon, Va definitely has a small town feel like you describe. There's a town green with Friday night outdoor concerts that are packed with families. Within the old town area there's a library, W&OD bike/walk trail, homecoming parade that closes down the streets, easter egg hunt on town green. Also restaurants, community center, golf course, and parks within walking distance of the old town area. Come this weekend for the Herndon festival that will close the streets.

Anonymous wrote:PP here -

I totally forgot about Vienna, VA! That would be my #2 pick - check out Church Street there. .

Um, no. Nothing like towns in New England, nothing.

[Anonymous]

OP - Are you from Andover? It sounds like it, based on your description (mainly because I know the LL team from there won the State Championship last year!)

Anyway, most posters are right, there is no real small town feel to any of the neighborhoods in or surrounding DC. Arlington will be as close to an Andover feel as you'll get (with an equally big school system to boot), but you'll never equal the charm or character of the towns in N.E. Finally, a commute to the Navy Yard is not the easiest, by any stretch, unless you're in the District. Arlington will make it as painless as possible, but it will still be a PITA.

[Anonymous]

dmhoran wrote:Hi everyone, I am a new user to this website (which is a great tool from what I have read so far!) and wanted to get some opinions for a potential move. My husband and 9 month old currently live in the Boston area and I am hoping to get a position in DC (Navy Yard area). If it works out, we are really looking forward to our new adventure but are confused and concerned about where we would live. The town we live in now is a picture perfect New England town that has community parks, fairs, barbeques, parades, etc. The town thinks nothing of closing the downtown street for a celebration for Flag Day or the baseball team that won the state championship. The schools are wonderful, the town sponsors all sorts of programs and sports teams for kids and we have next door neighbors that are police officers and fire men. The downtown businesses have bedtime stories for the kids on Friday nights, have ladies nights, host farmer's markets, etc. It is the type of town where you can walk in to register your dog and the secretary is your next door neighbor and the tax collector can tell you the history of your house. We really love our community and leaving it was a large hesitation in deciding whether or not to apply for this job! If the position is offered and we move, we are hoping to land in a community in the DC area with that similar sort of small town feel that we have now. We are not familiar with the DC area (only have been there on vacations) so any advice will be appreciated. We are open to looking in both Maryland and Virginia. I would be willing to endure a longer commute into the city if it meant that we could get the small town feel. Ideas on where to look? Thanks to everyone

Cabin John, Glen Echo and Brookmont in MD. Excellent schools, virtually no crime, nice neighbors and an easy run downtown and you can bike/hike the C&O Canal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

dmhoran wrote:Hi everyone, I am a new user to this website (which is a great tool from what I have read so far!) and wanted to get some opinions for a potential move. My husband and 9 month old currently live in the Boston area and I am hoping to get a position in DC (Navy Yard area). If it works out, we are really looking forward to our new adventure but are confused and concerned about where we would live. The town we live in now is a picture perfect New England town that has community parks, fairs, barbeques, parades, etc. The town thinks nothing of closing the downtown street for a celebration for Flag Day or the baseball team that won the state championship. The schools are wonderful, the town sponsors all sorts of programs and sports teams for kids and we have next door neighbors that are police officers and fire men. The downtown businesses have bedtime stories for the kids on Friday nights, have ladies nights, host farmer's markets, etc. It is the type of town where you can walk in to register your dog and the secretary is your next door neighbor and the tax collector can tell you the history of your house. We really love our community and leaving it was a large hesitation in deciding whether or not to apply for this job! If the position is offered and we move, we are hoping to land in a community in the DC area with that similar sort of small town feel that we have now. We are not familiar with the DC area (only have been there on vacations) so any advice will be appreciated. We are open to looking in both Maryland and Virginia. I would be willing to endure a longer commute into the city if it meant that we could get the small town feel. Ideas on where to look? Thanks to everyone

Cabin John, Glen Echo and Brookmont in MD. Excellent schools, virtually no crime, nice neighbors and an easy run downtown and you can bike/hike the C&O Canal.

Where's the town aspect of these places?

[Anonymous]

May I recommend Spring Valley? Very much like New England.

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, not from Andover. We currently live in Dedham, which borders Boston on the south.
Again, thanks to everyone for the input! If we decide to do this, I can tell it will really be a lifestyle change for us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May I recommend Spring Valley? Very much like New England.

I don't get this at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May I recommend Spring Valley? Very much like New England.

