Cultural differences between Rockville vs. Takoma Park?

[Anonymous]

We currently live in West End Rockville and love it, but we are thinking about moving near to Takoma Park (near the metro). We are pretty young (~30), have a non-traditional family, and are generally quirky people. We know some older academics and unschoolers who live in Takoma Park, and feel like we would really connect with those type of people. We can afford up to $800k.

However, I have heard that the younger families who live in Takoma Park are pretty similar to the younger families in Rockville, and don't fit the classic stereotype. Is that right?

Any related thoughts or important differences between the two areas?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP here. We also have 1 kid starting school soon, and probably will have another kid in the next year or so.

[Anonymous]

You want Hyattsville or University Park.

The hippy unschoolers in TP are all approaching retirement age. The young families are basically the same ones who would have moved to Bethesda ten years ago when it was cheaper there.

[Anonymous]

I haven't had the same experience as PP at all. See if you can join or connect with the Takoma mamas facebook page/group, that'll give you a good sense of the parents with young kids. Very much so still the hippie granola types you're seeking (I count myself among them, so... there ya go).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want Hyattsville or University Park.

The hippy unschoolers in TP are all approaching retirement age. The young families are basically the same ones who would have moved to Bethesda ten years ago when it was cheaper there.

This does not at all comport with my experience. I live in East Silver Spring, not Takoma Park, but I knew plenty of young families in Takoma Park like the ones OP describes. My kids aren't homeschooled, but I can name 10 TP families off the top of my head that are either homeschooling, unschooling, or using hippie cooperative schools.

There are plenty of "nontraditional families," meaning same-sex couples, openly poly-amorous families, families created through transracial adoption, etc.

The part that PP is right about is that these folks tend to be *financially* better off than the families who end up in UP or Hyattsville (or East Silver Spring, where I am) but in terms of values, they are more like the hippies of old than unlike them.

[Anonymous]

TP is attracting a good amount of young strivers not free spirits. The LGBT community has really grown which is cool but they have pushed the prices up. Now that TP is not a bargain basement its starting to become "acceptable" to striver types that would have written it off in the past. We'll see if they stick around past late elementary school or bolt for greener pastures.

Are you renting or do you own? If you are renting, try it out and see. You can always move back. Its easier to move kids in early elementary school. Since its all MCPS, it makes zero difference at the ES level if you move between schools. If you own, I'd advise you to stay put and build equity. West End is a good area for appreciation in Montgomery County. I'm somewhat worried that TP has hit its ceiling.

[Anonymous]

Gayborhoods are expensive

[Anonymous]

TP has now become too expensive for the types of people who used to be able to buy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We currently live in West End Rockville and love it, but we are thinking about moving near to Takoma Park (near the metro). We are pretty young (~30), have a non-traditional family, and are generally quirky people. We know some older academics and unschoolers who live in Takoma Park, and feel like we would really connect with those type of people. We can afford up to $800k.

However, I have heard that the younger families who live in Takoma Park are pretty similar to the younger families in Rockville, and don't fit the classic stereotype. Is that right?

Any related thoughts or important differences between the two areas?

Thanks!

OP, we used to live close to Rockville, and now live very close to TP. You have no business living in Rockville. Yes, TP is no longer old hippies, but Silver Spring close to Takoma Park or TP is what you want as far as vibe. Come on down and check out the farmer’s market one Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Rte 1 is more old Takoma Park b/c TKPK replacement is all much richer.

[Anonymous]

Are you planning to homeschool or attend public schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you planning to homeschool or attend public schools?

Homeschooling is an option for us. We weren't planning on doing it, but I plan on doing some research on the Takoma Park homeschooling groups.

[Anonymous]

There are a few different TPS due to its size. The small cute but increasingly jonesy historic area, the area behind the co-op, the barrio most people think is Langley Park, the cheap diverse homes alone Sligo park Jackson rd to just the other side of New Hampshire and last but least the maple ave projects strip of cheap apts.

There are a few hippies left near the co-op and the historic area and a few academic types emulating them but the “vibe” is more academic non-conformity than hippy nowadays. You are as likely to find a yuppie or a vegan or even an anti-Vaxer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a few different TPS due to its size. The small cute but increasingly jonesy historic area, the area behind the co-op, the barrio most people think is Langley Park, the cheap diverse homes alone Sligo park Jackson rd to just the other side of New Hampshire and last but least the maple ave projects strip of cheap apts.

There are a few hippies left near the co-op and the historic area and a few academic types emulating them but the “vibe” is more academic non-conformity than hippy nowadays. You are as likely to find a yuppie or a vegan or even an anti-Vaxer.

This sounds about right, although I'd add "the part zoned for Rolling Terrace that TP folks don't claim."

Even with some gentrification, it is still the best place I've ever lived for a "nontraditional family" or nontraditional kids. Folks aren't going to blink at any number of different family formulations. While I take the point that Hyattsville has some of the same vibe, the public school situation pushes a lot of families into parochials, which brings its own set of issues if you have a familiy that is not Husband + Wife + children.

[Anonymous]

I'm an "academic" living in TkPk and my spouse is a "striver." We have a 10 yo. Here's my take: Takoma Park is the most diverse community we've lived in, with regard to ethnic diversity, lifestyle diversity, and to a lesser extend socioeconomic diversity. It is different than Rockville because it's "hipper" and more walkable and smaller -- if you stick in the community to go out your day you will see the same people over and over and over. You will find people all kinds: lawyers, professors, taxi drivers, contractors, writers, stay at home moms and dads, old parents, young parents, some childless couples, old and young people, public/private/home schoolers, people who go the farmer's market every Sunday and people who shop at Aldi, etc... No one will bat an eye at your lifestyle, whatever it is, because they will have seen it or something like it before -- unless you are a Republican! Ww have even noticed some religious families, which was unexpected but NBD, there is a good contingent of that too. There is some stratification between richer and poorer, even with kids in school, and that is my only substantive complaint.