Columbia Heights with Kids?

[Anonymous]

We're moving to D.C. for a job and we want to rent at first since we don't know the area at all. I've stared looking at Columbia Heights since it's near my office and close to the school my child will attend. Is this a good neighborhood for families with young kids? Are there grocery stores and parks nearby? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

The crime has been getting worse in that area. The neighborhood has its good points, but it’s not where I would choose to rent with a kid.

[Anonymous]

Look at petworth

[Anonymous]

Can you elaborate more? Do you believe there more crime in this neighborhood than other areas in D.C.? And, what neighborhoods would you consider with kids?

[Anonymous]

nope; look at Mount Pleasant instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more? Do you believe there more crime in this neighborhood than other areas in D.C.? And, what neighborhoods would you consider with kids?

Columbia Heights has more crime in NW DC than any other NW neighborhood. Look at the MPD crime heat map.

Everyone's tolerance is different but personally, I would not move there with a kid. If you want to be close to your kid's school, I second Mount Pleasant. Petworth, Adams Morgan, Crestwood, 16th St. Heights, possibly others depending on your budget and other things on your wish list and what you're willing to compromise on.

[Anonymous]

We're in Columbia Heights with a one year old and one on the way and we LOVE it. You can't throw a rock without hitting a playground - the Girard St playground in particular we really love, but there are literally three others just a few blocks from our house. There's also Meridian Hill Park, which doesn't have a playground, but is such a great scene - always tons of people out in nice weather, musicians, picnics, a real community vibe. Plenty of grocery stores, I think, but we're lazy so we just get our groceries delivered. It's very walkable - we don't have a car and it's great - tons of bus lines and the metro is right here, plus really everything you need is in walking distance. It's also one of the few truly diverse parts of DC - racially and economically. Yes, crime is a bit higher here than in the rest of NW DC, but we feel perfectly safe walking around, with or without our kid, after dark (although now that it's summer he's in bed before dark!) People are friendly.

And, while certainly, people are free to make their own determinations about safety and their own comfort level, I would keep in mind that while this website is called "DC Urban Moms" it has a large suburban contingent, and skews rather wealthy, and that may impact the responses you get on threads like these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate more? Do you believe there more crime in this neighborhood than other areas in D.C.? And, what neighborhoods would you consider with kids?

Columbia Heights has more crime in NW DC than any other NW neighborhood. Look at the MPD crime heat map.

Everyone's tolerance is different but personally, I would not move there with a kid. If you want to be close to your kid's school, I second Mount Pleasant. Petworth, Adams Morgan, Crestwood, 16th St. Heights, possibly others depending on your budget and other things on your wish list and what you're willing to compromise on.

I was the initial poster who responded to you and mentioned crime and I agree with the above. Obviously not knowing your kid's school, your commute route, or budget makes this hard to advise on--but regardless, I would avoid living in Columbia Heights. From my understanding, the crime seems to be getting more violent as well. There have been shootings near playgrounds, etc.

Perhaps you can tell us where you'll be commuting to and budget?

[Anonymous]

If you have kids, I think Petworth or Mt. pleasant, as others suggested are more kid-friendly. Columbia heights has a lot more foot traffic/regular traffic, just more congested in general.

Petworth has a TON of kids, lots of spray/water parks, etc. Mt. Pleasant also has a bunch of kids, kind of a sleepy community, walking distance to the zoo and rock creek park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in Columbia Heights with a one year old and one on the way and we LOVE it. You can't throw a rock without hitting a playground - the Girard St playground in particular we really love, but there are literally three others just a few blocks from our house. There's also Meridian Hill Park, which doesn't have a playground, but is such a great scene - always tons of people out in nice weather, musicians, picnics, a real community vibe. Plenty of grocery stores, I think, but we're lazy so we just get our groceries delivered. It's very walkable - we don't have a car and it's great - tons of bus lines and the metro is right here, plus really everything you need is in walking distance. It's also one of the few truly diverse parts of DC - racially and economically. Yes, crime is a bit higher here than in the rest of NW DC, but we feel perfectly safe walking around, with or without our kid, after dark (although now that it's summer he's in bed before dark!) People are friendly.

And, while certainly, people are free to make their own determinations about safety and their own comfort level, I would keep in mind that while this website is called "DC Urban Moms" it has a large suburban contingent, and skews rather wealthy, and that may impact the responses you get on threads like these.

