f you mentioned what year you left I think that would help people tell you what is the same/different from what you remember. But here are my answers, FWIW:

Would you currently recommend this area as a place to live? Yes, I've been here for 15 years and love this area. It's hard to describe why exactly, I just do.

How is traffic now? Worse

How are the people (still competitive)? Yes

How is the current cost if living and quality of life? Likely way more expensive than you remember, mostly do to housing. The DC area was one of the few to come out relatively unscathed from the housing crash and prices have been going right back up again.

Is it getting too built up or crowded? That's all in your perspective, but yes, if you've been away for 10 years or more it's likely expanded much beyond what you remember. There are also a lot people who want to live close in but want more house, so you see a lot of houses being build that take up almost the entire yard.

We could afford a nice neighborhood and good schools, but even then is life stressful? Isn't it always? Though I find it hard to believe I'm any more stressed because I live here.

Anonymous wrote:How is beltway traffic? Are people generally stressed out and competitive, or is it a laid back vibe? Is the emphasis on money and success, or is there a real diversity of interests and goals? Is there a lot of socioeconomic segregation? Are people generally happy? Is it a good place for older kids, or generally a fairly intense environment? Is a 10-15 minute commute to work downtown out of the question?

Too late.

Anonymous wrote:We lived in the DC metro area once before, and are considering a move back for professional reasons. Would you currently recommend this area as a place to live? How is traffic now? How are the people (still competitive)? How is the current cost if living and quality of life? Is it getting too built up or crowded? We could afford a nice neighborhood and good schools, but even then is life stressful?

I adore DC - I think it is the best place in the united states to raise kids and is without a doubt the least stressful location for us. That said, we have grandparents in town who are extraordinarily helpful - both with their time in taking care of our kids, doing errands for us, and being generally supportive and with their money (of which there is lots). My husband has a very strong legacy at a "Big 3" and he has a trust to pay for our kids to go there from K through 12, but as a back-up we live in a NWDC neighborhood with a fabulous elementary school. This means our commutes are easy so no traffic headaches to speak of. To top it off, we both work in flexible, interesting, high paying jobs that we couldn't have anywhere else. We also have a beach house we inherited from my grandparents and a legacy membership to two country clubs. Now I realize that none of this is helpful because it all only applies to me and my family, but since you don't seem to care for any of the objective measures of comparison I figured I'd share our limited experience.

Anonymous wrote:How is beltway traffic? Are people generally stressed out and competitive, or is it a laid back vibe? Is the emphasis on money and success, or is there a real diversity of interests and goals? Is there a lot of socioeconomic segregation? Are people generally happy? Is it a good place for older kids, or generally a fairly intense environment? Is a 10-15 minute commute to work downtown out of the question?

You are asking relative questions without giving any info on which to base this.

A 10-15 minute commute is of course possible, but that depends on where you live, and that depends on your income. Rinse, repeat.

is it a laid back vibe?

You can't be serious...

How is beltway traffic? Are people generally stressed out and competitive, or is it a laid back vibe? Is the emphasis on money and success, or is there a real diversity of interests and goals? Is there a lot of socioeconomic segregation? Are people generally happy? Is it a good place for older kids, or generally a fairly intense environment? Is a 10-15 minute commute to work downtown out of the question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, what will your income be?

As I said previously, sufficient to afford a good neighborhood and schools. That should not be the focus.

Wow, you are a treat. I really want to help you. OK, SE DC is GREAT now! Live there.

+1

Bossy, bossy, bossy. You know you're asking people to take their time to help you, right?

Yeah, you'll fit right in. Come on back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, what will your income be?

As I said previously, sufficient to afford a good neighborhood and schools. That should not be the focus.

Wow, you are a treat. I really want to help you. OK, SE DC is GREAT now! Live there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not want to discuss where we currently live, because I am well aware of the many pros and cons of our current home. Also, I do not want this to devolve to a There Versus Here discussion, but to focus in the merits or drawbacks of the DC metro area specifically.

Well, if you are moving here from Manhattan, you will find it cheaper and easier. If you are moving here from Des Moines you will find it expensive and congested. It's all relative.

Can you separate DC from comparisons to other places please, and describe it on its own merits?

Anonymous wrote:Also, what will your income be?

As I said previously, sufficient to afford a good neighborhood and schools. That should not be the focus.

Anonymous wrote:I do not want to discuss where we currently live, because I am well aware of the many pros and cons of our current home. Also, I do not want this to devolve to a There Versus Here discussion, but to focus in the merits or drawbacks of the DC metro area specifically.

Well, if you are moving here from Manhattan, you will find it cheaper and easier. If you are moving here from Des Moines you will find it expensive and congested. It's all relative.

I do not want to discuss where we currently live, because I am well aware of the many pros and cons of our current home. Also, I do not want this to devolve to a There Versus Here discussion, but to focus in the merits or drawbacks of the DC metro area specifically.

Also, what will your income be?

Where would you be coming from OP? That makes all the difference.

We lived in the DC metro area once before, and are considering a move back for professional reasons. Would you currently recommend this area as a place to live? How is traffic now? How are the people (still competitive)? How is the current cost if living and quality of life? Is it getting too built up or crowded? We could afford a nice neighborhood and good schools, but even then is life stressful?