Original poster responding here...

Wow, these are incredibly helpful. Hard to imagine someone stepping in front of a MARC train on purpose (?!!), but I suppose it is a reality.

Thank you to everyone who responded to that question -- the DC Urban Moms and Dads community is so helpful and responsive (and fast)!

Now, lets hear it from the parents of young kids living in Kensington. What's it like -- the good, the bad and the ugly? One of the other places we're considering in addition to Kensington is Arlington, VA. How do they compare? Thoughts?

Thanks again everyone!!

-W

My husband and our two young kids (5 and 2.5) and I have just moved to the DC area from Pasadena, CA. We're currently in a temporary rental house and are researching where we will settle permanently. One of the places we're considering is Kensington. I'd like to hear what it's like to commute on the MARC train from Kensington to downtown DC (Federal Triangle, Metro Center, etc.) -- specifically how long it really takes, how reliable the train is, whether you actually get to sit down, etc. I'd also like to hear some thoughts what it's like to live there with young children.

Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks very much.

Wow this is all such helpful information! Thank you to everyone who jumped in with your replies so quickly -- I'm humbled and grateful. Our budget is somewhere in the $2,000 to $3,000 per month range, but could go a bit higher if need be. We are open to a house, apartment or town house. Safety and a good elementary school are our top priorities for our kids.

Question: what does the term "in bound" mean? Do you just mean within the boundaries for a particular school?

Again, thank you to all.

We are planning to relocate to the DC area at the end of the summer and would like to find a rental house or apartment that is not ridiculously expensive, but that can also house our family where my soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter can attend kindergarten. (Our son is just 2, so I'll have to find another super nanny for him or try daycare.)

Ideally we would like to either be an area in NW DC that has good elementary schools, or in the Arlington or Fairfax VA districts. Our daughter will not be old enough to start kindergarten in the Montgomery county district.

There are plenty of websites out there where we can see a few rental properties, but can anyone recommend DC's best website for the true DC insiders? Out here in LA it's WestsideRentals.com, hands down. Is there such a site in DC that pretty much everyone renting their house or apartment lists with?

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide!

-Wendy

Here's an article written in plain English on how to choose between a Coverdell and a 529 plan that should help to clear up some confusion.

Good luck! http://www.financialrx.com/saving-and-investing/article/529-plan-vs.-coverdell