Commute from Rockville? Other neighborhoods with SFHs under $600K + good schools all through?

[Anonymous]

We're looking for a forever home with good middle and high schools, as well as good elementary schools. Our budget is about $600K (HHI of $200K, 2 kids in daycare). We both work downtown and Metro in currently. I'm wondering what the commute in from Rockville would be like? How long does it generally take? Are there any other neighborhoods we should be looking at with good schools throughout and houses available in the $600K range?

[Anonymous]

We bought in Springfield for way less than $600k, DH works in DC, and we like the schools. DH metro'd for a year, and now carpools.

[Anonymous]

Is Springfield a neighborhood in Rockville?

[Anonymous]

I think the PP is referring to Springfield, VA.

[Anonymous]

Check out the area around Beall Elementary. There are some houses under $600K in that neighborhood, and it is not too far to the Rockville Metro Station. Lots of parks, family friendly, walkable to Rockville Town Center, and the schools are pretty good. The commute via Metro isn't awful-- maybe 45 minutes to an hour depending on your stop--as long as the Red Line is running smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought in Springfield for way less than $600k, DH works in DC, and we like the schools. DH metro'd for a year, and now carpools.

I meant Springfield, VA. You requested other neighborhoods to consider, so I mentioned one.

If you're in MD now, you probably won't seriously consider moving to VA. I know, when we were house shopping, that several parts of MD were very attractive for a variety of reasons, cost, commute, schools, community, etc., but I never seriously considered moving from VA to MD. It's just so different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought in Springfield for way less than $600k, DH works in DC, and we like the schools. DH metro'd for a year, and now carpools.

I meant Springfield, VA. You requested other neighborhoods to consider, so I mentioned one.

If you're in MD now, you probably won't seriously consider moving to VA. I know, when we were house shopping, that several parts of MD were very attractive for a variety of reasons, cost, commute, schools, community, etc., but I never seriously considered moving from VA to MD. It's just so different.

OP here -- just want to clarify that I am not the poster that asked if Springfield was in Rockville and I am looking at other options outside of Rockville. So, thank you, pp! I am currently in MoCo and am not opposed to moving to VA but it does feel very different to me.

[Anonymous]

more jobs in VA

[Anonymous]

I would stick to MoCo unless you're priced out of schools within easy commute of downtown. I would look more closely at Silver Spring near the beltway and Kensington...both have good commuting options to downtown via car or transit and generally good schools, and should have some options in that price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out the area around Beall Elementary. There are some houses under $600K in that neighborhood, and it is not too far to the Rockville Metro Station. Lots of parks, family friendly, walkable to Rockville Town Center, and the schools are pretty good. The commute via Metro isn't awful-- maybe 45 minutes to an hour depending on your stop--as long as the Red Line is running smoothly.

I second this recommendation. Browse the Hungerford/West End Park/Woodley Gardens subdivisions.

[Anonymous]

I am 2 miles from Twinbrook metro. My commute to Penn Quarter is an hour and fifteen minutes minimum. Depends a lot on where you are going but I find the metro part itself to be 35 -40 minutes.

[Anonymous]

I live in the west end of Rockville (Wootton HS district). My DH commutes to the Twinbrook metro and then take the metro to DC. Door to Door it is close to an hour each way. I work in Bethesda so I am responsible for all of the kid stuff as my commute is only 10 - 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you work in DC, you might consider Olney/Brookeville. You can drive to either glenmont or twin brook metro.

[Anonymous]

You meant downtown DC ?

[Anonymous]

In Rockville, check Flower Valley and Manor Woods neighborhoods. I grew up there, but honestly don't know the price of the homes these days. Rockville HS used to rank around #3 in the county, but that was about 15 years ago so you would have to check the latest test scores. There are some neighborhoods that feed into Wooten (sp?) HS that I believe are technically in Rockville or North Potomac. A realtor should be able to guide you.