Tell me about Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

We live in the district right now, super close to metro. We are quickly outgrowing our house and we also want a neighborhood which is not quite so transitory. Our kids are 11, 9 and 6. Here are my questions:
How are the neighborhoods in walking distance to metro and other things?
How friendly are people? Will we be able to build a community pretty easily?
How progressive are people? We have been called granola
How are the public schools?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP! We live in 20910, a little under a mile from the Metro. We bought about six years ago and our kids are now 9 and 11. We love it. We have found our neighbors to be incredibly friendly and have built a wonderful community. It almost feels small town because we'll run into friends at the grocery store or whatever. And our street is amazing - we're constantly getting together for barbecues and holidays and random playdates.

We're not crunchy like Takoma Park, but I think the best thing about SS is that everyone is very down to earth. In my immediate area, we are a wide variety of types of people, but no one is judgy at all. It's more of a be who you are, live and let live vibe.

Our kids are at Sligo Creek and we've been really happy. I think it's an 8 on great schools. Most of the kids in our neighborhood go to the public schools. I guess your older two would be in MS, and we're not there yet. But I hear good things.

Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

You might want to look at the neighborhood around the Forest Glen metro station.

[Anonymous]

If you search 20910 on this forum you'll get a lot of positives. Like PP we live in Downtown, near the Metro and love it.

[Anonymous]

We are like you and love Silver Spring! I second the recommendation for Forest Glen area, or Woodside, depending on budget. We're just inside the beltway, zoned for Woodlin, and a 10-12 minute walk to Forest Glen metro via pedestrian bridge.

[Anonymous]

We moved away from downtown silver spring and regret it. The new library was beautiful and downtown is super family friendly. I also think Sligo has a French immersion program.

[Anonymous]

We are just about to move from DC to 20910. Our new neighborhood is actually going to be more walkable than the old. We're looking forward to all the families and the metro accessibility.

[Anonymous]

We live in 20901 and love Silver Spring. Down to earth and friendly. Our neighbors are the best. Love the AFI and the Fillmore, great farmer's market on Saturday, and convenient to a lot of places.

[Anonymous]

We lived in DC for 10 plus years and moved to Silver Spring to raise our kids and love it! So many folks in SS came from DC. We could move to more "expensive" neighborhoods now that we are 10 years older but don't want to! We love the vibe of Silver Spring and particularly love our close-in Woodside neighborhood. We're one mile walk to the metro! 20910 is the preferred zipcode for the close-in neighborhoods with 20901 also great but a little further out.

[Anonymous]

We are in the forest glen area and love it. Wonderful community - plenty of granola in our neighborhood or at least liberal leaning. We have a great farmers market in one of the neighborhood parks and in downtown SS there is a much bigger one every weekend.

We are very happy with schools. That said I think this part of the county does well with special needs and high achieving kids from what I can tell. Ours are high acheivers and we've been happy. We also love access to all the trails and parks. And being close to metro.

[Anonymous]

I'll third the Forest Glen metro area (20902). Been here 8 years, two small kids. Super convenient to Beltway, Metro commute is simple, great ethic food/restaurant options in Wheaton, Brookside Gardens is short drive away, Sligo Creek bike trail runs through the area. Houses tend to be small and older, but are mostly well-kept and there is a fantastic community feel. I am so happy in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

More crime and crappy schools.

[Anonymous]

We're in 20910 smack between Takoma and Silver Spring Metros and we love it. The neighborhood is close-knit and friendly, and has a good mix of newcomers and old-timers. We are walking distance to elementary and middle school, as well as the new library, Whole Foods, and restaurants downtown.

[Anonymous]

Come be our neighbors in 20910 woodside park. We have community events, tons of kids playing outside, people walking dogs. An active listserv with people borrowing and lending garden equipment, giving away toys and plants. We havee been here 3 years and love it. Close to metro, park, tons of playgrounds and some in the shade for the summer. Forest glen area is nice too, smaller houses for the most part but it all depends on your price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come be our neighbors in 20910 woodside park. We have community events, tons of kids playing outside, people walking dogs. An active listserv with people borrowing and lending garden equipment, giving away toys and plants. We havee been here 3 years and love it. Close to metro, park, tons of playgrounds and some in the shade for the summer. Forest glen area is nice too, smaller houses for the most part but it all depends on your price range.

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