Moving to DC area from Boston area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree that it's all apples and oranges. Grew up here, have lots of family/have visited all my life the NE/New England region. Both have lots to offer but if you're wedded to the merits of one or the other, you'll be disappointed in the other one. NE towns have it hands down over us on the cuteness/old-fashioned town aspect of things. On the other hand, I always feel the white-ness of NE and wonder how such a relatively cosmopolitan area could be so non-diverse (and I say this as an Irish-Catholic: yeah, I feel surprisingly at home there, but I'm also sort of astonished to see so many other white people around; it sort of unnerves me b/c I am not used to it ps I also feel this way when I visit my husband's family in the Midwest). So, this is all to say, both regions have their merits, but if you seriously want cute old TOWNS, New England has it all over us down here in the Wash metropolitan area. PS To my surprise, their prices are also cheaper too. When we were trying to sell my grandmother's house a few years ago in Westchester, I was SHOCKED -- SHOCKED -- as I started to follow their real estate market. Signed, Lifelong Ffx Cty resident with relatives in NJ, NY, and CT

NJ and NY are not New England states. Westchester is not New England.

It is actually just up the Merritt Parkway in Danbury CT that I am talking about but I didn't think many folks on this board would know it.

[Anonymous]

If they root for the Yankees it's not NE.

OP, you have gotten some good advice on this thread, and a relatively small dose of DCUM craziness. I think the overall point that you can't come here and expect to replicate what you had is the most important.

The people who dislike DC the most are the ones who go around complaining about the lack of good pizza, bagels, etc. instead of looking at the great pollo a la brasa, ethiopian, etc. (and the pizza situation is much improved lately anyway).

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who recommended the Palisades. I'm from NY, and have lived in New Haven, Northampton and Brattleboro, and have family living in Cambridge, so lots of NE exposure. I won't say that the Palisades is specifically like a NE small town, but it does offer the vibe of a small town, with a warm and welcoming community, with some of the conveniences of living in a town because it is walkable to many things, has a vibrant year-round farmer's market.

I also like the vibe in Brookmont, but it's not really walkable to retail.

If you are coming down to look at neighborhoods, I highly recommend you take a look at the Palisades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP who recommended the Palisades. I'm from NY, and have lived in New Haven, Northampton and Brattleboro, and have family living in Cambridge, so lots of NE exposure. I won't say that the Palisades is specifically like a NE small town, but it does offer the vibe of a small town, with a warm and welcoming community, with some of the conveniences of living in a town because it is walkable to many things, has a vibrant year-round farmer's market.

I also like the vibe in Brookmont, but it's not really walkable to retail.

If you are coming down to look at neighborhoods, I highly recommend you take a look at the Palisades.

I am a transplanted New Englander who now lives in Arlington and I would agree with this. While you are still in D.C., Palisades does have a small town vibe to it with single family homes, etc. I also think that many neighborhoods in Arlington would also fit this bill - you won't get the true town feel like you get in New England, but certain neighborhoods in Arlington do have a good sense of community with potlucks, parades, farmers markets, etc. I would also look at Falls Church City (22046).

And, go Sox! (sigh........)

[Anonymous]

OP here.......WOW! I am so incredibly greatful for all the replies - both for and against moving to the area! It really does help to have a broad spectrum of opinions from people who actually live in the area. I got word this morning that I will be one of the people interviewed for the position so I am one step close to this becoming a reality. I really do appreciate all of the comments - I am definitely learning that I will not be able to find something exactly like Dedham, MA in the DC area but it seems that we will be able to find some areas to look in that have some of the most important attributes for us in a community. Please feel free to keep the comments coming and if this position does pan out, I am sure I will be posting again for opinions after a house hunting trip!

