Virginia vs Maryland?
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Akirah00
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| I have just been advised of a transfer to DC for my job. I may be assigned here for a minimum of 3 years. At this time, I would prefer to rent and am budgeting at least $2000/mo. I will be working at the Reagan Building. I am asking for some help on understanding the income tax difference between MD and VA. Are there any great advantages to living in one versus the other? I do have two small children, so schools and after/before-care is important to me as well. Best neighborhoods for renting? Any insight that may be shared would be greatly appreciated. |
Anonymous
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How old will the kids be while you are here? Will they need to be in school? Where (generally) are you coming from and what do you want out of your new neighborhood? What does your partner want, and will they be working?
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Akirah00
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Thanks for steering me.
Kids: currently in 6th grade and Kindergarten. Based on timeline, having a good high school and elementary is important. That said, they will need to be in school. Neighborhood: we are homebodies, for the most part, but I like to attend festival and school activities with the children. I like diversity. I am moving from central Fl where we do have quite a bit of diversity. I prefer a middle class dynamic of professional young families. My husband is a manager with WalMart. He is a but more flexible in terms of what he wants to do with his career. |
Anonymous
| Man that's a tough one. Pretty equal depending on what's available and what your definition of a good neighborhood is. Anything decent and convenient will be pricy. |
Anonymous
| Look at pentagon city/crystal city area. You may be able to find a rental within your budget and your commute would be okay. Schools are good, despite what some rich N. Arlington people would want you to believe. |
Anonymous
| If only 3 years and kids are young I would suggest College Park/ university park area. Elementary is excellent. Close in has festivals / farmers markets and city events along with U.MD facilities and events. Very convenient right on metro and close in. The community is 65-35 white/minority and a good amount of detached rentals. |
Anonymous
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If you decide Maryland works for you, I'd look at Blair cluster for diversity, commute, and affordability. Middle school is more important than elementary, so I'd target Takoma Park MS and Silver Spring International MS.
Any of those elementary schools are going to be totally fine, and you can have an easy commute downtown (get off at Metro Center). Yes, you could get directly to Federal Triangle if you were coming in from Virginia, but you would be much further out at your price point coming in from Virginia than from Maryland. That is, you can have a shorter ride on the train and a slightly longer walk if you come in from Maryland. |
Anonymous
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$2000/mo for rent? It's going to be tight in your studio aparment.
Seriously, you might want to up your budget if you want a 3 bed/2 ba in a nice area. |
Anonymous
Bad advice. One of his kids is in 6th grade, and the middle school options there are not good, unless you are already at a lottery or TAG school. |
Anonymous
2k is difficult. You might be able to find something near Olney or near Glenmont metro or near downtown Silver spring in Maryland. |
Anonymous
| Can the kids share a room? This would work, super walkable, great schools, and diverse: https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/house,condo,apartment_duplex,mobile,townhouse_type/62876020_zpid/0-536202_price/0-2000_mp/38.982948,-77.000363,38.965298,-77.029674_rect/14_zm/ |
Akirah00
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Yes, they sure can.
My question remains, with regards to property taxes (car), commute, and state taxes is VA any better than MD? |
Anonymous
| Is your H quitting his job or being reassigned yo a store in the area, and if so, which one? |
Anonymous
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OP, it’s a wash in terms of taxes. I’ve lived in both states. Both states are going to get you coming and going.
For $2k a month you can get a townhouse in any of the middle class suburbs of MD or VA but you’ll need to commute. |
Anonymous
I can't speak to property taxes, but your commute will be substantially better from MD than from VA at your price point. If you had unlimited $$$ to spend, I'd recommend Virginia but close-in Maryland is more affordable than close-in Virginia, which matters a lot in terms of commuting hours. |