Lower McLean vs North Arlington vs Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

+1

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

If we had been neighbors, and you'd told me you were moving from McLean to Vienna, I would have only said good things to you in person about Vienna.


On the other hand, knowing what I do about the relative ease of commuting, and the lack of congestion running errands in McLean compared to Vienna, I know I'd never move back there so long as either my spouse or I needed to commute to DC or somewhere further away than Tysons (which right now we both do regularly).

That's just it. Not everyone commutes to D.C.. Obviously.

Of course not. But the OP does:

"Which would you choose and why?

Budget: 950k-1.2m
House: prefer colonial style
Kids: 2 kids soon starting ES
Work: Penn Quarter
Race: white"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

+1

This.

+2. It's a good idea to think about ease of resale. There are always plenty of people looking to live in McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

+1

This.

+2. It's a good idea to think about ease of resale. There are always plenty of people looking to live in McLean.

And as many people looking to live in other specific places. There is not just one place to choose, thankfully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

+1

This.

+2. It's a good idea to think about ease of resale. There are always plenty of people looking to live in McLean.

And as many people looking to live in other specific places. There is not just one place to choose, thankfully.

Actually, there aren't. Some places, including McLean, are more in demand than others, and the prices (and price changes) reflect that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

If we had been neighbors, and you'd told me you were moving from McLean to Vienna, I would have only said good things to you in person about Vienna.


On the other hand, knowing what I do about the relative ease of commuting, and the lack of congestion running errands in McLean compared to Vienna, I know I'd never move back there so long as either my spouse or I needed to commute to DC or somewhere further away than Tysons (which right now we both do regularly).

Well, you are a better person than our old neighbor who asked if we were having money problems! He he. Never change McLean!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

I have heard this often. Very often.

PP here. Some people love it. Almost everyone there thought that we were crazy when we moved out of McLean. But it just wasn't for me. Gratefully, it is for other people and our house sold quickly.

If we had been neighbors, and you'd told me you were moving from McLean to Vienna, I would have only said good things to you in person about Vienna.


On the other hand, knowing what I do about the relative ease of commuting, and the lack of congestion running errands in McLean compared to Vienna, I know I'd never move back there so long as either my spouse or I needed to commute to DC or somewhere further away than Tysons (which right now we both do regularly).

Well, you are a better person than our old neighbor who asked if we were having money problems! He he. Never change McLean!

You should have thanked him for his concern and set up a "Go Fund Me" page.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you can find something in McLean inside the Beltway, that's where I'd look. The schools are the best, the market outlook is the most positive, and you can't beat living halfway between DC and Tysons, the two main job centers in the DC Metro area.

http://www.zillow.com/mc-lean-va-22101/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/arlington-va-22207/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/vienna-va-22180/home-values/

[Anonymous]

Grew up in Montgomery county and the perception around me that I was taught is McLean is the best part of NoVa, Arlington is for mid level Feds and Vienna is for mid level everybody else. The only chance after all these years is now it can be said those areas are for dual income families but nothing else appears to have changed. Listening to my coworkers I might also add that Arlington schools are a bit over rated and hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Montgomery county and the perception around me that I was taught is McLean is the best part of NoVa, Arlington is for mid level Feds and Vienna is for mid level everybody else. The only chance after all these years is now it can be said those areas are for dual income families but nothing else appears to have changed. Listening to my coworkers I might also add that Arlington schools are a bit over rated and hit or miss.

Still the case. The only change is that other areas like Great Falls have declined in appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Montgomery county and the perception around me that I was taught is McLean is the best part of NoVa, Arlington is for mid level Feds and Vienna is for mid level everybody else. The only chance after all these years is now it can be said those areas are for dual income families but nothing else appears to have changed. Listening to my coworkers I might also add that Arlington schools are a bit over rated and hit or miss.

Still the case. The only change is that other areas like Great Falls have declined in appeal.

ARL is changing, and is starting to look more like NW DC or Lower Mcl. Dual income yes, but with the tear downs the entry point has jumped from 800K to 1.5M for a nice house. Still plenty of 800 - 900K houses, but those are starters for dual income families. People 50+ are still Feds, <50 is likely law firm/defense, etc. APS capacity debacle has folks looking for privates, but due to the legacy of mid-level Feds as you say, there are no many privates in Arl. Commutes are still great, but some real negatives on schools and affordability now in Arl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in Montgomery county and the perception around me that I was taught is McLean is the best part of NoVa, Arlington is for mid level Feds and Vienna is for mid level everybody else. The only chance after all these years is now it can be said those areas are for dual income families but nothing else appears to have changed. Listening to my coworkers I might also add that Arlington schools are a bit over rated and hit or miss.

Still the case. The only change is that other areas like Great Falls have declined in appeal.

ARL is changing, and is starting to look more like NW DC or Lower Mcl. Dual income yes, but with the tear downs the entry point has jumped from 800K to 1.5M for a nice house. Still plenty of 800 - 900K houses, but those are starters for dual income families. People 50+ are still Feds, <50 is likely law firm/defense, etc. APS capacity debacle has folks looking for privates, but due to the legacy of mid-level Feds as you say, there are no many privates in Arl. Commutes are still great, but some real negatives on schools and affordability now in Arl.

As you say, it's the older homes that are within the reach of dual-income mid-level families, but new builds in all these areas have gotten expensive. Here are the median sales prices over the past year for new builds:

McLean/22101 - $1.78M
Arlington/22207 - $1.57M
Vienna/22180 - $1.35M

[Anonymous]

I would not say those areas are within reach of the average dual income mid level family. That is why south Arlington has suddenly become acceptable to more families. Of course the few neighborhoods that have truly middle class housing stock have totally unacceptable schools at the elementary level.
The areas this thread is targeting are not for the middle class.
The middle class has traditionally lived in Burke and there abouts.

[Anonymous]

Some area around Columbia Pike have gotten better, and the ridge is the nicest part of the county...
- just sayin'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some area around Columbia Pike have gotten better, and the ridge is the nicest part of the county...
- just sayin'

I always thought County Club Hills was the nicest part of Arlington, although you can't beat "the ridge" for easy access to Chirilagua and its 24-hour laundromats.