Moving to DC area from Boston area
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
This seems like a small thing, but really sets the tone for the differences in the regions. Great point. I'm a little scared to read this thread, OP - I'm sure it has devolved into cattiness and insanity. Good luck with your move, if it happens. |
Anonymous
|
You may as well check out Capitol Hill too. It has a small town vibe in many ways-- the July 4th parade is total small town. People really know their neighbors. Maybe "small town" in the sense of "sesame street" rather than "main street". Housing is typically 100 years old, although there are also some very new options, especially down by the Navy Yard. (Must check out the gorgeous Yards Park between the National baseball stadium and Navy Yard!)
It's not perfect NE, but it can be very good-- and you can walk or bike to work in Navy Yard from anywhere on Capitol Hill! Schools are the biggest concern for families on Capitol Hill but some neighborhood schools are very good, plus there are charters and private schools available. Homeschooling is also quite popular. I hope you share what you think of all these neighborhoods after you come out! |
Anonymous
SMH - not "small town" at all. Probably the exact opposite. |
Anonymous
|
At the risk of sounding terse or rude, I'll make this observation - Why move if all you want to do is find exactly (or very nearly) what you currently have in Boston? If you truly want to experience the "adventure", then you will not look for a replica of your typical New England town here in DC, but rather you will embrace what is wonderful and unique about DC. If you want Boston, then stay in Boston. If you want to experience and enjoy the unique and wonderful things DC has to offer than come on down with an open mind and open heart. There are many wonderful neighborhoods in the District and in Virginia -- each with its own personality, sense of community and quirks. You won't find Boston here, so why not be open to finding something equally wonderful but different than what you have. I am a New England transplant and was miserable here for the first couple of years because I couldn't find New England here in DC. Once I opened my eyes, I fell in love with the area and appreciated all it has to offer. New England will forever be in my heart, but I love where I live now just as well.
As for where to live? You've got many good suggestions on this string, so I won't repeat that. I just want to encourage you to have an open mind as you look for a great place to live (and there are many to be found here)! |
Anonymous
|
OP if you land the job at the Navy Yard and don't live on the Hill, then you will want to strongly consider a neighborhood with easy access to Metro because you can take the metro to the Navy Yard stop every day. If you live in Palisades, there is no metro. In fact many of the places recommended here are not near a metro stop.
I am a transplant, too from a similar place as yourself, and strongly recommend living on the Hill in the areas patrolled by the Capitol Hill police ( your realtor will know) and Lincoln Park. Also, I highly recommend Lyon Park in Arlington, it is very walkable, can walk to teh matro, lots of community activities, close enough that you could also drive, yada, yada. DO NOT live in Alexandria. We moved to Alexandria after living on the Hill. They are still reeling from Brown v. Bd. of Education and the schools are a mess. We went private, but I have to say that there is a very strong southern mentality that we just couldn't shake. Others will disagree with what I just said, but trust me, it's strongly felt at the private school where our DC's went. We are now living in McLean, VA and love it. I would recommend it to you too, but it's not small town vibe feel except for a few neighborhoods (ours is one), and it isn't close to a Metro. Best of luck! You'll love living here! |
Anonymous
This is a really excellent post. Well said. |
Anonymous
AU Park and Cleveland Park are reminiscent of Newton, Nicer parts of Sommerville or even leafy side streets in Cambridge. I lived for long stretches (10 years) in both places and the only places really comparable are in this 2 pricey areas, well 3 if yo include Cap Hill (the good parts are like Beacon Hill, but really it's more like quainter parts of Philly) Bottom line--DC is just a much newer city in that most things are rebuilds or reproductions of some ersatz era-style. You don't have a lot of beautiful old stock, people just tear down a rebuild their version of it here. It kind of sucks. But Columbia Heights/ Columbia Road is beautiful and has real period homes--it's just that the period is unique to DC--nothing like it exists in NE. Also crime. |
Anonymous
Cleveland Park - yes. AU Park - ??? Columbia Heights is like parts of South Boston decades ago, but with more crime. You might also want to consider Takoma Park and Del Ray. Also, Chevy Chase and Vienna. |
Anonymous
| Transplant here from a town just west of Boston, where house prices are pretty comparable to Chevy Chase and Bethesda. I have been here ten years, love it, AND still miss Boston. Those feelings coexist because of the apples/oranges comparison. You definitely give up a lot of nice things to come here, including towns (and I think the elementary schools are better in Boston because they are run by the town, not the county), more unified neighborhoods with similar architectural feel, and sidewalks. I was shocked to discover that many homes here are not only on sidewalk-less streets, they even lack a driveway! I will get to the positives of this area in a second, but for me, the hugest negatives are the following: the lack of truly easy access to swimming lakes, mountains for skiing, and beaches. When I arrived, I kept asking where the "day trips" are. I also missed that town feeling you are reluctant to give up. People try hard here to manufacture it, with streets planning their own 4th of July parades, Memorial Day picnics, families joining pools, etc. Also, as a transplant, you won't have any relatives to help with kids etc. That is a keen loss in and of itself, and you need to separate that feeling out from the rest of it. When I first got here, I made the mistake of looking for "New England" here, taking day trips to Lewes, St. Michael's, Annapolis, Old Town, Alexandria and anything else that had the potential to feel like home. While that helped with the transition, it also set me back, because I still preferred New England. Also, to replicate New England as much as possible costs a lot of money here. Private schools here remind me of public schools west of Boston. Neighborhoods like Edgmoor in Bethesda and Chevy Chase Village look like home, but cost a fortune. When I stopped comparing, and threw myself into the local scene, here is what I discovered and liked. This region is full of transplants--if you put yourself out there, you will be welcomed. Folks are definitely friendlier than New Englanders. I have learned to exude more warmth from my time here, and I never considered myself a chilly person. Join a pool, as someone suggested. Even better, buy in a neighborhood with its own neighborhood pool, or one close by. Buy somewhere you can walk to town--though that costs extra too! Dedham is not a good comparison to many of the towns people are suggesting--I think the suggested towns are more like Newton, Brookline, etc. For the Dedham equivalent in prices, you would need to look further out. But close on, I like many of the suggested neighborhoods, including Woodacres and Parkwood. But a smallish home in Woodacres will likely be 750k and up. Good luck with the decision! |
Anonymous
I'm from west of Boston, too, and agree with these observations about town versus county government, especially with regard to schools systems. I agree with the PP that elementary schools are largely better west of Boston than they are here, because they are run by the town. Everything, including bureaucracy, is smaller-scale - so if you have a problem with the school system, you go to the town meeting and you talk to the school board. In county government, as a practical matter, you do not have a voice. |
Anonymous
| Palisades in DC has a small town feel and they even put on their own cute July 4th parade. Capitol Hill is also a good choice for small town feel. Honestly, being in a neighborhood that is walkable with metro access will feel more quiant and neighborhly than most suburbs in DC where you have to drive just to cross the street. |
Anonymous
Capitol Hill does NOT have a small-time feel. It's a very transient area where people come from different parts of the country, have little in common and rarely stay very long. You might think the schools won't matter to you now if your child is only 9 months, but you'll make friends with people only to see them leave for areas with better schools. And check the crime statistics if you think it's got a small-town safety record. |