Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only comment is that in Maryland, I feel trapped in terms of driving options. That part of the beltway is a constant headache -- sometimes at its worst on the weekends. In Alexandria, I have Rte 1 and 95 going south, beltway right there to head east west, etc. 395 to head into DC. I could not imagine living in Maryland suburbs for this reason alone.

Funny I think of thev395/495 part of the beltway as the biggest nightmare and the toll lanes are so confusing...I avoid the area. Living in MD you can enjoy the Clara Barton Parkway into DC.

Seriously. These people have no idea of what they're talking about. There are so many ways you can get to DC and everywhere from MD.

[Anonymous]

If you’re concerned about public schools, you’re probably concerned about in state tuition. If that’s the case, you should probably consider public colleges in this decision, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is a much more desirable location than Alexandria. It is safer, has better housing stock, is well connected, and has great access to the outdoors when compared to both the City and FFx-Alx. It will also be more expensive but if you can make it work will definitely be the right move. Schools are all excellent in Bethesda so you will have peace of mind that your next home can be your forever home.

It just is not a contest. Welcome to the community

Highly disagree with this. I don’t live in either community, but Alexandria is not lacking in housing stock at all. There’s plenty of gorgeous homes there, especially closer to the waterfront. Bethesda doesn’t have anything like it at all. Downtown Bethesda is awesome, but it doesn’t have the same charm Alexandria does, which feels like a larger and more cosmopolitan version of Annapolis, MD. The only category Bethesda has the edge over Alexandria in is schools and commute into DC.

OP doesn't really live in or near old town. OP is in the route 1 "Alexandria part of fairfax county"

[Anonymous]

Belle Haven and fort hunt are nice areas. Better to live there than in the west end with the drab buildings, high needs population with poor schools and none of the charm in old town or del ray

[Anonymous]

Bethesda is really nice but too expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is a much more desirable location than Alexandria. It is safer, has better housing stock, is well connected, and has great access to the outdoors when compared to both the City and FFx-Alx. It will also be more expensive but if you can make it work will definitely be the right move. Schools are all excellent in Bethesda so you will have peace of mind that your next home can be your forever home.

It just is not a contest. Welcome to the community

This is laughable. I made the reverse move and could not be happier in Alexandria

[Anonymous]

Why do you prefer your new locale? Was it to get closer to your job?

[Anonymous]

I love how quick people are to engage in hyperbole on these forums.

Ie things like:
“Alexandria city schools are terrible.”
“Bethesda sucks“

On a national level (and international level while where at it) these two places are among the wealthiest, most educated, attractive, and safest places deep inside a major metro you can find. I recognize neither are the tippy top of the list in those individual categories but at the confluence of those factors both do quite well and all of these extreme claims are starting to feel like the Princess and the Pea. People are insanely lucky to be able to live in either place.

I’m sure people will start to talk about how places are still bad and how other places are way better, and the rationale will be a great display of all the first world problems people love to gripe about

[Anonymous]

Worst part of Alexandria is Rt1 (the drain pipe of NOVA) and that it is filled with Virginians (the gunk flowing down drain pipe). They take such pride in the river but seem to forget that ever inch and drop of the river belongs to Maryland. All they are really saying is the best part of Alexandria is the view of Maryland and to that point I agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only comment is that in Maryland, I feel trapped in terms of driving options. That part of the beltway is a constant headache -- sometimes at its worst on the weekends. In Alexandria, I have Rte 1 and 95 going south, beltway right there to head east west, etc. 395 to head into DC. I could not imagine living in Maryland suburbs for this reason alone.

Funny I think of thev395/495 part of the beltway as the biggest nightmare and the toll lanes are so confusing...I avoid the area. Living in MD you can enjoy the Clara Barton Parkway into DC.

Seriously. These people have no idea of what they're talking about. There are so many ways you can get to DC and everywhere from MD.

Every Saturday and Sunday, heading north on 495 across the American Legion Bridge into Maryland is a choke point where 270 South merges in. You don't have those kinds of delays on the weekend in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how quick people are to engage in hyperbole on these forums.

Ie things like:
“Alexandria city schools are terrible.”
“Bethesda sucks“

On a national level (and international level while where at it) these two places are among the wealthiest, most educated, attractive, and safest places deep inside a major metro you can find. I recognize neither are the tippy-top of the list in those individual categories but at the confluence of those factors both do quite well and all of these extreme claims are starting to feel like the Princess and the Pea. People are insanely lucky to be able to live in either place. Hopefully, Amazon will be able to sanitize the area over the next decade so it's safe for children

I’m sure people will start to talk about how places are still bad and how other places are way better, and the rationale will be a great display of all the first world problems people love to gripe about

you've never visited, lived, or had to travel through the west end of the city of Alexandria. There is nothing wealthy, highly educated, attractive, or excessively safe. It is run of the mill overbilt mid 20th century suburban life experiencing urban decay. Painting a pig with bike lane lipstick doesn't make it a desireable place. I agree that some of Alexandria is nice, and worthy of consideration for people alongside Bethesda but that is just a small segment of the City, and a handful of neighborhoods along fort hunt road.

Every major metro area has desireable inner suburbs. While these may be on the list, there is nothing special. Philly, NY, Boston, Chicago, SF, LA, Seattle, etc. all have their own version of desireable communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only comment is that in Maryland, I feel trapped in terms of driving options. That part of the beltway is a constant headache -- sometimes at its worst on the weekends. In Alexandria, I have Rte 1 and 95 going south, beltway right there to head east west, etc. 395 to head into DC. I could not imagine living in Maryland suburbs for this reason alone.

Funny I think of thev395/495 part of the beltway as the biggest nightmare and the toll lanes are so confusing...I avoid the area. Living in MD you can enjoy the Clara Barton Parkway into DC.

Seriously. These people have no idea of what they're talking about. There are so many ways you can get to DC and everywhere from MD.

Every Saturday and Sunday, heading north on 495 across the American Legion Bridge into Maryland is a choke point where 270 South merges in. You don't have those kinds of delays on the weekend in Virginia.

Yah 95 totally isn’t a shit show in Va during the weekends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worst part of Alexandria is Rt1 (the drain pipe of NOVA) and that it is filled with Virginians (the gunk flowing down drain pipe). They take such pride in the river but seem to forget that ever inch and drop of the river belongs to Maryland. All they are really saying is the best part of Alexandria is the view of Maryland and to that point I agree

Maryland doesn’t own the river idiot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worst part of Alexandria is Rt1 (the drain pipe of NOVA) and that it is filled with Virginians (the gunk flowing down drain pipe). They take such pride in the river but seem to forget that ever inch and drop of the river belongs to Maryland. All they are really saying is the best part of Alexandria is the view of Maryland and to that point I agree

Maryland doesn’t own the river idiot

DP. In our local area, Maryland primarily has jurisdiction south of the WW Bridge, and DC primarily has jurisdiction north of the WW Bridge. Google is your friend.