I think OP said she has $800k for a home...so why consider north Kensington? Look for something that feeds into WJ, right?

Rock Creek Forest has some cool mid-century modern houses. The Town of Kensington has some cool old houses and seems very affordable. That may be your answer.

I agree with all of the nice things people have said about NCC and S. Kensington. Also be aware that slightly further north in Kensington is also nice (though very different, and cheaper) and feed into Einstein, which is closer to what you describe wanting. Some people here will disparage Einstein, but I've heard good things from a number of people.

Just stay away from Chevy Chase View...it's the complete opposite of liberal. Lovely homes, tons of sahms, kids playing, neighborhood pool, etc...but super duper conservative/republican and uber Catholic.

Parkwood has a mix of those who can't afford CCV and some liberals.

What are the zip codes for these neighborhoods?

I would stick to the Bethesda-chevy Chase or Walter Johnson pyramids.

We live in Kensington zoned into BCC. Our child is in elementary but there appears to be a fair amount of economic diversity in the school. We also love the neighborhood.

We used to live in NCC and really loved it. I just like DC better. NCC was a wonderful community.

We live on the edge of North Chevy Chase and I think it's a lovely community. Same for the parts of south Kensington that feed into the BCC zone. Not super pretentious, great neighborhood pool that is a kid magnet all through the summer, nearby shopping (walking distance to CC Supermarket has been a godsend.) Not a lot of outright snobbery but it's not Takoma Park either. I am happy here, and I think the homes in NCC and Kensington are a great value compared to costs a little closer in. I don't think of this as a block party/intensely social area, but it's totally possible that it is, and we're just out of the loop.

Yes! Op here...I love Takoma Park my husband says it's too long of a commute to work. I counter he usually leaves at 630AM so would miss it in the morning...He comes home regular drive time but thinks traffic would be too bad. I have to say I am a little scared of the wealth in Bethesda schools. We could do $800,000 for a nice starter in Bethesda but I don't want to do that. I like Kensington quite a bit, but again it feeds into Bethesda schools, which make me nervous with 3 girls who will be teenagers before we know it going to high school.

Have you considered Takoma Park?

Anonymous wrote:Rick creek forest is nice, but definitely not Sesame Street. Too many thugs loitering around and casing homes/cars.

Not sure what you are talking about. I live in RCF and have never seen any thugs loitering. Yes, there are Hispanic men waiting at bus stops. Guess where they are going? To work! Yes, totally makes them thugs, not. Really, compare crime there to anywhere also. Seems to me that the Village of Chevy Chase is getting hit pretty hard by crime these days

Rick creek forest is nice, but definitely not Sesame Street. Too many thugs loitering around and casing homes/cars.

We love Town of Kensington!

We are desperately searching for the most liberal, friendly, sesame street type neighborhood we can find...and of course we need to keep it close to NIH for work. We have 3 daughters and really want a great community to make up for the one we are leaving. We have narrowed it down to North Chevy Chase, Kensington, or Rock Creek Forest. I really want to stay within the loop. What would you recommend? And Thanks!