DC or New Jersey?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have the option of relocating to the DC area or New Jersey, and I would love some opinions! Our budget is low for either area - around $450K, but willing to rent and/or look at town homes.

I've researched DC quite a bit, and our family has spent a lot of time there. We would probably be looking at Fairfax City, Reston, Burke Centre. DH would be working downtown, but also teleworking 1-2 days per week. He is prepared for the commute.

I have a home-based business, so I have no commute to factor in. we have 3 kids in ES and MS. Of course we want a safe area and good schools, but I am also focused on finding something with a town-like feel.

I personally vote for DC, but admit I'm biased. For $450k you probably can afford a SFH in Burke Centre, but you might have to take down 1980's wall paper and will probably want to seriously consider renovating the kitchen and bathrooms. Most of the homes are around 30 years old now. A fair number of the ones I've seen on the market recently are being sold by older, empty nest couples that have owned the house since the late 1980's/early 1990's- and haven't always been updated since then.

Burke is truly the suburbs. It's a great place to raise kids- good schools, with strong PTA's, lots of sports, scouts and other activities. Lots of cul-de-sac's for riding bikes. The VRE train is great for commuting, if your husbands office is near the DC end of the VRE (L'Enfant plaza or Union Station).

On the other hand, there are almost no restaurants, shopping, or cultural events in the neighborhood. Everything that is there, is in a strip mall (and there are some hidden gems in the strip malls, like the Swiss Bakery). With kids in school, you will run into neighbors/parents at the grocery store, school events, McD's, Starbucks, etc, and it can have a town-like feel- ie, knowing lots of people, but Burke Centre definitely does not have a town center and is not really walkable. You will spend a lot of time in your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Jersey native of 50 years here. I love DC, having recently moved here. But let's be real -- there really are no good pizza or bagel places around here. NJ has a lock on this. However, I love most of the other ethnic choices in DMV alot. I will return to NJ for my bagels and pizza though.

Wow, pizza and bagels really are deciding factor when you need to choose where to live, like there are no other food options. Besides, both are waist expanding foods for sure, many of us could use less of anyway. And it's not like these simple foods are entirely disgusting anywhere but NYC or NJ. They are just fine.