[Anonymous]

OP, I posted earlier about Garrett Park and Kensington. Please know that when people are recommending Palisades and other parts of NW DC, they are likely considering private school for MS and HS. If that is not in your plans or budget you would probably want to focus on MD or NOVA. You will find the politics of MD closer to MA, although NOVA is much more liberal than the rest of VA.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I posted earlier about Garrett Park and Kensington. Please know that when people are recommending Palisades and other parts of NW DC, they are likely considering private school for MS and HS. If that is not in your plans or budget you would probably want to focus on MD or NOVA. You will find the politics of MD closer to MA, although NOVA is much more liberal than the rest of VA.

Good luck.

And the Palisades is extremely pricey! But I agree with PPs, I've always loved the feel of that neighborhood.

Garrett Park and Kensington would be a bit of a haul to Navy Yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I posted earlier about Garrett Park and Kensington. Please know that when people are recommending Palisades and other parts of NW DC, they are likely considering private school for MS and HS. If that is not in your plans or budget you would probably want to focus on MD or NOVA. You will find the politics of MD closer to MA, although NOVA is much more liberal than the rest of VA.

Good luck.

And the Palisades is extremely pricey! But I agree with PPs, I've always loved the feel of that neighborhood.

Garrett Park and Kensington would be a bit of a haul to Navy Yard.

Unfortunately, there is very, very limited public transit in the Palisades. You are very car dependent.

[Anonymous]

The Town of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Chevy Chase, DC are both wonderful and have a small town feel. I highly recommend that you check both places out. Home prices are high, though.

http://www.townofchevychase.org/index.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP who recommended the Palisades. I'm from NY, and have lived in New Haven, Northampton and Brattleboro, and have family living in Cambridge, so lots of NE exposure. I won't say that the Palisades is specifically like a NE small town, but it does offer the vibe of a small town, with a warm and welcoming community, with some of the conveniences of living in a town because it is walkable to many things, has a vibrant year-round farmer's market.

I also like the vibe in Brookmont, but it's not really walkable to retail.

If you are coming down to look at neighborhoods, I highly recommend you take a look at the Palisades.

Palisades = DC Schools

[Anonymous]

SE Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also note that traffic in the area is awful, and real estate is pricy. Arlington and Bethesda houses start in the $600-$800k range. If you have a large housing budget, you'll obviously have a lot more options.

Here's what you get for $500-$600K in Dedham, where OP lives:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/315-Walnut-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36115-64112

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1041-High-St_Dedham_MA_02026_M36552-42059

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1-Patty-Lee-Ln_Dedham_MA_02026_M42974-43784

And here's what you get in Arlington, VA for the same price range:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5615-Wilson-Blvd_Arlington_VA_22205_M50457-42436

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4943-25th-St-S_Arlington_VA_22206_M52643-44455?ex=VA552817234

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6019-18th-St-N_Arlington_VA_22205_M63086-68781

And in Bethesda:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6011-Ryland-Dr_Bethesda_MD_20817_M64661-51841

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2808-Blaine-Dr_Chevy-Chase_MD_20815_M52429-66736

OP, what's the job market like in Dedham? Because after seeing this, that's where I want to live!

[Anonymous]

Case in point, OP. PP is not the first person I have met here that does not know the New England states but claims to know NE. Snicker. Any true NE'er who relocated here will tell you the biggest difference is the people who (ahem) know it all. Yeah, right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Case in point, OP. PP is not the first person I have met here that does not know the New England states but claims to know NE. Snicker. Any true NE'er who relocated here will tell you the biggest difference is the people who (ahem) know it all. Yeah, right.

People here seem to think that New York is a New England state.

[Anonymous]

I'll put in another vote for Falls Church City. It's acutally a town (not part of Fairfax County or Arlington County) which may give you more of the feeling of living in a NE town. It's also fairly old (circa 1699) and has some older houses that have that NE vibe. Plus they have one of the best farmer's markets I've been to (but pricey).

Here's a historic house currently for sale that gives you a feel for what the neighborhoods look like:

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/329-N-Maple-Ave-22046/home/12033085

It's definitely worth taking a look at.