Huh? How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

dmhoran wrote:Hi everyone, I am a new user to this website (which is a great tool from what I have read so far!) and wanted to get some opinions for a potential move. My husband and 9 month old currently live in the Boston area and I am hoping to get a position in DC (Navy Yard area). If it works out, we are really looking forward to our new adventure but are confused and concerned about where we would live. The town we live in now is a picture perfect New England town that has community parks, fairs, barbeques, parades, etc. The town thinks nothing of closing the downtown street for a celebration for Flag Day or the baseball team that won the state championship. The schools are wonderful, the town sponsors all sorts of programs and sports teams for kids and we have next door neighbors that are police officers and fire men. The downtown businesses have bedtime stories for the kids on Friday nights, have ladies nights, host farmer's markets, etc. It is the type of town where you can walk in to register your dog and the secretary is your next door neighbor and the tax collector can tell you the history of your house. We really love our community and leaving it was a large hesitation in deciding whether or not to apply for this job! If the position is offered and we move, we are hoping to land in a community in the DC area with that similar sort of small town feel that we have now. We are not familiar with the DC area (only have been there on vacations) so any advice will be appreciated. We are open to looking in both Maryland and Virginia. I would be willing to endure a longer commute into the city if it meant that we could get the small town feel. Ideas on where to look? Thanks to everyone

Cabin John, Glen Echo and Brookmont in MD. Excellent schools, virtually no crime, nice neighbors and an easy run downtown and you can bike/hike the C&O Canal.

Where's the town aspect of these places?

There's Town Hall in Glen Echo and the community center in Cabin John. Brookmont has all sorts of neighborhood activities, a great community park and is a short walk to shopping on Sangamore road. Chevy Chase Village and Martin Additions are also great places to live and have very active, kid-friendly communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There's Town Hall in Glen Echo and the community center in Cabin John. Brookmont has all sorts of neighborhood activities, a great community park and is a short walk to shopping on Sangamore road. Chevy Chase Village and Martin Additions are also great places to live and have very active, kid-friendly communities.

You've never lived in the northeast, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Here's what you get for $500-$600K in Dedham, where OP lives:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/315-Walnut-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36115-64112

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1041-High-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36552-42059

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Patty-Lee-Ln_Dedham_MA_02026_M42974-43784

And here's what you get in Arlington, VA for the same price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5615-Wilson-Blvd_Arlington_VA_22205_M50457-42436

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4943-25th-St-S_Arlington_VA_22206_M52643-44455?ex=VA552817234

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6019-18th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_M63086-68781

And in Bethesda:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6011-Ryland-Dr_Bethesda_MD_20817_M64661-51841

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2808-Blaine-Dr_Chevy-Chase_MD_20815_M52429-66736

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There's Town Hall in Glen Echo and the community center in Cabin John. Brookmont has all sorts of neighborhood activities, a great community park and is a short walk to shopping on Sangamore road. Chevy Chase Village and Martin Additions are also great places to live and have very active, kid-friendly communities.

You've never lived in the northeast, right?

No, PP hasn't. PP doesn't know what a town is and how it is distinct from a "neighborhood" or "community."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Here's what you get for $500-$600K in Dedham, where OP lives:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/315-Walnut-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36115-64112

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1041-High-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36552-42059

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Patty-Lee-Ln_Dedham_MA_02026_M42974-43784

And here's what you get in Arlington, VA for the same price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5615-Wilson-Blvd_Arlington_VA_22205_M50457-42436

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4943-25th-St-S_Arlington_VA_22206_M52643-44455?ex=VA552817234

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6019-18th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_M63086-68781

And in Bethesda:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6011-Ryland-Dr_Bethesda_MD_20817_M64661-51841

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2808-Blaine-Dr_Chevy-Chase_MD_20815_M52429-66736

This is so depressing. It is the reason why, when we moved here from the northeast, we ended up in a townhouse. It's a nice townhouse and all, but nothing like the 4000 sq ft SFH we had before coming to this area. Oh well, at least DC and its suburbs has lots to do, even if it doesn't have towns or cheap housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Here's what you get for $500-$600K in Dedham, where OP lives:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/315-Walnut-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36115-64112

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1041-High-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36552-42059

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Patty-Lee-Ln_Dedham_MA_02026_M42974-43784

And here's what you get in Arlington, VA for the same price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5615-Wilson-Blvd_Arlington_VA_22205_M50457-42436

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4943-25th-St-S_Arlington_VA_22206_M52643-44455?ex=VA552817234

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6019-18th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_M63086-68781

And in Bethesda:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6011-Ryland-Dr_Bethesda_MD_20817_M64661-51841

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2808-Blaine-Dr_Chevy-Chase_MD_20815_M52429-66736

This is so depressing. It is the reason why, when we moved here from the northeast, we ended up in a townhouse. It's a nice townhouse and all, but nothing like the 4000 sq ft SFH we had before coming to this area. Oh well, at least DC and its suburbs has lots to do, even if it doesn't have towns or cheap housing.

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, and I agree, but like you, I find it depressing - especially as summer approaches, and we are stuck indoors because of the heat, humidity and bugs.

Bleah.

As opposed to being stuck inside from October to April because it's 0 degrees and/or snowing. I've had friends in Mass. who talk about running the furnace in June because the temps drop to the 40s at night.