Moving to DC area from Boston area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. OP, I am another NE transplant that will tell you that I am sorry you are making the move. I know Andover, I am from west of Boston.

This post is meant for OP, not locals. If you are local, you can move on.

People from here are just very, very different. I will leave it at that. I loved it for the first few years, but after that, I have had one foot out the door, so to speak.

The town vs. county thing may not seems big deal until you own property and see how backward everyone is. Andover is likely more expensive than most places here (as you have seen). Locals seem to think it is the be all and end all - surprise! They have likely never been taxpayers win other metropolitan areas of the U.S. This area kind of has it for NYC and NE, FYI. You might not discover this right away. They absolutely do not know what to do with snow, but you will get a day to work from home. You might notice a certain contrary mentality and/or stereotype of certain workers....

There are a TON of strip malls, townhouses and condos (we call them seeds, they sprout everywhere because for a long time the developers did what they wanted)......

D.C. area drivers make Boston drivers look impeccable. No, really.

Area schools constantly brag about being the best and will produce articles upon articles to try to back up their point. Know it alls abound. Needless to say, NE'ers don't really have to resort to this (as you know) and take a lighter perspective, though often more accomplished and educated.

Anyway, I don't intend to discourage (really) but you are comparing apples and oranges, at best.

What is your price range and we can go from there? Are your expectations that it be similar to Andover - how much?

There really are not nice college towns such as Andover here. I miss the parades, marathon, sports (and everyday life) passion....I could go on.......

Frankly I am over the bloom where your planted BS from those who have not resided (key word: voting, driving, resident) elsewhere.

Completely disagree on the driving. Boston drivers are the pits compared to DC IMO. I'd rather drive in in manhattan than Boston. This are "has it" for the NE/NYC bc of attitudes like yours PP. you very clearly think that you (and the entire NE) are better. No wonder you don't fit in here very well.

[Anonymous]

I also have to say that I do not at all miss the override situation in Massachusetts. Those problems in Just about every Massachusetts town will only, only get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Palisades, DC

+1. Also Garratt Park by the post office. I live in DC, but work in Vienna. I'm not quite sure what people are talking about, but with that said, I drove through Fairfax City the other day. While I would NEVER dream of living there, it was really cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There's Town Hall in Glen Echo and the community center in Cabin John. Brookmont has all sorts of neighborhood activities, a great community park and is a short walk to shopping on Sangamore road. Chevy Chase Village and Martin Additions are also great places to live and have very active, kid-friendly communities.

You've never lived in the northeast, right?

Best I could do close to the Navy Yard, otherwise I have suggested someplace like Poolsville or possibly Point of Rocks or Lovettsville, Va.

[Anonymous]

Sigh, I totally miss the northeast. There are plusses and minuses everywhere but no such thing as towns here. People are just so different here. That part really sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't make the move if I were you. I know the Boston area as well as the DC area. Agree that if you must do it, Capitol Hill is the best you can do, or perhaps Takoma Park or Silver Spring.

If you do make the move, reserve judgement for at least a year, 2 years would be better. It really takes that long to build your community and gain the trust of others through your actions and integrity.

The schools are not good in these areas, though.

[Anonymous]

22:34 - Totally agree, unfortunately anyone that knows NE totally agrees. Cue the hostile local.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There's Town Hall in Glen Echo and the community center in Cabin John. Brookmont has all sorts of neighborhood activities, a great community park and is a short walk to shopping on Sangamore road. Chevy Chase Village and Martin Additions are also great places to live and have very active, kid-friendly communities.

You've never lived in the northeast, right?

Best I could do close to the Navy Yard, otherwise I have suggested someplace like Poolsville or possibly Point of Rocks or Lovettsville, Va.

Fair enough!

[Anonymous]

Completely agree that it's all apples and oranges. Grew up here, have lots of family/have visited all my life the NE/New England region. Both have lots to offer but if you're wedded to the merits of one or the other, you'll be disappointed in the other one. NE towns have it hands down over us on the cuteness/old-fashioned town aspect of things. On the other hand, I always feel the white-ness of NE and wonder how such a relatively cosmopolitan area could be so non-diverse (and I say this as an Irish-Catholic: yeah, I feel surprisingly at home there, but I'm also sort of astonished to see so many other white people around; it sort of unnerves me b/c I am not used to it ps I also feel this way when I visit my husband's family in the Midwest). So, this is all to say, both regions have their merits, but if you seriously want cute old TOWNS, New England has it all over us down here in the Wash metropolitan area. PS To my surprise, their prices are also cheaper too. When we were trying to sell my grandmother's house a few years ago in Westchester, I was SHOCKED -- SHOCKED -- as I started to follow their real estate market. Signed, Lifelong Ffx Cty resident with relatives in NJ, NY, and CT