We lived in Columbia Heights for 11 years, 8 of them with an infant/young child. I agree with the PP. It's an incredibly convenient, diverse place to live, and one of the few neighborhoods in DC where it is truly easy to be car-free.

There is a bit more crime than other areas of the city, but I didn't find it unsafe, at all, to walk around in daylight and early evening hours. That said, our oldest had just finished second grade when we moved, and I wouldn't let her walk around outside alone. Also, if you are a big Amazon family, you'll need to rethink that unless you live in a building with a doorman or secure access - packages left on stoops disappear quickly.

The final comment in the PP is spot on - this board skews suburban, despite the title. And some opinions/tolerances reflect that.

[Anonymous]

You can get a lot more family friendly neighborhoods about a mile up in Petworth, or if you can afford a little more, 16th Street Heights. You can still get to Petworth/Columbia Heights pretty easily.

[Anonymous]

I've lived in NW DC for 25 years. I would have lived in CH 5-10 years ago but I would not live there now with kids.

[Anonymous]

Let’s be clear - it’s varying degrees of shooty being discussed here op. Petworth still has a LOT of shootings - so many that we moved out once we had kids and many of our friends there are planning their exit. You need to be really comfort with gun crime if your living in Columbia heights or petworth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're in Columbia Heights with a one year old and one on the way and we LOVE it. You can't throw a rock without hitting a playground - the Girard St playground in particular we really love, but there are literally three others just a few blocks from our house. There's also Meridian Hill Park, which doesn't have a playground, but is such a great scene - always tons of people out in nice weather, musicians, picnics, a real community vibe. Plenty of grocery stores, I think, but we're lazy so we just get our groceries delivered. It's very walkable - we don't have a car and it's great - tons of bus lines and the metro is right here, plus really everything you need is in walking distance. It's also one of the few truly diverse parts of DC - racially and economically. Yes, crime is a bit higher here than in the rest of NW DC, but we feel perfectly safe walking around, with or without our kid, after dark (although now that it's summer he's in bed before dark!) People are friendly.

And, while certainly, people are free to make their own determinations about safety and their own comfort level, I would keep in mind that while this website is called "DC Urban Moms" it has a large suburban contingent, and skews rather wealthy, and that may impact the responses you get on threads like these.

We lived in Columbia Heights for 11 years, 8 of them with an infant/young child. I agree with the PP. It's an incredibly convenient, diverse place to live, and one of the few neighborhoods in DC where it is truly easy to be car-free.

There is a bit more crime than other areas of the city, but I didn't find it unsafe, at all, to walk around in daylight and early evening hours. That said, our oldest had just finished second grade when we moved, and I wouldn't let her walk around outside alone. Also, if you are a big Amazon family, you'll need to rethink that unless you live in a building with a doorman or secure access - packages left on stoops disappear quickly.

The final comment in the PP is spot on - this board skews suburban, despite the title. And some opinions/tolerances reflect that.

While in some ways fair (and really glad you had such a great experience!), think a little silly to suggest that folks would only feel uncomfortable with the crime because they are "suburban." Some good (childless, to boot) friends of ours sold their place in Columbia Heights to move to another quite "urban" neighborhood in DC because they felt uncomfortable with the crime. It'll be more a matter of personal preference--OP, I'd just do some research and see what your gut tells you on that front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in Columbia Heights with a one year old and one on the way and we LOVE it. You can't throw a rock without hitting a playground - the Girard St playground in particular we really love, but there are literally three others just a few blocks from our house. There's also Meridian Hill Park, which doesn't have a playground, but is such a great scene - always tons of people out in nice weather, musicians, picnics, a real community vibe. Plenty of grocery stores, I think, but we're lazy so we just get our groceries delivered. It's very walkable - we don't have a car and it's great - tons of bus lines and the metro is right here, plus really everything you need is in walking distance. It's also one of the few truly diverse parts of DC - racially and economically. Yes, crime is a bit higher here than in the rest of NW DC, but we feel perfectly safe walking around, with or without our kid, after dark (although now that it's summer he's in bed before dark!) People are friendly.

And, while certainly, people are free to make their own determinations about safety and their own comfort level, I would keep in mind that while this website is called "DC Urban Moms" it has a large suburban contingent, and skews rather wealthy, and that may impact the responses you get on threads like these.

This website also has a lot of people who have lived in Columbia Heights and then moved from Columbia Heights, sometimes to the suburbs but often also to other parts of DC (not just UNW), once they have kids.