Recommendations for DC area neighborhoods or towns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Takoma Park? Maybe it’s the 4 million budget which is generally higher than prices there. Or the distance to some private schools. But you should add it to your list.

I think all the neighborhoods that fit your criteria have been mentioned. There are other great places to live, and that would fit many of your criteria, but with lower budgets and a different feel. Cambridge is a great place to live. DC area has a very different feel

+1

Takoma Park checks many of your boxes. Check out the historic district, close to the Takoma Metro Station. It’s a wonderful, lively, diverse community. Mature trees, great restaurants (check out Cielo Rojo), lots of neighborhood events. The local public schools house some of the most rigorous magnet programs in the county and are beloved by the neighborhood. The principal at the local elementary school recently won the Washington Posts principal of the year award. It’s a really special community full of smart, down to earth people.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown. Very family friendly, safe, not as diverse as other parts of the city (eg capital hill) but more diversity than you would expect because the university is right there. Walkable parks, coffee, restaurants, shops, work (if close enough downtown area), can walk to metro if you are on the eastern side, and the buses also run downtown and up Wisconsin regularly. Leafy but feels like a city.

[Anonymous]

Clarendon Virginia, North Bethesda, real Bethesda, Garrett Park and Kensington (under priced gems)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown. Very family friendly, safe, not as diverse as other parts of the city (eg capital hill) but more diversity than you would expect because the university is right there. Walkable parks, coffee, restaurants, shops, work (if close enough downtown area), can walk to metro if you are on the eastern side, and the buses also run downtown and up Wisconsin regularly. Leafy but feels like a city.

Georgetown does not have a Metro stop and the schools are NOT good. You'll be totally car dependent. It's fun for tourists but you don't really want to raise a family there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Takoma Park? Maybe it’s the 4 million budget which is generally higher than prices there. Or the distance to some private schools. But you should add it to your list.

I think all the neighborhoods that fit your criteria have been mentioned. There are other great places to live, and that would fit many of your criteria, but with lower budgets and a different feel. Cambridge is a great place to live. DC area has a very different feel

+1

Takoma Park checks many of your boxes. Check out the historic district, close to the Takoma Metro Station. It’s a wonderful, lively, diverse community. Mature trees, great restaurants (check out Cielo Rojo), lots of neighborhood events. The local public schools house some of the most rigorous magnet programs in the county and are beloved by the neighborhood. The principal at the local elementary school recently won the Washington Posts principal of the year award. It’s a really special community full of smart, down to earth people.

Takoma Park? Ugh! Hard pass.

[Anonymous]

OP here-

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share insight and information. I am developing a solid list of neighborhoods and towns to research and explore.

I especially appreciated the Cantabrigians who made direct neighborhood comparisons.

Thanks, everyone, this has truly been so helpful.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, when are you looking to move? From your original post where you mentioned wanting playground I assume you have younger children so you may not be too wedded to an elementary school start date. ?

[Anonymous]

Putting in a vote for Palisades. It has great houses, great community (huge 4th of July parade, regular concerts, a huge park with tennis, pickleaball, baseball, basekeball etc. And the neighborhood's maid drag, MacArthur Blvd, has a ton of good restaurants. The nearby neighborhood Kent is more upscale -- bigger houses, beautiful leafy streets, but still convenient to the MacArthur Blvd.

[Anonymous]

Palisades is famous for airplane noise and pollution since it is right on the DCA flight path. DCUM has more than a few threads about the noise and people who were lied to by realtors trying to downplay it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Palisades is famous for airplane noise and pollution since it is right on the DCA flight path. DCUM has more than a few threads about the noise and people who were lied to by realtors trying to downplay it.

Oh for god's sake I've lived here my whole life and it's a non-issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Palisades is famous for airplane noise and pollution since it is right on the DCA flight path. DCUM has more than a few threads about the noise and people who were lied to by realtors trying to downplay it.

Oh for god's sake I've lived here my whole life and it's a non-issue.

Really? Please tell that to the Georgetown and Palisades residents who filed a lawsuit over the increased noise and pollution from flights down the Potomac to DCA.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/appeals-court-rules-against-dc-residents-in-fight-over-noise-from-national-airport/2018/03/27/470c52e6-31df-11e8-8abc-22a366b72f2d_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown. Very family friendly, safe, not as diverse as other parts of the city (eg capital hill) but more diversity than you would expect because the university is right there. Walkable parks, coffee, restaurants, shops, work (if close enough downtown area), can walk to metro if you are on the eastern side, and the buses also run downtown and up Wisconsin regularly. Leafy but feels like a city.

Georgetown does not have a Metro stop and the schools are NOT good. You'll be totally car dependent. It's fun for tourists but you don't really want to raise a family there.

Georgetown has good public and private options. What are you on about?

[Anonymous]

Also, it’s literally the opposite of a car-dependent neighborhood… parking is a nightmare! Lots of people out walking to shops, restaurants, retail at all hours.

[Anonymous]

Town of Somerset? They said mixed race family. Somerset is pretty white. Just read some if the reviews about Somerset ES..non-white kids not really welcome unless they are European or Asian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown. Very family friendly, safe, not as diverse as other parts of the city (eg capital hill) but more diversity than you would expect because the university is right there. Walkable parks, coffee, restaurants, shops, work (if close enough downtown area), can walk to metro if you are on the eastern side, and the buses also run downtown and up Wisconsin regularly. Leafy but feels like a city.

Georgetown does not have a Metro stop and the schools are NOT good. You'll be totally car dependent. It's fun for tourists but you don't really want to raise a family there.

Georgetown has good public and private options. What are you on about?

It has a bus. The Metro in Foggy Bottom is too far for most people in Georgetown.