where to live on HHI of 170 so kids are economically in the middle

[Anonymous]

$170k HHI, should be able to afford more home than $500k-$600k...especially if you move to better school district and switch out of private?

[Anonymous]

Silver Spring just outside the beltway...seems like HHI hovers between $150 and $200k in these neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

^^
And still good public schools and easy to get to Bethesda under 30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County, VA. A lot of federal workers live in this area because of its very good public schools -- which will save you the cost of privates.

You can buy 1950s ramblers at good prices within your range in the McLean HS area of McLean, VA. There are a lot of families similarly situated in the McLean HS pyramid.

With a HHI of $170k? Are you certain?

And no, not trying to pick a fight, I live in McLean too.

I think that McLean is ideal. I also live here and, yes, there are many families in the modest rambler neighborhoods surrounding McLean HS whose parent(s) work for the federal government.

Not only are the McLean pyramid schools the very best in Fairfax County, but it is an excellent investment as these neighborhoods continue to appreciate and be converted into teardown havens. Also, having your kids surrounded by some measure of wealthier families makes for great future connections, and teaches them to study and work hard as they aspire to some of what they see around them.

that's BS homes start at 700 in mclean now. http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1716-Linwood-Pl-22101/home/9403851

THis one is $650k. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1813-Westmoreland-St_Mclean_VA_22101_M62248-79015?row=6

And there are several townhomes in the center that are quite large (3 beds 3 ba) that are walkable to parks and stores for under $600k.

first off that's way off budget, 2nd she wants a house

She said she's fine with a 2 bdrm 1 ba shoebox, I thought she might be ok with a nice large townhome in a good walkable area, with good schools. But it is a bit higher. Seems like with $170k HHI they ought to be able to up budget...perhaps not need private wtih good schools. Maybe OP should check back in and let us know if schools need to stay for good school district or not. No point in coming to good school district and funding it if you don't intend to use it, reallly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax County, VA. A lot of federal workers live in this area because of its very good public schools -- which will save you the cost of privates.

You can buy 1950s ramblers at good prices within your range in the McLean HS area of McLean, VA. There are a lot of families similarly situated in the McLean HS pyramid.

With a HHI of $170k? Are you certain?

And no, not trying to pick a fight, I live in McLean too.

I think that McLean is ideal. I also live here and, yes, there are many families in the modest rambler neighborhoods surrounding McLean HS whose parent(s) work for the federal government.

Not only are the McLean pyramid schools the very best in Fairfax County, but it is an excellent investment as these neighborhoods continue to appreciate and be converted into teardown havens. Also, having your kids surrounded by some measure of wealthier families makes for great future connections, and teaches them to study and work hard as they aspire to some of what they see around them.

that's BS homes start at 700 in mclean now. http://www.redfin.com/VA/Mc-Lean/1716-Linwood-Pl-22101/home/9403851

THis one is $650k. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1813-Westmoreland-St_Mclean_VA_22101_M62248-79015?row=6

And there are several townhomes in the center that are quite large (3 beds 3 ba) that are walkable to parks and stores for under $600k.

first off that's way off budget, 2nd she wants a house

She said she's fine with a 2 bdrm 1 ba shoebox, I thought she might be ok with a nice large townhome in a good walkable area, with good schools. But it is a bit higher. Seems like with $170k HHI they ought to be able to up budget...perhaps not need private wtih good schools. Maybe OP should check back in and let us know if schools need to stay for good school district or not. No point in coming to good school district and funding it if you don't intend to use it, reallly.

Yes McLean pyramids are the best but that doesn't mean other schools that test close to it are BAD. There are good pyramids for Marshall and Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^
And still good public schools and easy to get to Bethesda under 30.

I am not sure that silver spring school pyramids compare to wooten, walt witman, mclean, marshall or madison. I know Montgomery Blair High School is above average but the elementary and mid schools are more often very poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP wrote:Need commute of 30 minutes or less by car to private school in Bethesda during rush hour.

All of you NoVa folks completely ignored this. Fairfax is the closest and is barely 30 minutes to Bethesda at non-peak times. It is never going to be 30 minutes to Bethesda during rush hour. So, Fairfax, Burke, Pimmit Hills and most of the rest of NoVa are just not realistic options for OP.

I really think that OP's best bet is to look in Silver Spring or Takoma Park, MD.

Not so. I recommended Arlington Forest and DH commuted to Bethesda for work for years from here, less than 30 minute drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Forest.

No. Wakefield HS district is like moving to Wheaton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
And still good public schools and easy to get to Bethesda under 30.

I am not sure that silver spring school pyramids compare to wooten, walt witman, mclean, marshall or madison. I know Montgomery Blair High School is above average but the elementary and mid schools are more often very poor.

$170k in whitman district is well below average. Wooton and Blair are comparable. I am not sure of the VA schools, but going around the beltway every day even against most traffic is horrific. In general the silver spring schools are strong for ES, weaker for MS, and strong for HS, with many exceptions.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Town house is doable for us though I'd prefer a row house or small bungalow.

Re our budget. We can afford more than 600,000 except my dh is in the tech field and we are nervous about his long term viability (lots of agism in the industry - it is possible his earning potential will decrease radically in the future) plus my income (about 65 before taxes and benefits) is now going to childcare and preschool and will in the future be slated for education (private school and college savings).