[Anonymous]

dmhoran wrote:Hi everyone, I am a new user to this website (which is a great tool from what I have read so far!) and wanted to get some opinions for a potential move. My husband and 9 month old currently live in the Boston area and I am hoping to get a position in DC (Navy Yard area). If it works out, we are really looking forward to our new adventure but are confused and concerned about where we would live. The town we live in now is a picture perfect New England town that has community parks, fairs, barbeques, parades, etc. ..... If the position is offered and we move, we are hoping to land in a community in the DC area with that similar sort of small town feel that we have now. We are not familiar with the DC area (only have been there on vacations) so any advice will be appreciated. We are open to looking in both Maryland and Virginia. I would be willing to endure a longer commute into the city if it meant that we could get the small town feel. Ideas on where to look? Thanks to everyone [/quote

I enjoyed living in Boston and DC area (cap Hill, Alrington, Woodley park. It sounds like you live in like Swampscott area or maybe Hingham. Maybe you'd like Annapolis and commute down, or Old Town Alexandria, or even Capitol Hill. There are a lot of great neighborhoods and communities here, though if you include "good public schools" you probably need to do more research. Maybe rent for a year. I would also add that DC seems more diverse than Boston, especially if you exclude the student population. Climate is nice - same humid Augusts but really just Jan/Feb for a mild winter.

Have you moved or lived elsewhere before?
What are the chances that you are successful in your DC job application? Is it a transfer of sorts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spring valley has a very Greenwich CT look to it. Op check it out.

Um, no. Not really. Not at all, actually.

HA! Someone beat me to it, but born and raised in Greenwich, family all still there, and um, big fat no to this. There is nothing here that's like Greenwich.

OP, I have to agree with the majority. This is a huge transition from coming from New England. I've been here 10 years and truthfully, if I could get out, I would in a second. Unfortuantely we're entrenched here. And if you think finding your small town is hard, just look at the schools here. Yikes.

[chickychen]

One vote for Old Town. One perk if you live close to the Mt Vernon trail is that you can bike up into the city and commute that way to Navy Yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree that it's all apples and oranges. Grew up here, have lots of family/have visited all my life the NE/New England region. Both have lots to offer but if you're wedded to the merits of one or the other, you'll be disappointed in the other one. NE towns have it hands down over us on the cuteness/old-fashioned town aspect of things. On the other hand, I always feel the white-ness of NE and wonder how such a relatively cosmopolitan area could be so non-diverse (and I say this as an Irish-Catholic: yeah, I feel surprisingly at home there, but I'm also sort of astonished to see so many other white people around; it sort of unnerves me b/c I am not used to it ps I also feel this way when I visit my husband's family in the Midwest). So, this is all to say, both regions have their merits, but if you seriously want cute old TOWNS, New England has it all over us down here in the Wash metropolitan area. PS To my surprise, their prices are also cheaper too. When we were trying to sell my grandmother's house a few years ago in Westchester, I was SHOCKED -- SHOCKED -- as I started to follow their real estate market. Signed, Lifelong Ffx Cty resident with relatives in NJ, NY, and CT

NJ and NY are not New England states. Westchester is not New England.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sure I will get lots of snark, but check out the Kentlands neighborhood in Gaithersburg, MD - very much a tight knit community, with lots of community events, walkable little area with a diner, shops, restaurants, ice cream- bands in the summer, etc. Also Garrett Park, MD.

Hi OP, I grew up very close to Dedham. I agree with Garrett Park. It has a very nice feel, it is incorporated as a town, the houses are eclectic. They also have a brand new elementary school. The housing prices can be manageable. The Kentlands is further out and more of a manufactured feel, but the houses are cute, there is a sense of community and the people are friendly. We lived there pre-kids. I also think the the Town of Kensington and the Parkwood neighborhood have much to offer. There are some great homes, access to public transportation and an excellent community vibe. They have a bike parade on the 4th of July, music outside every weekend in the summer, labor day parade, etc. I live here now and love it. You have to check the school boundaries when looking at Kensington. The Town of Kensington and Parkwood feed in to Walter Johnson HS, which is a great school.

Good luck and Go Sox!

[Anonymous]

Palisades DC! It actually does feel like a small town. Big July 4th parade. Great public elementary school. Friendly neighbors. Easy access to trails. Short commute downtown. Some restaurants and stores.