Moving to DC Area from Westchester, NY, Want a Different Vibe...Where Should We Definitely Avoid?

[Anonymous]

I think inner beltway SS, Takoma Park, or Rockville west of Rockville Pike (355) are best options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on all the info you've given us, your best bets are Kensington or Silver Spring. Everywhere else mentioned in this thread is either above your price range, too far out or not very diverse.

oh yes, Kensington great choice too!

[Anonymous]

Richard Montgomery HS in Rockville may be one of the most diverse Hs in the coountry—there are kids of every ethnicity and religion. And quite economically diverse. But Rockville really is pretty painful with strip malls. I feel like if you like White Plains then Silver spring might be more what you’re looking for. Maybe College Park or university park. Takoma park has the best cute downtown feel but it’s definitely a different kind of bubble, and your price point might not match. The cheaper areas of bethesda (zoned for WJ) have a fair amount of diversity with a ton of international families and lots of second generation immigrants as well, but basically everyone has a college degree and most people have an advanced degree (the government, non-profit and military folks means that it’s not all rich folks, but there’s not a lot of people that are actually financially struggling.).

I also wonder if the areas in NE that might work for you. I don’t know those neighborhoods well enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No to North Arlington. (I live here).

I really disagree. I also live here and have lived in Ny and CT. I would definitely stay away from
Bethesda. The women there are generally not nice. Can you increase your budget? Our taxes are much lower than Westchester. Like $10k on a $1m house vs $20k in Westchester. Where will you be working? Maryland income taxes are pretty high too, on par with NY. VA is lower, but you’ll have to pay the car tax which can add up if you have nice cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on all the info you've given us, your best bets are Kensington or Silver Spring. Everywhere else mentioned in this thread is either above your price range, too far out or not very diverse.

oh yes, Kensington great choice too!

Just be aware that the wealthier parts aren't particularly racially diverse. There are some beautiful, large-ish lots and homes, but it's somewhat of a white bubble. And then the parts of Kensington that aren't in that bubble tend to have smaller lots.

[Anonymous]

I’d look in Wheaton, maybe near Wheaton Regional Park. There are some beautiful homes with large plots of land up there that are in your price range. And there’s a large working class, plus a lot of very educated people (think Smithsonian staffers, teachers, FDA workers, etc). Not high earners, but well educated. A lot of middle class that comes from other parts of the country where they aren’t using generational wealth (Indiana, South Dakota, etc) to buy into the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Maybe something like this?
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/3307-Pendleton-Dr-20902/home/10950391

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d look in Wheaton, maybe near Wheaton Regional Park. There are some beautiful homes with large plots of land up there that are in your price range. And there’s a large working class, plus a lot of very educated people (think Smithsonian staffers, teachers, FDA workers, etc). Not high earners, but well educated. A lot of middle class that comes from other parts of the country where they aren’t using generational wealth (Indiana, South Dakota, etc) to buy into the neighborhood.

This is interesting. I mentioned Rockville and Silver Spring up-thread and I’d agree Wheaton belongs in that list. It’s probably more modest overall and comes with the issues that accompany modesty, but it’s absolutely a diverse place at odds with Westchester and also likely to get much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia people: what would you say is VA’s closest analog to Silver Spring or Rockville? I’m guessing Falls Church, but I’d love to hear other ideas.

Basically the formula seems to be:
-outside the beltway, but not too far out
-some nearby urban areas with economic and ethnic diversity
-a substantial, but not hegemonic, population of educated people and the good schools that would accompany them

Closest analog to Silver Spring is South Arlington.

Closest analog to Rockville is Burke (unless you're talking about the part of Rockville that is also considered North Bethesda, in which case the closest analog is Vienna).

[Anonymous]

Definitely not Falls Church City. Annandale/Sleepy Hollow/Lake Barcroft would maybe fit the bill. Fairfax County parts of Alexandria that are closer to Old Town - it gets really white and cliquey as you get closer to Mt Vernon. South Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Richard Montgomery HS in Rockville may be one of the most diverse Hs in the coountry—there are kids of every ethnicity and religion. And quite economically diverse. But Rockville really is pretty painful with strip malls. I feel like if you like White Plains then Silver spring might be more what you’re looking for. Maybe College Park or university park. Takoma park has the best cute downtown feel but it’s definitely a different kind of bubble, and your price point might not match. The cheaper areas of bethesda (zoned for WJ) have a fair amount of diversity with a ton of international families and lots of second generation immigrants as well, but basically everyone has a college degree and most people have an advanced degree (the government, non-profit and military folks means that it’s not all rich folks, but there’s not a lot of people that are actually financially struggling.).

I also wonder if the areas in NE that might work for you. I don’t know those neighborhoods well enough.

I think OP should also look at Brookland and (as mentioned upthread) Shepherd Park. I think they'd like it and could at least get close to their lot size requirement. I think your list of places in MD is spot on as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia people: what would you say is VA’s closest analog to Silver Spring or Rockville? I’m guessing Falls Church, but I’d love to hear other ideas.

Basically the formula seems to be:
-outside the beltway, but not too far out
-some nearby urban areas with economic and ethnic diversity
-a substantial, but not hegemonic, population of educated people and the good schools that would accompany them

Closest analog to Silver Spring is South Arlington.

Closest analog to Rockville is Burke (unless you're talking about the part of Rockville that is also considered North Bethesda, in which case the closest analog is Vienna).

Your Burke-Rockville analog surprised me. While they aren’t identical, as I look more closely I see a lot of similarities.

How well has South Arlington kept it’s character? I would certainly have agreed about its similarities to SS 10 years ago, but Arlington seems to have transformed in recent years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No to North Arlington. (I live here).

I'm curious to hear more about Arlington. A friend is planning to move there because it's close to DC, more urban feel with things to do, and she says it's diverse and not snobby. But it hasn't been mentioned much on this thread one way or the other.

DP who also lives in north Arlington. Arlington has a very strong trend from more affluent to less affluent as you move from north to south. Given your budget and what you described, I would suggest looking in central to south Arlington rather than north Arlington (especially north of Rt. 29 Arlington). That part will be largely out of your budget and I don't think will give you the socioeconomic diversity you are looking for. But central Arlington (north and south of Rt. 50) and south Arlington have neighborhoods that fit your budget and what you're describing community/lifestyle-wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia people: what would you say is VA’s closest analog to Silver Spring or Rockville? I’m guessing Falls Church, but I’d love to hear other ideas.

Basically the formula seems to be:
-outside the beltway, but not too far out
-some nearby urban areas with economic and ethnic diversity
-a substantial, but not hegemonic, population of educated people and the good schools that would accompany them

Closest analog to Silver Spring is South Arlington.

Closest analog to Rockville is Burke (unless you're talking about the part of Rockville that is also considered North Bethesda, in which case the closest analog is Vienna).

Your Burke-Rockville analog surprised me. While they aren’t identical, as I look more closely I see a lot of similarities.

How well has South Arlington kept it’s character? I would certainly have agreed about its similarities to SS 10 years ago, but Arlington seems to have transformed in recent years.

Single-family housing in South Arlington has become quite expensive, and there is redevelopment especially along the eastern part of Columbia Pike, but it's still diverse due to low and moderate-income garden apartments.

North Arlington, on the other hand, is as white as it gets in the DC region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reston, VA. It might be too far out, but it's very diverse and is filled with parks and walking paths. I don't live there, but I often wish I did.

I grew up in Reston (in my 40s now, but still living in Northern VA). Was coming here to recommend it.

I’ve also got close friends in Westchester, NY (was visiting them this summer, even) and so I can also confirm it’s a different “vibe.”