where should we move?! around 650k, kids, work downtown dc...

[Anonymous]

West Springfield, VA. Lots of transportation options including express buses, HOV lanes/slugging, and Metro is a short drive away. Schools are great (Fairfax County) and you can easily find a 4 bedroom house in your price range. We have a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's within a few miles. There are a fair number of strip malls, but it's surprising how many small, local businesses (non-chain) are in them. Tons of parks and trails; Burke Lake Park is wonderful. I would just be careful when choosing an exact location. Depending on how close (or not) you are to a bus stop/slug lot/main road, you can add a lot of time to your commute.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray.

[Anonymous]

Does Woodside Park and Woodside Forest have lots of kids and if so, how old? I understand there are younger families moving there in the hopes that the middle schools and HS keep improving by the time they're ready for them. But are there older kids, like age 10 and up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Woodside Park and Woodside Forest have lots of kids and if so, how old? I understand there are younger families moving there in the hopes that the middle schools and HS keep improving by the time they're ready for them. But are there older kids, like age 10 and up?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in woodmoor and it takes me 30 minutes door to door to get to 16th and k, unless major accident. Beyond woodmoor adds 10 to 15, but woodmoor gets you in beyond the beltway backup. Great homes in the $500-600 range with 4 beds and 2.5 baths, generally.

I looked into Woodmoor but the public elementary schools seems less than ideal, to say the least. I'm Jewish, so sending to the Catholic school is not an option nor would I want to pay for private. Is Woodmoor only workable if you do private?

My DH is Jewish and was uncomfortable in Woodmoor - culturally the tone there is very Catholic. FWIW. I think that much of Woodmoor uses the Catholic school in the neighborhood, but many use public.

Woodside OTOH has a culturally Jewish tone (if it has any religious tone at all). We live here in Woodside, and have been very happy with the schools.

What does that mean? I actually live in Woodmoor, and have seen that on DCUM before, but am not sure what people mean by that. Socially conservative? (I'm not Catholic, so not offended or anything, just curious). I have heard from some of the families at St. B's (the Catholic school) that enrollment is declining because more in the neighborhood are using the public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in woodmoor and it takes me 30 minutes door to door to get to 16th and k, unless major accident. Beyond woodmoor adds 10 to 15, but woodmoor gets you in beyond the beltway backup. Great homes in the $500-600 range with 4 beds and 2.5 baths, generally.

I looked into Woodmoor but the public elementary schools seems less than ideal, to say the least. I'm Jewish, so sending to the Catholic school is not an option nor would I want to pay for private. Is Woodmoor only workable if you do private?

My DH is Jewish and was uncomfortable in Woodmoor - culturally the tone there is very Catholic. FWIW. I think that much of Woodmoor uses the Catholic school in the neighborhood, but many use public.

Woodside OTOH has a culturally Jewish tone (if it has any religious tone at all). We live here in Woodside, and have been very happy with the schools.

What does that mean? I actually live in Woodmoor, and have seen that on DCUM before, but am not sure what people mean by that. Socially conservative? (I'm not Catholic, so not offended or anything, just curious). I have heard from some of the families at St. B's (the Catholic school) that enrollment is declining because more in the neighborhood are using the public school.

It means that a large percentage of the residents are Catholic, and many are socially conservative.

We lived there for five years and had to get out because it was just the wrong social/cultural fit.

[Anonymous]

OP, we have 2 kids (3 and 1) and just moved from Brightwood to Takoma Park, in the historic district close to Metro. I also work in Penn Quarter and can get there in 25-30 mins door to door on Metro or driving (less if not rush hour). We love, love, love TP. Admittedly, it is hard to find a non-tiny house that is walkable to Metro for under 700K, though this one is on a great block and would get you close (e.g. http://franklymls.com/MC7842641). This one is about mile from metro, but still walkable: http://franklymls.com/MC7804980.

[Anonymous]

http://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4311-Knowles-Ave-20895/home/11073804

great schools, Parkwood/NBeth/WJ and good location and new construction. I am not sure why it hasnt sold.

[Anonymous]

^^^ PP here... it does seem to be on a busy road. that must be why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in woodmoor and it takes me 30 minutes door to door to get to 16th and k, unless major accident. Beyond woodmoor adds 10 to 15, but woodmoor gets you in beyond the beltway backup. Great homes in the $500-600 range with 4 beds and 2.5 baths, generally.

I looked into Woodmoor but the public elementary schools seems less than ideal, to say the least. I'm Jewish, so sending to the Catholic school is not an option nor would I want to pay for private. Is Woodmoor only workable if you do private?

My DH is Jewish and was uncomfortable in Woodmoor - culturally the tone there is very Catholic. FWIW. I think that much of Woodmoor uses the Catholic school in the neighborhood, but many use public.

Woodside OTOH has a culturally Jewish tone (if it has any religious tone at all). We live here in Woodside, and have been very happy with the schools.

What does that mean? I actually live in Woodmoor, and have seen that on DCUM before, but am not sure what people mean by that. Socially conservative? (I'm not Catholic, so not offended or anything, just curious). I have heard from some of the families at St. B's (the Catholic school) that enrollment is declining because more in the neighborhood are using the public school.

It means that a large percentage of the residents are Catholic, and many are socially conservative.

We lived there for five years and had to get out because it was just the wrong social/cultural fit.

