Moving to DC - where to live?

[Anonymous]

OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

[Anonymous]

Can you tell us generally which neighborhood your child's preschool is in? If your DC is definitely going there, I imagine you wouldn't want to be too far away if you don't have a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

If the commute is your primary concern, look at the orange line. The first metro stop in DC is Foggy Bottom, the ones before that in Virginia have much better (free) schools: Ballston, Virginia-Square, Clarendon, Court House.

[Anonymous]

Unless you will be living downtown, I would not recommend sending your 4 year old to preschool downtown. Sounds like a lot of driving back and forth.

My advice is to pick a town, then get on a list for a preschool around there and save yourself a ton of aggravation.

Here is the problem I forsee OP - your budget is fine for renting in DC, but Im not sure what you can buy in the Cleveland Park, Tenley Town, etc area for $700,000 or less that has 3 bedrooms ($4k/mo mortgage, including any other fees). Maybe somebody else can chime in about that.

Personally, I am thinking that something around downtown Silver Spring or Takoma Park might work better for you, although TP can get expensive too.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

If the commute is your primary concern, look at the orange line. The first metro stop in DC is Foggy Bottom, the ones before that in Virginia have much better (free) schools: Ballston, Virginia-Square, Clarendon, Court House.

Very true, but buying in the Clarendon/Ballston/Rosslyn area is very, very expensive. Not sure if OP could afford a mortgage on a 3 bedroom home there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

Locals refer to the city limits of DC, particularly Northwest DC (which is like our equivalent of Manhattan NY), as "downtown." The city limits of DC are very tiny - it only has 600,000 residents in its entirety, plus most of what's going on is only in the Northwest quadrant of DC, so imagine how small that is. Maybe another 4 million live inside the "beltway" (Highway 495 that circles DC), which would be more like living inside the city limits in any other major metropolitan area. Around the beltway includes Montgomery County MD, Fairfax County VA, Arlington VA, and Alexandria VA.

[Anonymous]

If you want to live downtown and near the preschool, you should look around Penn Quarter -- but it's not really child friendly. Dupont is more child friendly. There aren't a lot of condos and apartments right at Federal Triangle or Farragut North. Many of the neighborhoods mentioned by other posters (Woodly Park, Cleveland Park, Ballston) are not downtown. Downtown would include Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, Chinatown and a little wider out Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

OP, forgive me if I missed this, but are you working? If not, then don't look for a preschool "in town" unless you are living "in town."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

Locals refer to the city limits of DC, particularly Northwest DC (which is like our equivalent of Manhattan NY), as "downtown." The city limits of DC are very tiny - it only has 600,000 residents in its entirety, plus most of what's going on is only in the Northwest quadrant of DC, so imagine how small that is. Maybe another 4 million live inside the "beltway" (Highway 495 that circles DC), which would be more like living inside the city limits in any other major metropolitan area. Around the beltway includes Montgomery County MD, Fairfax County VA, Arlington VA, and Alexandria VA.

No way. Downtown is Foggy Bottom, Farragut North, Farragut West, Metro Center, McPherson Square, etc. It is not just anywhere within DC.

OP, there's no reason for you to live on the red line or outside of DC.

[Anonymous]

I would second Capitol Hill, and I'd stay away from Georgetown myself.

Another possibility I'd offer is downtown Bethesda-- pretty easy commute to Farragut North (almost as easy to Federal triangle, esp. if you don't mind walking from metro center). Very walkable, lots of families and things to do. Less urban than Capitol Hill but comparable (or more urban) than many parts of NW.

Also second re-thinking downtown preschool if you don't need to-- honestly if I was SAH I'd probably skip preschool entirely before commuting downtown just to do it.

(note: I've always found it odd DC doesn't have a well-defined "downtown" for me I'd say it roughly runs from 7th st to 15th St, north of the Mall, up to around I st.)

[Anonymous]

OP- I would suggest maybe pulling out of the preschool and focus on a neighborhood first. Sounds like you want a neighborhood feel with parks and to meet other parents. Having a preschool in your neighborhood is key to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- What do you mean exactly by "downtown?" that means different things to different people in DC- it's not like NYC where the lower numbers mean downtown...some people interpret downtown differently here. Do you want to live in a very busy, active part of the city, or do you want a quieter residential neighborhood with easy access to Farragut West? Also, would you consider the close-in suburbs, which many families prefer (not all- don't jump down my throat people) because of the school situation in this area?

TBH I'm not quite sure what downtown is. I believe it is the part of the city on either side of the White House. We'd like easy access to Farragut West / Farragut North / Foggy Bottom (for DH's work) and Federal Triangle (for preschool). Preschool's not set in stone yet but so far anything we like seems to have a waitlist.

Locals refer to the city limits of DC, particularly Northwest DC (which is like our equivalent of Manhattan NY), as "downtown." The city limits of DC are very tiny - it only has 600,000 residents in its entirety, plus most of what's going on is only in the Northwest quadrant of DC, so imagine how small that is. Maybe another 4 million live inside the "beltway" (Highway 495 that circles DC), which would be more like living inside the city limits in any other major metropolitan area. Around the beltway includes Montgomery County MD, Fairfax County VA, Arlington VA, and Alexandria VA.

No no no no no.

Downtown is the small part of DC with highrises and office buildings. "Locals" do not refer to all of NW as "downtown."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to live downtown and near the preschool, you should look around Penn Quarter -- but it's not really child friendly. Dupont is more child friendly. There aren't a lot of condos and apartments right at Federal Triangle or Farragut North. Many of the neighborhoods mentioned by other posters (Woodly Park, Cleveland Park, Ballston) are not downtown. Downtown would include Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, Chinatown and a little wider out Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.

I agree generally, although Logan more so than Dupont. Those who think the whole city is included are crazy. And insane if you include Arlington and Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would second Capitol Hill, and I'd stay away from Georgetown myself.

Another possibility I'd offer is downtown Bethesda-- pretty easy commute to Farragut North (almost as easy to Federal triangle, esp. if you don't mind walking from metro center). Very walkable, lots of families and things to do. Less urban than Capitol Hill but comparable (or more urban) than many parts of NW.

Also second re-thinking downtown preschool if you don't need to-- honestly if I was SAH I'd probably skip preschool entirely before commuting downtown just to do it.

(note: I've always found it odd DC doesn't have a well-defined "downtown" for me I'd say it roughly runs from 7th st to 15th St, north of the Mall, up to around I st.)

Now that is ridiculously narrow. You wouldn't include k??? Or 20th? True downtown is about 23 to 4th, the mall to m. But DuPont and Logan and even shaw are often considered downtown neighborhoods.