Is Arlington the Best Place to Live in the DC Area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda near Bethesda Row >>>> Arlington on almost every metric (other than affordability and some DC commutes).

This x 1,000,000.

If you can afford it go with downtown Bethesda. Better schools than any comparable neighborhood in Arlington and better retail and restaurants too. The only comparable neighborhood to downtown Bethesda in Arlington is Lyon Village and Clarendon and they do not have houses like this over there that are walkable to retail like this:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/5308-Burling-Ter-20814/home/10639397

That house is $5 million and out of reach for 99 percent of people.

99.9%

There are houses like that near the Clarendon metro. Not in Lyon Village though. I can't afford them, but there are some big houses along the orange line.

There is no neighborhood in Arlington that is walkable to a big commercial area that is remotely as nice as the area near downtown Bethesda immediately west of Arlington Road and north of Bradley near Bethesda Row, Somerset, Chevy Chase West, and the Battery Park neighborhood. Take a walk around the lower Sidwell Friends school and you’ll see for yourself. I’ve been here for 50 years and have lived in Arlington and Bethesda. There is no comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few neighborhoods, Arlington is really ugly. If you can overlook that, fantastic location and much better local store and restaurant options than Bethesda. For schools, Bethesda all the way. And Bethesda is prettier precisely because it is more suburban. So just depends on your priorities.

This. Downtown Bethesda and the neighborhoods within walking distance of it are better than Arlington by almost every metric. Public and private school options, housing stock, retail options, crime, and overall beauty. If you can’t afford to live their that’s fine, but please don’t call people in Bethesda snobs and then recommend North Arlington as if people in North Arlington are salt of the earth folks who aren’t regarded as snobs by the rest of the DMV as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of a few neighborhoods, Arlington is really ugly. If you can overlook that, fantastic location and much better local store and restaurant options than Bethesda. For schools, Bethesda all the way. And Bethesda is prettier precisely because it is more suburban. So just depends on your priorities.

This. Downtown Bethesda and the neighborhoods within walking distance of it are better than Arlington by almost every metric. Public and private school options, housing stock, retail options, crime, and overall beauty. If you can’t afford to live their that’s fine, but please don’t call people in Bethesda snobs and then recommend North Arlington as if people in North Arlington are salt of the earth folks who aren’t regarded as snobs by the rest of the DMV as well.

lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here it comes, OP. 14 pages of people telling you that Arlington SUCKS and place XYZ is far superior.

FWIW, I live in the Westover part of Arlington and I really like it. I've also lived in Shirlington and Ballston. I liked those spots too. It's expensive because it's the closest place to DC. Some of the neighborhoods are ugly and people say that the schools are going downhill, but I think people just like to complain or rationalize expensive decisions they've already made.

Best of luck!

The schools have never been great and yes it's ugly and full of strip malls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here it comes, OP. 14 pages of people telling you that Arlington SUCKS and place XYZ is far superior.

FWIW, I live in the Westover part of Arlington and I really like it. I've also lived in Shirlington and Ballston. I liked those spots too. It's expensive because it's the closest place to DC. Some of the neighborhoods are ugly and people say that the schools are going downhill, but I think people just like to complain or rationalize expensive decisions they've already made.

Best of luck!

The schools have never been great and yes it's ugly and full of strip malls.

Quelle Horreur! A strip mall!

That strip mall has my District Taco in it. Watch yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda near Bethesda Row >>>> Arlington on almost every metric (other than affordability and some DC commutes).

This x 1,000,000.

If you can afford it go with downtown Bethesda. Better schools than any comparable neighborhood in Arlington and better retail and restaurants too. The only comparable neighborhood to downtown Bethesda in Arlington is Lyon Village and Clarendon and they do not have houses like this over there that are walkable to retail like this:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/5308-Burling-Ter-20814/home/10639397

That house is $5 million and out of reach for 99 percent of people.

99.9%

There are houses like that near the Clarendon metro. Not in Lyon Village though. I can't afford them, but there are some big houses along the orange line.

There is no neighborhood in Arlington that is walkable to a big commercial area that is remotely as nice as the area near downtown Bethesda immediately west of Arlington Road and north of Bradley near Bethesda Row, Somerset, Chevy Chase West, and the Battery Park neighborhood. Take a walk around the lower Sidwell Friends school and you’ll see for yourself. I’ve been here for 50 years and have lived in Arlington and Bethesda. There is no comparison.

