WFH - Rank These DMV Neighborhoods -$1.5M Budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$1.5M will get you a SFH in Bethesda zoned to Walter Johnson.

This is a good option. Given the boundary studies, I would not trust a Kensington or Garrett Park zoned for Walter Johnson purchase.

The boundary studies have already been finalized and approved by the school board and superintendent.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/boundary-study/

I am aware. Never say never. Woodward still not open for a year. Wootton....

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Old Town or Del Ray? Get kid friendly and much much more walkability and an actual WFH community so you're not too isolated.

I WFH and looked at these neighborhoods for that reason. The schools aren't as bad as DCUM makes it out to seem (they've gotten better in the past 3 years maybe) and if you're truly upset (which I actually doubt) put the kiddos in private.

OP wants good schools.

For UMC kids from educated parents, AC is arguably the best HS in the region, barring TJ. It's OK to not know this.

ACHS?? You have to be joking.

Why would I joke about a school hat sends more kids to Top 20 universities than pretty much any other FCPS HS?

Just go ahead and admit you're scared of brown people.

It's double the size of most of the huge high schools around here. It's 50% bigger than my college.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Moving here and have a $1.5M budget. Looking for good schools, kid friendly neighborhoods, and walkability. Want to be close enough to DC in case we have to commute in the future, so not looking in Ashburn or far out counties.

I’ve found these neighborhoods with great school scores close to the Beltway that might fit my budget. Can you please help rank them?

Falls Church zoned for Meridian
Falls Church zoned for Marshall
North Arlington zoned for Yorktown
Bethesda zoned for Bethesda Chevy Chase
Kensington or Garrett Park zoned for Walter Johnson

How did you end up with Walter Johnson skipping over MCPS Whitman?

Millennials that grew up here in DC/MD/VA top target is Yorktown. Unless they have other relatives and convenient babysitting types nearby ... Arlington or Meridian completely avoid the slop, boundary issues, programming issues that are ongoing in FCPS and MCPS.

You’re not going to get anything other than a teardown for $1.5M in Whitman.

Incorrect:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5511-Bradley-Blvd-Bethesda-MD-20814/37167133_zpid/

This house is in way better shape than anything you can find even in south Arlington for the price. And better schools

I agree, but it's a major road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you visited all of the neighborhoods? You should. Bethesda is the only one that's not a suburban hellscape, so I would pick that.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$1.5 million isn't get you walkability in Bethesda or North Arlington unless you're willing to do a townhouse.

Untrue. Look in the neighborhood behind BCC- East Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$1.5 million isn't get you walkability in Bethesda or North Arlington unless you're willing to do a townhouse.

Untrue. Look in the neighborhood behind BCC- East Bethesda.

LOVE this neighborhood. It’s also a steal compared to comparable areas in nova.

[Anonymous]

Why is NOVA/Arlington so much more expensive if everyone says it's not as nice as Maryland and the schools aren't as good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is NOVA/Arlington so much more expensive if everyone says it's not as nice as Maryland and the schools aren't as good?

Arlington is a county of 250k people being compared to areas/neighborhoods in Montgomery County, Md, whose population is more than 4 times. Because Arlington is so small, residents are a lot more involved with the workings of the county and therefore have a lot of sway. The many county amenities are an example — parks, playgrounds, community centers for the young and old, bike trails make it an attraction to recent college graduates and empty nesters. For the last 10 years, it’s been in the top five best cities and several neighborhoods are in the top 10 neighborhoods nationally because of quality of life. For example, I don’t think it’s as physically attractive as Bethesda, but the vibe is great here — and because Arlingtonians tend to brag about living here because of how comprehensive life here is, people hate them for it.

[Anonymous]

Arlington wastes money on really high end things other counties cannot afford.

It has the ridiculous water facility built for Olympic athletes, crazy soccer fields on the Potomac across from dc, the capitals practice facility which the best skating available in the area, the best sakeboard park probably in the mid Atlantic that skater across dmv drive to use…it’s stupid stuff like that in a very, very small area that makes it hyped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is NOVA/Arlington so much more expensive if everyone says it's not as nice as Maryland and the schools aren't as good?

Until recently, there was a large and growing base of tech jobs in Nova

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington wastes money on really high end things other counties cannot afford.

It has the ridiculous water facility built for Olympic athletes, crazy soccer fields on the Potomac across from dc, the capitals practice facility which the best skating available in the area, the best sakeboard park probably in the mid Atlantic that skater across dmv drive to use…it’s stupid stuff like that in a very, very small area that makes it hyped up.

Wrong. Despite what’s been said here, the county is well run, not because of county managers per se, but because of the level of community involvement. Say what you will, there's a high quality of life vibe here. And a number of national surveys rank it with some of the best recognized places to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$1.5M will get you a SFH in Bethesda zoned to Walter Johnson.

This is a good option. Given the boundary studies, I would not trust a Kensington or Garrett Park zoned for Walter Johnson purchase.

If your house gets rezoned to Einstein, you'll immediately lost $250k in house value, maybe more.

I’d actually think > $250K loss in value. My kids being zoned to that school would be a literal nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$1.5M will get you a SFH in Bethesda zoned to Walter Johnson.

This is a good option. Given the boundary studies, I would not trust a Kensington or Garrett Park zoned for Walter Johnson purchase.

If your house gets rezoned to Einstein, you'll immediately lost $250k in house value, maybe more.

I’d actually think > $250K loss in value. My kids being zoned to that school would be a literal nightmare.

We ended up skipping Garrett Park when we bought in 2025 because of this. Couldn’t take the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip Bethesda zoned to BCC, lots of issues there recently

Add N Arlington 22205 / 22203 zoned to W-L

Rest are solid choices too. Look at the tax difference for your HHI for each area if you don’t have a strong preference / calling for one above the rest.

I highly recommend Bethesda -- it's a nice place to live with lots of amenities right nearby. I would try 20816. (The PP may not know Bethesda, and therefore I would disregard the advice to skip Bethesda. The quality of life is good there.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skip Bethesda zoned to BCC, lots of issues there recently

Add N Arlington 22205 / 22203 zoned to W-L

Rest are solid choices too. Look at the tax difference for your HHI for each area if you don’t have a strong preference / calling for one above the rest.

I highly recommend Bethesda -- it's a nice place to live with lots of amenities right nearby. I would try 20816. (The PP may not know Bethesda, and therefore I would disregard the advice to skip Bethesda. The quality of life is good there.)

I’m the PP and caught this comment at the perfect time hah. I lived in Bethesda for 5 years. Left in 2024. I will agree that if you need your money to go further, Bethesda is a great value these days compared to NW DC and nova.