Where to live to have 20 min driving commute to Capitol Hill?

[Anonymous]

Surprised by the lack of 295-accessible locations in this thread! That seems an obvious choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheverly, MD, it's about 15-20 minutes without traffic. Not sure about with traffic, but probably doable.

I was just going to recommend this!! I live and work on Capitol Hill and I love it (kids in public schools and doing great-- including Washington Latin for middle school) but if I had to move off Capitol Hill, this is where I would go. Very suburban enclave (private community swim and tennis club, nice backyards, etc.) yet so crazy close to the city. Not sure about the public schools-- my friends that live in Cheverly use the private school there. Kids can walk to school. House prices are way cheaper than in the city, so private school is affordable.

Horrible schools.

Like I said, I don't live there, but my firends that do go with private schools and are happy. Living at Cheverly and dropping off kids at private school on Capitol Hill like Capitol Hill Day School could be ideal. Plus, lots of private schools run buses. anyway, the commute to Capitol Hill would be so much better -- like half the time-- compared to Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I hate commuting. The only problem with silver spring is the schools. I think we'd want a better school pyramid than what you find generally in silver spring. So I'm thinking I may have to suck up the Arlington commute to get better schools. Somehow I don't know anyone who actually makes that drive, and looking at it on google maps just doesn't illuminate things.

The schools in downtown Silver Spring are at least similar if not superior than Arlington. The commute, however, down North Capital St does kind of suck. Arlington driving can be ok or horrific, depending on the bridges.

Come on, be serious.

Actually that is a fact, not including yorktown most of the school in Silver Spring are similar or better.

Is this a fact or your opinion? What is your evidence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I hate commuting. The only problem with silver spring is the schools. I think we'd want a better school pyramid than what you find generally in silver spring. So I'm thinking I may have to suck up the Arlington commute to get better schools. Somehow I don't know anyone who actually makes that drive, and looking at it on google maps just doesn't illuminate things.

The schools in downtown Silver Spring are at least similar if not superior than Arlington. The commute, however, down North Capital St does kind of suck. Arlington driving can be ok or horrific, depending on the bridges.

Come on, be serious.

Actually that is a fact, not including yorktown most of the school in Silver Spring are similar or better.

Is this a fact or your opinion? What is your evidence?

Even if there are good schools in Silver Spring, MCPS has a real problem right now dealing with a population explosion and figuring out where to put all of these kids. Arlington is a much smaller school district and, at least in my opinion, takes a much less "industrial" approach to educating children.

[Anonymous]

Where on Capitol Hill are you commuting? Have you thought about living along the Marc line - say Garrett Park or Kensington, just three or two stops from Union Station? And good public schools in both.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there are some good teachers in Arlington, but in my opinion going to a multi-decade proven system in MoCo is the better bet than taking a chance on an up and coming smaller system.

[Anonymous]

MARC line is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure there are some good teachers in Arlington, but in my opinion going to a multi-decade proven system in MoCo is the better bet than taking a chance on an up and coming smaller system.

up and coming? Didn't realize I lived in a multi-million dollar transitional 'hood over here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cheverly, MD, it's about 15-20 minutes without traffic. Not sure about with traffic, but probably doable.

I was just going to recommend this!! I live and work on Capitol Hill and I love it (kids in public schools and doing great-- including Washington Latin for middle school) but if I had to move off Capitol Hill, this is where I would go. Very suburban enclave (private community swim and tennis club, nice backyards, etc.) yet so crazy close to the city. Not sure about the public schools-- my friends that live in Cheverly use the private school there. Kids can walk to school. House prices are way cheaper than in the city, so private school is affordable.

Horrible schools.

Actually cheverly has a pretty highly ranked montessori school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure there are some good teachers in Arlington, but in my opinion going to a multi-decade proven system in MoCo is the better bet than taking a chance on an up and coming smaller system.

up and coming? Didn't realize I lived in a multi-million dollar transitional 'hood over here.

Don't feel bad, there are plenty of million-dollar-plus homes in DC where no rational human would send their kids to school.

[Anonymous]

I would nominate South Arlington. Like everywhere else, it depends on what time you leave. But it's easy access to Route 1 and 395. I drive close to Union Station every few months and usually do it in less than 30 minutes, and I don't leave that early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 6:45 you can get to Capitol Hill in 25 minutes from Bethesda if you are just over the line off Mass/Macarthur (Westgate, Westmoreland Hills, Sumner for example). You can even do it at 7:30. I did it for years. Getting home is another story. There is no way to do it in 25 mins except at maybe 1 pm.

Not really. Even in just the last 2 years, traffic has gotten even worse.

[Anonymous]

Cheverly in PG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:West side to east ?(i.e. Bethesda/CC) is easily an hour during rush hour. If you really want to live outside the city, downtown Silver Spring to Cap Hill can be done in about 30-35 minutes. Still, would recommend somewhere in DC and privates.

Not really. downtown Silver Spring is really congested. It takes 20 minutes to get down the road on a sunday. Even metro from SS to Capitol Hill is long b/c you have to change lines.

If you want a good commute to capitol hill from maryland, you're best bet is somewhere along the orange line. (and that goes for a good driving commute as well.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People trying to convince the OP to move to the Hill- she already said they have ruled out living in the city. Respect that personal choice, just as everyone should respect your choice to stay in the city.

But she also said she wants the commute to be 20 minutes. Which is it?

Agree. I live in the suburbs in MD. I don't see how you're going to get a 20 minute commute to capitol hill without living in D.C. People need to face reality. Even Arlington is tricky. Sure a 20 minute commute from Arlington to Capitol hill is theoretically possible but most people i know who actually drive that commute on a daily basis say it's more 40 minutes, even early in the morning.

I hate when PPs mislead people with commutes. Why can't people just be honest and realistic? I wonder if people lie to themselves about what their commutes are.