I guess it depends on how you define nice. Again there really isn't one right answer here. I could afford the nice parts of Bethesda but chose Arlington for a variety of reasons (including commute). that said, there are specific aspects of Bethesda that I prefer to Arlington. But overall I don't think either are particularly pretty areas. DC just doesn't have pretty suburbs compared to other cities.

[Anonymous]

Arlington?

LMAO

[Anonymous]

Yes, (north) Arlington is the best area in the dmv to live.
Car use is non existent if you live near the metro (where it is the most urban).
Tons of parks and things to do. I mean even people drive from around the dmv to use their skate park. It is a small area, super expensive but seems to something for everyone.

Also tons of jobs in Arlington and out to tysons.
Be forewarned- getting into Arlington can be hell at any given time, so just do not leave the Arlington bubble too often and you will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda near Bethesda Row >>>> Arlington on almost every metric (other than affordability and some DC commutes).

I disagree. I live in Arlington and I love that it feels small and cozy even though we are 10 minutes from DC. Downtown Bethesda is all chain stores and restaurants whereas Arlington has plenty of spots where it still feels very mom and pop. I love that. It really is a bubble in Arlington.

Are you crazy? Bradley shopping center has a local party store, locally owned ace, breads unlimited, wine/cheese/sundries shop, local pizza spot, local dog grooming. bethesda row and woodmont still retain plenty of local restaurants and shops but also gives higher end options like salt line, pottery barn, anthro etc. its a wonderful mix

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your commute.

Personally, I love Bethesda, but my spouse and I both work in Virginia so it doesn't make sense to live in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, (north) Arlington is the best area in the dmv to live.
Car use is non existent if you live near the metro (where it is the most urban).
Tons of parks and things to do. I mean even people drive from around the dmv to use their skate park. It is a small area, super expensive but seems to something for everyone.

Also tons of jobs in Arlington and out to tysons.
Be forewarned- getting into Arlington can be hell at any given time, so just do not leave the Arlington bubble too often and you will be fine.

Hilarious. If you want urban, DC is better. If you want suburban, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Great Falls, McLean, and Potomac are better.

Arlington is neither fish nor fowl. You get all the concrete of the city without the culture or history and all the insularity of the suburbs without the space or privacy. And the schools aren't great, either - there isn't a single high school in Arlington in the top 10 in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

If your budget is $1.5 and you want public school, no to DC. Many areas of Bethesda and Chevy Chase as well as Arlington will work for you, but you’ll have to compromise on housing. I personally cannot deal with Arlington but love Chevy Chase (and can ride my bike into downtown DC on weekends). Why don’t you spend a weekend in DC and hang out/drive around in each area?

[Anonymous]

If you both work from home, WTH are you moving to the DC area?!

I live in Arlington and enjoy it (most of the time), but if both of our jobs became permanently remote, I'd be out of here in a heartbeat and move someplace cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda near Bethesda Row >>>> Arlington on almost every metric (other than affordability and some DC commutes).

I disagree. I live in Arlington and I love that it feels small and cozy even though we are 10 minutes from DC. Downtown Bethesda is all chain stores and restaurants whereas Arlington has plenty of spots where it still feels very mom and pop. I love that. It really is a bubble in Arlington.

I agree. Bethesda has that planned town center feel to me. Whereas Arlington is made up of more distinct neighborhoods. It’s not all shiny and new in Arlington, but we do have some great local businesses and different areas have a different feel to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda near Bethesda Row >>>> Arlington on almost every metric (other than affordability and some DC commutes).

This x 1,000,000.

If you can afford it go with downtown Bethesda. Better schools than any comparable neighborhood in Arlington and better retail and restaurants too. The only comparable neighborhood to downtown Bethesda in Arlington is Lyon Village and Clarendon and they do not have houses like this over there that are walkable to retail like this:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/5308-Burling-Ter-20814/home/10639397

OP isn’t looking at $4 mil houses. Real estate like this isn’t in the realm of most buyers so I’m not sure why this would be a deciding factor. It also has a walk score of 13 so I’m not sure what you mean by “walkable to retail like this.”