Moving from NYC Burbs to MD/DC/NOVA - Biracial Family

[Anonymous]

Hello - my husband and I (biracial late 30's AA/White) are looking to move to the DC/NOVA/MD area from NYC. We have a 3 month old daughter and are relocating due to me taking a new position. My job will be based near the courthouse area of Arlington and he will be working by Union Station. The question is where to live. We have a budget up to 900k to buy for the interim but would like to rent in a diverse area with a walkable downtown that will be comfortable for our family. For example we lived in Brooklyn for years then moved to Maplewood, NJ before our DD was born.
I hear good things about Takoma Park/Silver Spring Maryland but worry the commute would be too much. I would like to use the metro to get to work (the old NY'er in me).
Any advice would be great. And by diverse I mean yes all ethnicities but at least 10% AA middle/upper class.

[Anonymous]

No, you absolutely do not want to live in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and commute to Arlington. No....

Your best bet is Arlington proper. You'll find more diversity in South Arlington (although there aren't a lot of Asians in Arlington, if that's important to you -- most non-whites are black and Hispanic).

Your budget won't really work for a "walkable downtown" although maybe you could try Alexandria near Old Town. You could probably find something to rent near Clarendon for $4,000 a month or so.

[Anonymous]

Takoma park is too far. Check out south Arlington. 22202, 22206 and 22204. I was in Shirlington (google village at Shirlington) for their annual kids trick or treat, and there were tons of biracial families. Arlington is pretty liberal too.

Also check out 22205. Also keep in mind that your real estate taxes will be much lower here, about 1% of the home price.

I'd stay away from arlington 22207 as their elem schools are almost all white.

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill.

[Anonymous]

OP here - by AA I mean African American/White - sorry for the confusion!
We will definitely check out North/South Arlington. Are there areas of DC proper that would make sense? Or would we have to commit to private school?

[Anonymous]

I think it's going to be hard to find an area outside of DC or PG county in Md that's at least 10% AA. DC used to be a very segregated town, and it's diverse in the sense that there are lots of foreigners here, but the races tend to self segregate.

[Anonymous]

Cheverly, MD, would give you the metro commute, diversity, and budget that you want. It is walkable but not as many amenities as some of these options. Schools would be fine through elementary. And it's very charming.

[Anonymous]

The Crestwood neighborhood in DC looks and feels very much like Maplewood. It would be a reverse commute to go to Arlington.

Just did the Crestwood Turkey Trot yesterday. I can assure you it has the diversity you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - by AA I mean African American/White - sorry for the confusion!
We will definitely check out North/South Arlington. Are there areas of DC proper that would make sense? Or would we have to commit to private school?

The public schools are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma park is too far. Check out south Arlington. 22202, 22206 and 22204. I was in Shirlington (google village at Shirlington) for their annual kids trick or treat, and there were tons of biracial families. Arlington is pretty liberal too.

Also check out 22205. Also keep in mind that your real estate taxes will be much lower here, about 1% of the home price.

I'd stay away from arlington 22207 as their elem schools are almost all white.

I'd stay away from north Arlington in general. Vote left, live right phoniness.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Shepherd Park (DC)?

Rockville MD would be a utopia for your family, but sadly that's too far for your commute (only posting it in case it would work for other readers)

[Anonymous]

Look into Alexandria and W Springfield. Areas where there are a lot of military with more middle class AA and interfacial families.

[Anonymous]

I live a short walk from Union Station, in the Stanton Park/Capitol Hill neighborhood. I think you'd really like it here. Most of my neighbors and I send our kids to the local public schools--Maury, Ludlow-Taylor, Peabody/Watkins, SWS. We live a block from H Street and are also an easy walk to Eastern Market. There are lots of options at 900k and the commute to Arlington is easy. There are lots of biracial families here and the community is really wonderful.

Middle school is a question mark but you have many years to go before that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look into Alexandria and W Springfield. Areas where there are a lot of military with more middle class AA and interfacial families.

Coming from NYC you will find W Springfield very boring. But definitely look into Alexandria and private schools.

[Anonymous]

I have friends that live in beautiful town homes near U street with much diversity and good community, however, commuting to Arlington Courthouse is a pain in the ass. The metro system here is bad and unreliable, and you wouldn't want to transfer train lines. Why can't you rent in Courthouse Arlington, Clarendon, or Ballston until you get your bearings and see if you want to to tolerate moving out? It's not as diverse as DC but the community here is very inclusive, and the schools are very good.