Recommendations for neighborhoods in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Congratulations to your son but most people who put "good schools" in their real estate post aren't looking for a high school ranked below 13,000 in the United States.

You're missing the point. Whether its intention or not, I don't know, but enjoy your ignorance.

I'm not missing the point. Stop taking this thread so personally. It's awesome that you are so happy with your public school experience in Alexandria!

[Anonymous]

Saratoga Springs. Stay in NY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Congratulations to your son but most people who put "good schools" in their real estate post aren't looking for a high school ranked below 13,000 in the United States.

You're missing the point. Whether its intention or not, I don't know, but enjoy your ignorance.

I'm not missing the point. Stop taking this thread so personally. It's awesome that you are so happy with your public school experience in Alexandria!

Yes, you are missing the point. There is a very high likelihood that OP's kid would get into a better college from AC than from... say W&L or Justice or Woodson or South Lakes

You can't have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

[Anonymous]

There are literally 100 other places I would choose before the DC metro if I wasn't tied here for jobs. (And that's not even considering that my spouse would have to commute multiple states away every week and miss time with the kids). You're about to enter peak activities years where having two adults to schlep kids to lessons/watch games/pick up from after school activitiesetc becomes increasingly necessary if you don't want to lose your mind. Don't do this to your QOL.

Live wherever you can closer to NYC, and suck up the boring housing and visit the cities on vacation.

I promise, if you end up in the suburbs here you aren't going into the city very often anyway, especially with 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saratoga Springs. Stay in NY

This. Your dollar will go farther, the schools are comparable (or you could afford private) and it’s a million times more charming.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP! Just providing a view separate from the naysayers. I am from the NJ burbs (Monmouth County) and absolutely love it in DC. I work from home, as does my husband, and am not tied here because of a job (although DH has to head to client sites in the DC area sometimes). We're in Cleveland Park and I love it! I second those who recommend Georgetown (especially for the charm though you'd lack yard space), Cleveland Park, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, etc. I don't have any children yet, but I know that those neighborhoods' elementary schools get excellent ratings on Good Schools. Capitol Hill is also really charming, but safety is more of a concern.

I love the old homes, (mostly free) cultural institutions, dining scene, and park space that DC has to offer. Plus I'm only a 2.5 - 3 hr Amtrak or 3 hr drive away from family in the NJ/NY area. I find DC to be a clean, walkable place with friendly-enough people that's less overwhelming than NY.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Just providing a view separate from the naysayers. I am from the NJ burbs (Monmouth County) and absolutely love it in DC. I work from home, as does my husband, and am not tied here because of a job (although DH has to head to client sites in the DC area sometimes). We're in Cleveland Park and I love it! I second those who recommend Georgetown (especially for the charm though you'd lack yard space), Cleveland Park, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, etc. I don't have any children yet, but I know that those neighborhoods' elementary schools get excellent ratings on Good Schools. Capitol Hill is also really charming, but safety is more of a concern.

I love the old homes, (mostly free) cultural institutions, dining scene, and park space that DC has to offer. Plus I'm only a 2.5 - 3 hr Amtrak or 3 hr drive away from family in the NJ/NY area. I find DC to be a clean, walkable place with friendly-enough people that's less overwhelming than NY.

Good luck!

Do you visit family once a week though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

Yes Alexandria to Union Station is fine. Alexandria to Penn Station is not. What are you smoking?

Did OP say they were using Penn Station?

I'll answer that for you. No.

Next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

So switching twice and then taking a 3+ hour train to NYC? And then back in the evening? Come on.

Are these bots or trolls?

There is no switching. Not once, not twice. You walk down Commonwealth to the train station, get on the train, go to the quiet car, scroll through emails, and voila, you are in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you move to one of the nice towns in NJ with good schools and a not too commute to NYC? Not sure why you would move to the DC area frankly, which isnt know for old, cute towns and has huge school districts rife with problems.

[Anonymous]

This is a great neighborhood. Walking distance to the library and Westover restaurants. Good school pyramid. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1527-N-McKinley-Rd_Arlington_VA_22205_M52343-46594?from=srp-map

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you move to one of the nice towns in NJ with good schools and a not too commute to NYC? Not sure why you would move to the DC area frankly, which isnt know for old, cute towns and has huge school districts rife with problems.

NJ isn’t known for old cute towns. Where do you people come up with this? My town had constant problems with its schools because of its small size.

I know every town in North Jersey. My whole family is from there or the Hudson Valley. Nobody moves to NJ for its old cute towns. They move there for suburban proximity to NYC and to work some of the corporate campuses local to the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Just providing a view separate from the naysayers. I am from the NJ burbs (Monmouth County) and absolutely love it in DC. I work from home, as does my husband, and am not tied here because of a job (although DH has to head to client sites in the DC area sometimes). We're in Cleveland Park and I love it! I second those who recommend Georgetown (especially for the charm though you'd lack yard space), Cleveland Park, Glover Park, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, etc. I don't have any children yet, but I know that those neighborhoods' elementary schools get excellent ratings on Good Schools. Capitol Hill is also really charming, but safety is more of a concern.

I love the old homes, (mostly free) cultural institutions, dining scene, and park space that DC has to offer. Plus I'm only a 2.5 - 3 hr Amtrak or 3 hr drive away from family in the NJ/NY area. I find DC to be a clean, walkable place with friendly-enough people that's less overwhelming than NY.

Good luck!

I grew up in both Woodley Park in Cleveland Park and agree they are great. However, they are very expensive now especially if you want a house. And there aren’t really hardly any three bedroom apartments. Doesn’t sound like the original poster wants to live in a two bedroom apartment, she wants a house. Cleveland Park, that’s at least a couple million realistically speaking. Maybe you could find one like a semi detach for 1.5 if you get lucky, I live in the burbs now because the houses are cheaper the public schools are a little bit better and we can’t afford private. It’s a completely different experience. I really don’t see any reason to move to Washington suburbs if you don’t have a job in Washington. Your husband has to commute to New York City. That’s just a bizarre idea. If they have tons of money, you can live in Woodley Park or Cleveland Park and afford private high school and are OK with Wilson, sure. Moved to Woodley Parker Cleveland Park. But moving out to the DC suburbs and her situation? It really doesn’t make sense.