Private school is mostly about the kind of education we want for our kids. We both went to not great (not terrible) public schools and did just fine, but I'd like my kids to have something different. My friends are in publics (mostly Arlington) and happy enough, but their kids are doing a lot of homework in early grades and confined to desks, and one boy, according to his mother, has come to hate writing and reading because he was pushed in it too hard too young (it is better this year because they are doing a lot of collaborative learning stuff, and he is super social and so liking school more); I have two very active boys and I just don't see it as a good fit for them right now. So we are doing Montessori-type education for a while. Plus, I want a place where they love to learn and am not so interested in academic achievement or test scores; teaching college, I see VERY little of any love of learning in my students who basically just care about grades. I do think our education system causes at least some of this. But it is likely we will cycle in and out of public and private as our fiances and inclinations change - I'd just like a house that gave us the option of private, which means 600,000 or less.

And I'd also like my kids not to be in neighborhood schools where kids have way more material possessions and vacations than they will ever have; my friends in Arlington public schools already face quite a bit of this - second graders with iphones etc. I am personally fine with being lower SES than others in my neighborhood - I love my career and life and don't feel, except for a house, like there is anything I want I can't have. I am not terribly social and don't crave fitting in. But I grew up in a small new-money town (oil money in the deep south) and dread my kids wanting things "everyone else" has that they won't. It sucked in jr. high!

Silver springs and Takoma are definitely neighborhoods we are considering - was just hoping for recommendations a bit closer to Bethesdsa/va since that commute can be a bear. The neighborhoods behind ballston also seems doable, though I'm hesitant to move to VA (somehow it feels more suburban than silver springs). I am not sure, commute-wise, if a neighborhood like rock creek forest (is that its name - right above Rock creek Park over the line from DC), for which I've seen some houses in our price range, is more commutable than Takoma (from Takoma, you can cut through the park from Aspen drive whereas I'd being stuck doing the east-west HYW from Rock Creek Forest) and I'm not sure if the neighborhood is, with just a couple of housing exceptions, above our pay grade.

AU park would be great but, I haven't seen a single house come on the market we can afford (have been casting around for last month or two).

Thanks everyone for helping me think this through!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
And still good public schools and easy to get to Bethesda under 30.

I am not sure that silver spring school pyramids compare to wooten, walt witman, mclean, marshall or madison. I know Montgomery Blair High School is above average but the elementary and mid schools are more often very poor.

$170k in whitman district is well below average. Wooton and Blair are comparable. I am not sure of the VA schools, but going around the beltway every day even against most traffic is horrific. In general the silver spring schools are strong for ES, weaker for MS, and strong for HS, with many exceptions.

traffic is heavier coming from MD to VA because there are more jobs in VA. So if you live in VA you would be doing a reverse commute to MD.

Also wooten has a 9 score where as blair is 8. so they are close but not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Town house is doable for us though I'd prefer a row house or small bungalow.

Re our budget. We can afford more than 600,000 except my dh is in the tech field and we are nervous about his long term viability (lots of agism in the industry - it is possible his earning potential will decrease radically in the future) plus my income (about 65 before taxes and benefits) is now going to childcare and preschool and will in the future be slated for education (private school and college savings).

Private school is mostly about the kind of education we want for our kids. We both went to not great (not terrible) public schools and did just fine, but I'd like my kids to have something different. My friends are in publics (mostly Arlington) and happy enough, but their kids are doing a lot of homework in early grades and confined to desks, and one boy, according to his mother, has come to hate writing and reading because he was pushed in it too hard too young (it is better this year because they are doing a lot of collaborative learning stuff, and he is super social and so liking school more); I have two very active boys and I just don't see it as a good fit for them right now. So we are doing Montessori-type education for a while. Plus, I want a place where they love to learn and am not so interested in academic achievement or test scores; teaching college, I see VERY little of any love of learning in my students who basically just care about grades. I do think our education system causes at least some of this. But it is likely we will cycle in and out of public and private as our fiances and inclinations change - I'd just like a house that gave us the option of private, which means 600,000 or less.

And I'd also like my kids not to be in neighborhood schools where kids have way more material possessions and vacations than they will ever have; my friends in Arlington public schools already face quite a bit of this - second graders with iphones etc. I am personally fine with being lower SES than others in my neighborhood - I love my career and life and don't feel, except for a house, like there is anything I want I can't have. I am not terribly social and don't crave fitting in. But I grew up in a small new-money town (oil money in the deep south) and dread my kids wanting things "everyone else" has that they won't. It sucked in jr. high!

Silver springs and Takoma are definitely neighborhoods we are considering - was just hoping for recommendations a bit closer to Bethesdsa/va since that commute can be a bear. The neighborhoods behind ballston also seems doable, though I'm hesitant to move to VA (somehow it feels more suburban than silver springs). I am not sure, commute-wise, if a neighborhood like rock creek forest (is that its name - right above Rock creek Park over the line from DC), for which I've seen some houses in our price range, is more commutable than Takoma (from Takoma, you can cut through the park from Aspen drive whereas I'd being stuck doing the east-west HYW from Rock Creek Forest) and I'm not sure if the neighborhood is, with just a couple of housing exceptions, above our pay grade.

AU park would be great but, I haven't seen a single house come on the market we can afford (have been casting around for last month or two).

Thanks everyone for helping me think this through!

you are better home schooling your children if you are afraid of achieving and testing

[Anonymous]

OP here. We don't need the best pyramids. I'd be very happy with Blair. Am fine with Eaton and Wilson (though not any other DC in boundary highschool). I will probably go private middle school and public highschool, so decent high school is more important than decent middle (elementary is 50-50 chance, I'd go public vs. private).

[Anonymous]

There's no s after spring in Silver Spring, fyi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Forest.

No. Wakefield HS district is like moving to Wheaton.

+1 for south Arlington. Our HHI is $200k and we have a 40s colonial. I have no idea where Wheaton is, but I doubt it is 8 miles from our K Street office.