Best neighborhood for community feeling for young families near dc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AU park. In the city, but meets your criteria

(Not OP) Can you expand on this? Like, examples of why you think it has a strong community feel? We moved here recently and have found people pretty reserved/ cold, even with young kids.

[Anonymous]

Alexandria has that. The problem is that once your child reaches middle school you have to now or teach into your pocket for private school. The mayor and city council are also on a building kick.

[Anonymous]

What is your budget and plan for schools?

[Anonymous]

No little strip, but South Arlington is awesome. I guess Shirlington could be that. My neighbors are down to earth, not stressing about Johnny going to Harvard or being a soccer star by age 7. It’s racially and economically diverse.

Takoma Park is great though too. My brother lives there so we spend time there frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Capitol Hill has all this in spades, but you need $$ to afford the space/non-postage stamp backyard you want.

Not as much anymore. Newer people don't seem to be into the old village feel of the Hill IME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU park. In the city, but meets your criteria

(Not OP) Can you expand on this? Like, examples of why you think it has a strong community feel? We moved here recently and have found people pretty reserved/ cold, even with young kids.

I think this is true of most of the DC area including neighborhoods listed on these threads. People have very poor social skills in this area and are not super sociable with people they don't know/aren't part of their circle.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray resident here (and husband grew up here). Del Ray is awesome. With good parenting, your kids are fine in ACHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Capitol Hill has all this in spades, but you need $$ to afford the space/non-postage stamp backyard you want.

Not as much anymore. Newer people don't seem to be into the old village feel of the Hill IME.

Really? I think it's still there. I have loved raising our kids on the Hill.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park, MD!

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park or Capitol View Park (20910).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Del Ray resident here (and husband grew up here). Del Ray is awesome. With good parenting, your kids are fine in ACHS.

I'm not sure you meant it this way but you equating parenting with a teen's success at ACHS is misleading. There are plenty of amazing parents who have decided not to send their child there due to fit. Not all kids are fine in a school with over 5,000 students even with the best of parents at their side. That said, if you have the right type of kid who can find their niche, they can do well there.

I like Old Town because it's a real mix of people. Young, old, with kids, without, and all the classes combined. It's not exactly what OP is looking for but it gives you a lot of social breathing room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU park. In the city, but meets your criteria

(Not OP) Can you expand on this? Like, examples of why you think it has a strong community feel? We moved here recently and have found people pretty reserved/ cold, even with young kids.

Ppl are very friendly at school and activities, and immediate neighbors. It’s mainly Nannies at the playgrounds during the week and on weekends, ppl meet up with friends. Have you tried to plan playdates with classmates? Try emailing the neighborhood to set up a playgroup for kids ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Capitol Hill has all this in spades, but you need $$ to afford the space/non-postage stamp backyard you want.

Not as much anymore. Newer people don't seem to be into the old village feel of the Hill IME.

Really? I think it's still there. I have loved raising our kids on the Hill.

I agree with the PP. Are your kids older? We have toddler/preschool age and the parents of same age kids seem very standoffish. When I meet families with older kids who have been around the Hill for a while, they seem friendlier.

My DH has also commented on this, and he’s not usually one to notice a lot of social nuances. But when we take the kids to the playground or are out on walks, we often meet people with same age kids who do not give us the time of day even when our kids are interacting with each other. Like not even a nod of recognition. It is very weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Capitol Hill has all this in spades, but you need $$ to afford the space/non-postage stamp backyard you want.

Not as much anymore. Newer people don't seem to be into the old village feel of the Hill IME.

Really? I think it's still there. I have loved raising our kids on the Hill.

I agree with the PP. Are your kids older? We have toddler/preschool age and the parents of same age kids seem very standoffish. When I meet families with older kids who have been around the Hill for a while, they seem friendlier.

My DH has also commented on this, and he’s not usually one to notice a lot of social nuances. But when we take the kids to the playground or are out on walks, we often meet people with same age kids who do not give us the time of day even when our kids are interacting with each other. Like not even a nod of recognition. It is very weird.

Agree with this. I have a toddler on the hill and have been so disappointed that people don’t seem interested in my attempts to talk. It seems impossible to make friends here if people don’t even make small talk with you. I actually gave up for now. It’s tiring to be friendly and get rebuffed repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budget? Capitol Hill has all this in spades, but you need $$ to afford the space/non-postage stamp backyard you want.

Not as much anymore. Newer people don't seem to be into the old village feel of the Hill IME.

Really? I think it's still there. I have loved raising our kids on the Hill.

I agree with the PP. Are your kids older? We have toddler/preschool age and the parents of same age kids seem very standoffish. When I meet families with older kids who have been around the Hill for a while, they seem friendlier.

My DH has also commented on this, and he’s not usually one to notice a lot of social nuances. But when we take the kids to the playground or are out on walks, we often meet people with same age kids who do not give us the time of day even when our kids are interacting with each other. Like not even a nod of recognition. It is very weird.

Agree with this. I have a toddler on the hill and have been so disappointed that people don’t seem interested in my attempts to talk. It seems impossible to make friends here if people don’t even make small talk with you. I actually gave up for now. It’s tiring to be friendly and get rebuffed repeatedly.

Maybe it's a COVID/ pandemic thing?