MD or VA??

[Anonymous]

Ok, I realize many people are very gung-ho about their respective states, but I would really like some civil feedback on whether to move to MD or VA! Thanks for keeping it nice!

We are renting and would like to stay in the 2500-3000/month range for a 2 bedroom, whether that be a townhouse/rented house/apartment.

We'd like to be on Metro - walking distance close.

Good public schools

As close in as possible

As urban as possible with walkable shops/stores

I realize that's quite a list and hard to fill, but we really don't like driving at all and can't stand the idea of a commute longer than 30 min in traffic.

The obvious choices to me would be Clarendon area, or Bethesda. I can't decide , though!! As far as taxes and all of that, which is better? How about schools? I love that Arlington gives so many choices, yet on its face MD schools test better.
Which communities are more "laid back" and warm? I don't want to be in a keeping up w/ the Joneses type of place AT ALL. But education is very important to us. Ideally, we'd love private school, but just can't afford it on 2 nonprofit salaries! So, I suppose we'd like a smaller school environment (smaller classes, especially at the elementary level). Great playgrounds is also a plus. Right now, we're a block from Rock Creek, the Zoo, Metro, etc...But we just can't stay due to schools.

Thanks for any advice!

[Anonymous]

I have lived in Montgomery County and now live in Northern VA. Both have pluses and minuses, but for me, I like VA better.

The taxes in Montgomery County are very high. I made more money in my paycheck the moment we moved to VA. My insurance dropped dramatically too (especially auto).

Also, I found a better selection of parks, shopping, groceries, etc in VA. From Clarendon you're a hop and a skip from Georgetown, Pentagon City (including Costco), and Tysons Corner.

It bothered me that I couldn't buy beer and wine in the grocery stores in Montgomery County....and they add on a big county tax (a bottle for $9 in VA was $14 in MD! That's a 50% mark-up). I had to go to DC and VA to get better prices. It's not a major deal, but I hated that I'd want a bottle of wine with dinner and couldn't stand hitting a liquor store to do it in MD (with a baby in tow).

But it's really a taste thing. Some people love living in Bethesda. But I'd go with Clarendon myself.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the schools in Clarendon, but Northern VA and Bethesda/Montgomery County both have highly rated schools. You should be able to find good schools in either.

Both are very walkable too. Bethesda has the most restaurants in one area that I have ever seen. It's very walkable from Bethesda down through Chevy Chase and into NW DC.

Clarendon is similarly walkable. You can walk right through Rosslyn and walk through lovely Theodore Roosevelt Island or across the Key Bridge into Georgetown and all over DC/museums.

One thing to note is the big disparity between the locations is often the politics. Montgomery County tends to be very Democrat/Liberal and Northern VA is more Conservative/Republican. However, Northern VA is starting to become more mixed and even leaning more Democrat than ever before. It's just something to be aware of. Some people feel strongly about that.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for more "laid back and warm" you may want to go with Clarendon.

Bethesda is to MD as McLean is to VA. Both are very high end and have more mansions and more of a "keeping up with the Joneses." It's not a criticism...frankly I like both. But if you like more laid back and warm, Carendon may be a better fit.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to mention re: politics - Arlington has always been a Democrat stronghold. It's Fairfax County and the outer burbs that have been more Republican.

[Anonymous]

They are both nice. If we had more money, we might have investigated Maryland more seriously (I wanted a single family home where I could walk to the metro). Few places are as pretty as Bethesda.

It is certainly less expensive to live in Arlington than in the expensive parts of Montgomery County.

It may be the most liberal part of Virginia, but you are in Virginia. I feel much further from "home" (NY Area) in VA than I do in Maryland.

Clarendon (especially N of Wilson) is as expensive as McLean, I think.

[Anonymous]

PP again: two non-profit salaries? I hope you want a very small house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again: two non-profit salaries? I hope you want a very small house.

Ick. OP here. I was thoroughly enjoying the posts until the last comment. Yes, 2 nonprofit salaries. Yes, we're aware of the limitations of that and don't expect to buy (I mentioned specifically in my post that we are renting a 2 bedroom). Geez. See, THAT'S the kind of thing I want to stay away from. We're not poor, just choose to spend our money on other things at this point in our lives. We WOULD be poor if we attempted to buy a house in this area. Even though we make six figures combined (low 6 figures, but still!) we'd rather pay off debt, save for retirement and put our kid through college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again: two non-profit salaries? I hope you want a very small house.

You condescending bitch.

[Anonymous]

holy cow..what just happened here?

[Anonymous]

Please, no attacks as this is just my personal experience. OP, my husband and I left the city a year and a half ago with the birth of our daughter to live in Bethesda. We have always rented and rent here, but we've been pretty miserable overall. We live right in downtown Bethesda and can walk to everything, which has been great with a baby. On the downside, though, the majority of the people here are just not very nice. I have lived in several places with reputations for being less that hospitable (grew up in New England, 6 years in Manhattan, 7 in DC) and had never seen rude until we moved to Bethesda. On the roads, in restaurants, on the sidewalks, it's just awful...rich, entitled, self-important people who treat others (especially those in service positions) like dirt. I am no longer upset that we will never be able to afford a house here (one non-profit, one govt) as I would not want my kids exposed to this environment. Maybe Clarendon is better, but (as we move back to DC next month) I would recommend avoiding close-in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

"you condescending bitch?"

- perhaps you should see MY very small house. It wasn't condescending, just a fact.

Good night. Good bye.

[Anonymous]

My opinion is you will probably find similar people/attitudes in both areas. Clarendon is really not that different than Bethesda, except that it is a bit newer (not really but the revitilazation is). I live in Kensington, MD and it is more like what I grew up with--post-WWII red brick homes (although many have been expanded), sidewalks, a neighborhood pool in walking distance, LOTS of kids, more down to earth, great schools (Kens. Parkwood elementary, NB middle, WJ HS). It does not have everything you described, but it is a great place to live, and biking distance to downtown Bethesda (maybe 3 miles).

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Maryland, lived in VA for a number of years, and now live in NW DC (and would encourage you to consider staying -- the elementary schools are great, and the secondary schools won't get any better if everyone leaves the city). My husband also grew up in Arlington.

People here are right about local politics -- the MD and VA inner suburbs are both progressive, family-friendly communities with great schools. On a statewide basis, though, Virginia is much, much more conservative, and people who live in NoVa often feel alienated and marginalized by the state government, in which the rural/conservative areas have a disproportionate say. MD, while divided in many ways between the Baltimore and DC areas, is more cohesive politically.

As others have mentioned, MD is a higher tax state, but to me that's the price you pay for the sort of services you get in a place like Montgomery County.

The thing I think VA has going for it, for families, is a superior university system. I attended UVa as an out-of-stater, my husband as an in-stater, so I do appreciate the economic advantage Virginians have in higher education.

Honestly, I think you'll be happy either place. But all things being equal, I'd definitely choose Maryland. (Perhaps consider Silver Spring, as well -- the revitalization there is amazing.)

[Anonymous]

I don't see how the "small house" comment was condescending.

The poster assumed, obviously incorrectly, that the OP's salary was low and therefore would only be able to afford a a small house. The fact is that you can't get much for your money around here. Nothing bitchy about that, just an incorrect assumption about how much house the OP can get with her salary.