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[quote=Anonymous]I am the original poster!  I am sorry for not having provided an update earlier!!! I have not been on this site in a long time...

First, thanks for all the amazing feedback. I have not reviewed all of it and  can't address each point, but I can provide an update.

My thoughts so far are just my opinion and entirely rooted in the few people we have met in our short time here! So, please keep that in mind.

Honestly, we probably would have been fine in either neighborhood in terms of community feel, but in the end, we focused our search on Kensington-Parkwood. Although we found a lovely house on a great street in Woodmoor, in the end, we decided to wait for a good fit in Kensington because it met other factors, which we decided were higher priorities. It took longer to find something that worked for us, but we are pleased. Folks who are looking to decide, may wish to rent a place (I have seen a few rentals) to get a sense for the area.

Reasons we made that decision to go for Kensington: 
- Schools 
- Smaller house/less yard/closer together was okay for us
- Public transportation commute for my husband (Farragut North or Dupont Circle) was shorter (about 10-15 minutes less time needed).  
- Investment (cross fingers for everyone on this!)
- As my kids get older, I would feel less nervous allowing them to walk to library and town. In Kensington, kids would have to cross Knowles or Connecticut to go to some places, but the intersection has lights and traffic is generally slower. We realized that travel from Woodmoor to nearly any location (except shops in the Woodmoor mall) would require crossing University, Colesville or the Beltway bridge. During visits to Woodmoor, I'd see HS kids bolt from the Starbucks or McDonalds across University  or Colesville to Blair HS, which scared me...but I am a bit of a spaz about traffic and walking safety.

Now having been here for 6+ months, here is my current perspective:
- All of the above holds true
- Commute for husband turns out to include a quality of life factor as he experiences less "transfer" stress b/c he rides his bike along a path (not busy roads) to the metro. He rarely rides the bus because his bike ride is not stressful, which he says makes for a nicer commute. A neighbor rides along Capital Crescent Trail/Rock Creek Path nearly all the way into his work near Georgetown).  
- Not tons of economic diversity as far as I can see. (probably not so different than Woodmoor)
- It feels like a nice small neighborhood  (from what we have heard, absolutely true of Woodmoor)
- The immediate neighborhood is great - lovely neighbors and other school parents (not stodgy, stuck up  or too conservative) as was my concern. We have meet very open minded and lovely people.  (This is based in no actual knowledge, but I get the sense that that there is more of a liberal mindset in Woodmoor.)  
- We had been impressed with what we have seen at Kensington-Parkwood school so far. We like the arts integration. Great after care program too (probably true of Woodmoor as well). I can't say anything yet about MS or HS, except the neighbor kids at the HS seem on the ball,  thoughtful and unique.
- The school is not very diverse, but there is diversity of parents in terms of  perspectives, degree of conservatism/liberalism and work background (DC based workers, NIHers, nurses, construction types, local store-owners).  Some ethnic and racial diversity.  
- Traffic flows are nice. Traffic does not feel as hectic. 
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