The Stigma of North Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not talking about Rockville pretending to be North Bethesda, but about 20814, north of NIH, still Bethesda. The houses are a good $250,000 less than south of NIH and renovated and nice. Is it worth it to buy in North Bethesda even if people seem to look down on it?

There is confusion here regarding what "North Bethesda" is.
The neighborhood immediately north of the NIH in 20814 is called Maplewood/Alta Vista. It is not called North Bethesda (which, as PPs noted, is in a different zip code).
It is inside the beltway between Wisconsin Ave/Rockville Pike, Old Georgetown Road and W. Cedar Lane.

It is further from downtown Bethesda, so that affects real estate prices.
However, it is not far from the Medical Center Metro and also very convenient if you have to drive anywhere via the Beltway (although it's not on the beltway, so no beltway noise). The neighborhood is very close to Walter Reed/Naval Medical Center and borders the NIH so it is convenient for many doctors and scientists.
For a while it was an aging neighborhood, but now has a lot of younger families with kids.
The high school is Walter Johnson, which used to be less highly regarded than some other Bethesda high schools. However, over the last 20 years this also changed. WJ is now a great high school but old perceptions take decades to change.

20814 continues to the north, beyond the beltway, and that area (still in Bethesda) has the usual further price drop for no other reason than it's outside the beltway.

[Anonymous]

If you are in Rockville, you pay city of Rockville taxes. Not so in 20814. That seems the main difference (in "names") to me.

[Anonymous]

Didn't read all the responses, OP. But I am unaware of the stigma of North Bethesda. I would love to move there but can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in North Bethesda on Tuckerman lane. I didn't know I should not use the name. Is it silly if I use it? When I bought my place, the address says north Bethesda. I didn't know the place is called Rockville.

Hi neighbor! We also live N. Bethesda on Tuckerman. We use the names North Bethesda, Rockville and 20852 interchangeably ever since moving here from NYC area a couple of years ago. I don't find there to be many real towns, nor is there a strong sense of place, in most of the DC suburbs. So who really cares what we call the area? It's pretty meaningless.

Same here! We didn't really know the difference and it does get confusing. Things on our area are listed as North Bethesda or Rockville depending on the age of the business and location. The same street can have different city listings. We also get the city mailings from the City of Rockville but we don't get Rockville services like leaf pickup. It would be nice to be closer to Bethesda for walk ability but the yards in our area are much larger and more private.

[Anonymous]

I live in upper NW DC but until recently worked in the area of Democracy Blvd. I would typically say I work in N. Bethesda to people who asked, just to indicate exactly where I worked.

Personally I think OP's question is a bit ridiculous--to those of us who are new to the area, no one really cares what it used to be called if the new name is more precise. It has nothing to do with putting on airs or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in upper NW DC but until recently worked in the area of Democracy Blvd. I would typically say I work in N. Bethesda to people who asked, just to indicate exactly where I worked.

Personally I think OP's question is a bit ridiculous--to those of us who are new to the area, no one really cares what it used to be called if the new name is more precise. It has nothing to do with putting on airs or anything.

PP again. Meant to add that the question of "stigma" is just as ridiculous. Of course homes a bit further out from urban areas will be a bit less expensive. I think it speaks more to OP's insecurity than any real difference between the areas.

[Anonymous]

The best was a listing agent for a house for sale in our Rockville/North Bethesda neighborhood who advertised it as being "conveniently located in close-in Bethesda." LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best was a listing agent for a house for sale in our Rockville/North Bethesda neighborhood who advertised it as being "conveniently located in close-in Bethesda." LOL!

And that my friend is the slippery slope of keeping up with the joneses. If you let people call it north Bethesda next thing people will just shorten that to Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually I live in Rockville and think the term is a joke, my wife from Silver Spring thinks so too. It isn't us or Bethesda residents over inflating the value of the name Bethesda it is the residents of North Bethesda..... You know that area off Rockville pike

Maybe you live in the actual city of Rockville and feel that "Rockville" accurately and effectively communicates where you live. If so, good for you. Yes, parts of 20852 are off Rockville Pike, you know that road that turns into Wisconsin and runs through Bethesda? I fail to see how my using the term "North Bethesda" is "over inflating the name Bethesda" so whatever, dude.

Nope. As a Bethesda resident back when NIH was not gated, Dave & Busters at White Flint Mall, that area once you get out of true north Bethesda is Rockville. We never even knew the city of Rockville. Rockville was just that area where you cruised out on Rockville Pike and everything was traffic lights and strip malls past the beltway. So if you tell me honestly, Rockville, I know exactly whereabouts you are. Also if you say Bethesda in the name but I have to get on 270, no way is that remotely Bethesda in my mind, as a long-timer. So for us, it's accuracy too, and your terms are just not accurate.

[Anonymous]

I'd say there's a stigma to Bethesda in general. Played out,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say there's a stigma to Bethesda in general. Played out,

X1000, living in a close in area with the best schools and most educated residents all while having little to no crime or poverty gets old quick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best was a listing agent for a house for sale in our Rockville/North Bethesda neighborhood who advertised it as being "conveniently located in close-in Bethesda." LOL!

And that my friend is the slippery slope of keeping up with the joneses. If you let people call it north Bethesda next thing people will just shorten that to Bethesda.

Or that realtor was just being ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually I live in Rockville and think the term is a joke, my wife from Silver Spring thinks so too. It isn't us or Bethesda residents over inflating the value of the name Bethesda it is the residents of North Bethesda..... You know that area off Rockville pike

Maybe you live in the actual city of Rockville and feel that "Rockville" accurately and effectively communicates where you live. If so, good for you. Yes, parts of 20852 are off Rockville Pike, you know that road that turns into Wisconsin and runs through Bethesda? I fail to see how my using the term "North Bethesda" is "over inflating the name Bethesda" so whatever, dude.

Nope. As a Bethesda resident back when NIH was not gated, Dave & Busters at White Flint Mall, that area once you get out of true north Bethesda is Rockville. We never even knew the city of Rockville. Rockville was just that area where you cruised out on Rockville Pike and everything was traffic lights and strip malls past the beltway. So if you tell me honestly, Rockville, I know exactly whereabouts you are. Also if you say Bethesda in the name but I have to get on 270, no way is that remotely Bethesda in my mind, as a long-timer. So for us, it's accuracy too, and your terms are just not accurate.

No, you don't know "exactly" where I live when I say Rockville, which is a huge area. And I don't live near any strip malls. And no one here is describing 20852 as just "Bethesda" but "North Bethesda" so maybe just pay attention to the words you are hearing. You actually don't have to (and would not) get on 270 to get to my house from downtown Bethesda. So maybe, "long-timer," you need to put your dentures back in and go get with the times.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Montgomery County. North Bethesda just sounds pretentious. You either live in Bethesda or you live in Rockville. Just like North Potomac is Gaithersburg. You either live in Potomac or you live in Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Montgomery County. North Bethesda just sounds pretentious. You either live in Bethesda or you live in Rockville. Just like North Potomac is Gaithersburg. You either live in Potomac or you live in Gaithersburg.

This is basically it