Relocating from NY
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Anonymous
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I have two job offers, and one would involve moving to DC (working in the Georgetown area) from NYC. DH is a teacher so would need to find a position at a school, currently looking at options in DC, MD, and VA. We have one ds who is preschool age. Our HHI would be approx 180-200k. We have been living in a 1BR 550 sq ft apt for the last 4 years, so a lot of space isn't a huge requirement, although more space would be nice. We do enjoy the ability to walk and get a cup of coffee or walk to the park, but are also open to less walkable if it means enough kitchen space for a coffee machine and even a tiny yard for some limited running around with our son. Culturally, we'd love neighbors who are interesting, maybe a little bookish, and friendly enough to accept an invite for coffee or activities with kids. Initially we'd like to rent a 2BR and save up for housing while we pay down school loans a bit, and would then look to buy/move somewhere when ds starts school in 2 years or so. We currently don't own a car but assume we would need to buy at least 1, which I think DH would use to drop DS at school and drive to work, and I would walk/public transportation to work each day. (I currently spend approximately 90 mins on NYC subways each day but would like to cut this down to 1 hour or less, if possible)
Recommendations we've heard so far are Arlington, Fairfax, Bethesda and Silver Spring, but these are all from people without kids. Would love any collective advice from this group on where you would move. Thanks in advance. |
Anonymous
| We have kids and I second the recs you have received. |
Anonymous
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I would look at renting a place in Glover Park - just North of GT. You could walk to work Or take the bus.
Important items to be aware of: 1. If you live in DC, you have public school options starting at age 3 - this would cut down on daycare costs significantly. When are you planning on moving? The "lottery" is open now. |
Anonymous
| op - Really? Employer has given me some flexibility on move date - basically either in 2-3 weeks or could delay all the way to June, but we can't really afford to stay where we are on DH's income alone, so would probably target March/April timeframe. DS turns 3 in September. Our current daycare is really cheap ($950/mo for 8-6pm daily) and we're anxious we are going to pay more. Is this option only in DC proper, or is it also in MD/VA? Thanks! |
Anonymous
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All of the areas you mention are outside the city. If your husband ends up with a teaching job in DC or Maryland, check out the following neighborhoods in DC with lots of rental options and good elementary schools:
Glover Park (walkable, very close to Georgetown, Stoddert ES; could possibly find a row house rental here) Van Ness/N. Cleveland Park (walkable, red line metro access, Murch ES) Woodley/Cleveland Park (walkable, closer to downtown, red line metro access, Eaton or Oyster ES) If your husband ends up teaching in VA, Arlington would be your best bet because of its proximity to Georgetown. If your husband ends up way out in Maryland, Friendship Heights or Bethesda would be a good midpoint, with a straight shot to Georgetown. Good luck! |
Anonymous
If you move in 2-3 weeks, you will make the lottery date. Your son will be the youngest in the class - but will make the cut-off for a PreS 3 program starting in Sept. These spots are highly sought after. If you get it - a great win. If you do not, daycare will be more than the 950 you are paying now. (I pay $1600 for my 3 YO in a place North of Glover Park in DC). Only the schools in DC start for 3YOs. You need to show evidence of residency. |
Anonymous
| Takoma Park! |
Anonymous
| Logan Circle would be another option with a bus that goes to Georgetown. |
Anonymous
| There is a circulator bus from Union Station to Georgetown. That means Capitol Hill is also an option. All the free preschools are east of the park, and many are in and around Capitol Hill. Would consider renting inbounds for Ludlow-Taylor, which has excellent preschool classrooms, and then spending that first year weighing where you want to end up long term. |
Anonymous
| There are some great apartments in Bethesda that are very close to Georgetown, right over the DC line. You could bike to Georgetown from there. There's a wonderful preschool right nearby-- Brookmont Nursery School. I think they are called Sumner Place Apartments on Sangamore Rd. I know of at least Three families renting there who are very happy. You'd be right near the canal and great shopping and restaurants in addition to several very friendly neighborhoods. |
Anonymous
I second this. It is a great neighborhood and a straight shot down MacArthur to Georgetown, plenty of buses. There are also rental places further down MacArthur in Palisades as well. Since I don't know if it's better to be in DC proper or in MD for the little one, or for your husband, those are great options. |
Anonymous
| OP - thanks all! |
Anonymous
| I've heard very good things about the Peabody Elementary school for pre-K and elementary on Capitol Hill. It's a public school. The Barrack's Row neighborhood, Eastern Market, and the H Street neighborhood offer lots of things to walk to on Capitol Hill. You'd have a very easy commute anywhere in the city. Your husband may want to look into Fairfax County, VA public schools for a job. It's a huge district, and so there are job opportunities every year. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Capitol Hill, Glover Park/Wisc Ave corridor are good options. |
Anonymous
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The good thing about Cap Hill is that if your child gets into Peabody, it's free, so that saves you a lot in daycare. And your commute to G'town would be way less than 90 minutes. Your husband could go straight up North Capitol St. to Montgomery Co., MD public schools in Silver Spring. Or across the river to Alexandria or Arlington, VA districts.
Mount Pleasant or Columbia Heights might be good, as you could drop down Rock Creek Parkway to G'town, and your husband could easily head straight north on 16th Street to Montgomery County, MD public schools. |