I'm Jewish and live in Woodmoor. Agree that many families are Catholic, but probably not a majority. And of those that are, most don't seem too conservative...it's a welcoming community for gay couples (a number in the neighborhood), all religions (even playing CYO sports), and various socio-economic statuses. Is it a little more republican than some other areas? Sure, but more out of a small government mentality than a cultural one. Many more neighbors, catholic and not, are sending their kids to the local publics.

I have heard the St B's parish from a catholic standpoint is more conservative than most, but that's a much different discussion than the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/4311-Knowles-Ave-20895/home/11073804

great schools, Parkwood/NBeth/WJ and good location and new construction. I am not sure why it hasnt sold.

Because Knowles is super busy road and the houses around it are not so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in woodmoor and it takes me 30 minutes door to door to get to 16th and k, unless major accident. Beyond woodmoor adds 10 to 15, but woodmoor gets you in beyond the beltway backup. Great homes in the $500-600 range with 4 beds and 2.5 baths, generally.

I looked into Woodmoor but the public elementary schools seems less than ideal, to say the least. I'm Jewish, so sending to the Catholic school is not an option nor would I want to pay for private. Is Woodmoor only workable if you do private?

My DH is Jewish and was uncomfortable in Woodmoor - culturally the tone there is very Catholic. FWIW. I think that much of Woodmoor uses the Catholic school in the neighborhood, but many use public.

Woodside OTOH has a culturally Jewish tone (if it has any religious tone at all). We live here in Woodside, and have been very happy with the schools.

What does that mean? I actually live in Woodmoor, and have seen that on DCUM before, but am not sure what people mean by that. Socially conservative? (I'm not Catholic, so not offended or anything, just curious). I have heard from some of the families at St. B's (the Catholic school) that enrollment is declining because more in the neighborhood are using the public school.

It means that a large percentage of the residents are Catholic, and many are socially conservative.

We lived there for five years and had to get out because it was just the wrong social/cultural fit.

I'm Jewish and live in Woodmoor. Agree that many families are Catholic, but probably not a majority. And of those that are, most don't seem too conservative...it's a welcoming community for gay couples (a number in the neighborhood), all religions (even playing CYO sports), and various socio-economic statuses. Is it a little more republican than some other areas? Sure, but more out of a small government mentality than a cultural one. Many more neighbors, catholic and not, are sending their kids to the local publics.

I have heard the St B's parish from a catholic standpoint is more conservative than most, but that's a much different discussion than the neighborhood.

Thanks - I am the Woodmoor pp whohad asked about the "Catholic cultural tone." I have also found it to be a welcoming place, not somewhere that a Jewish person would be uncomfortable. But also am new to the neighborhood. So I was worried that maybe my perceptions were off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in woodmoor and it takes me 30 minutes door to door to get to 16th and k, unless major accident. Beyond woodmoor adds 10 to 15, but woodmoor gets you in beyond the beltway backup. Great homes in the $500-600 range with 4 beds and 2.5 baths, generally.

I looked into Woodmoor but the public elementary schools seems less than ideal, to say the least. I'm Jewish, so sending to the Catholic school is not an option nor would I want to pay for private. Is Woodmoor only workable if you do private?

My DH is Jewish and was uncomfortable in Woodmoor - culturally the tone there is very Catholic. FWIW. I think that much of Woodmoor uses the Catholic school in the neighborhood, but many use public.

Woodside OTOH has a culturally Jewish tone (if it has any religious tone at all). We live here in Woodside, and have been very happy with the schools.

What does that mean? I actually live in Woodmoor, and have seen that on DCUM before, but am not sure what people mean by that. Socially conservative? (I'm not Catholic, so not offended or anything, just curious). I have heard from some of the families at St. B's (the Catholic school) that enrollment is declining because more in the neighborhood are using the public school.

It means that a large percentage of the residents are Catholic, and many are socially conservative.

We lived there for five years and had to get out because it was just the wrong social/cultural fit.

I'm Jewish and live in Woodmoor. Agree that many families are Catholic, but probably not a majority. And of those that are, most don't seem too conservative...it's a welcoming community for gay couples (a number in the neighborhood), all religions (even playing CYO sports), and various socio-economic statuses. Is it a little more republican than some other areas? Sure, but more out of a small government mentality than a cultural one. Many more neighbors, catholic and not, are sending their kids to the local publics.

I have heard the St B's parish from a catholic standpoint is more conservative than most, but that's a much different discussion than the neighborhood.

Thanks - I am the Woodmoor pp whohad asked about the "Catholic cultural tone." I have also found it to be a welcoming place, not somewhere that a Jewish person would be uncomfortable. But also am new to the neighborhood. So I was worried that maybe my perceptions were off.

::shrug::

We moved out years ago, so maybe it has changed. But when we were there it was predominantly conservative Catholic, certainly more Republican than the rest of close-in Silver Spring, heavily associated with St. B's, and very SAHM-oriented. A terrible fit for us.

I'm glad it's working for you, but also glad we moved out when we did. LOL

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in Woodside Park too. For anyone living there , have you been happy with the elementary, middle, and high schools? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP here,
thanks for all the great suggestions. I am starting a spread sheet. Part of the problem is that Dh just refuses off the bat certain place--he thinks the montgomery schools are declining, and he hates Takoma Park or at least what it stands for....(he is an east coast curmudgeon, I am a crunchy west coast liberal). But I will do my research on individual schools, houses, commutes, etc.

I did look in Kensington a while back, but in our range there were about 2 houses every couple months that came up. And usually something wrong with them...but I liked the feel of it.

I am also going to check out West Falls church city this weekend.