If I were moving to the area right now in my 20s, and didn't know a lot of people, I would prioritize either living in DC or very close in, because doing this will result in going out more often, and it will help you meet more people. Even with a partner (maybe especially with a partner) your 20s is when you want to make lots of social connections and build out your social circle because this gets harder later on.

In DC, many people do organized activities or hobbies in order to develop social ties, and there will be a higher concentration of this in DC than further out in VA.

The furthest out I'd go is Clarendon, and I'd first look at Shaw, Union Market, the Wharf, and Navy Yard to see if I could afford something there. Or even Capitol Hill or Logan/Dupont Circle. These neighborhoods skew older but are so close to so many things it would be fine.

After they've been in DC a couple years, it might make more sense to move further out to be closer to work or because they can get more space for their money. By then they'll have friends and know the lay of the land and it won't be as important to be right in the thick of things.

People in their 20s who want to go out and have fun and live near other friends are generally in Ustreet/Adams Morgan area. Would definitely not recommend Bethesda or other suburbs unless they’re planning on having kids imminently.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read on this forum.

No, young people don’t want to live in McLean. No, it is not walkable and lively. It is great if you are 40, married and wealthy, but not a hotbed of young professionals.

Exactly, young people would not want to live in McLean, it is not for them, it is for older people (mid 30s onwards) with a family.

McLean is not walkable in the slightest and there are very few things to do there in terms of bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping. For a young person either NW DC or Clarendon/Ballston is the logical way to go.

I’m the “hilarious” Capitol Hill resident poster.
McLean sounds like hell. I don’t know anyone that would live there.

Guess I’m too stuck in my happy little (if a tad “crimey”) bubble to realize how others live.

Different strokes for different folks, and different people have different "bubbles". I personally would not want to live in McLean either (especially at this point in my life), not walkable and too many highways.

However, on the flip side, I also would also not want to live in Capitol Hill, too much crime and weird people around. I think a nice happy medium is either North Arlington (Rosslyn-Ballston) or the nicer parts of DC (Georgetown, Foggybottom, Dupont, Friendship Heights).

I work at GW. I can assure you that Foggy Bottom has "too much crime and weird people around."

Go visit the areas. IMO ballston looks like a college campus now and may be too young for most.

You could also have them look for apartments in the Mosaic District area in Fairfax. A smidgen cheaper that the Rosslyn -- Ballston corridor for newer apartments. It's farther out, but closer to McLean, and the Dunn Loring metro stop is there.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely somewhere between Rosslyn and Ballston. Much more convenient to McLean than DC, full of young professionals, many nice buildings full of amenities and safer than DC at the moment.

Agreed. I'd probably look for something in Clarendon. You are looking at anywhere from 2,000 to 3,500 for a one to two bedroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

I agree with the above regarding DC-- I've lived here 25 years and that is the state of things right now for where young people live.

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

I also feel like DC isn't as safe as VA-- I'm feeling better about things than I was a few months ago but the carjackings, muggings, etc. recently have been very concerning.

Lived here from ages 18 to 35 (current age) and agree with the list above. My bet is on Arlington/Ballston/Clarendon as being the best option here.

Anonymous wrote:Based on your criteria I would say that Arlington (between Rosslyn and Ballston corridor) would probably be best. Lots of places to go out in (restaurants and bars) but also an easy commute to McLean and DC. The prices for a 1br would be around 2000-2200 while a 2br will run you closer to 3000.

Another good option is NW DC, specifically Georgetown, Dupont, Kalorama. Very very walkable, lots of good food options. However, the commute to McLean will be more difficult and prices are also a little bit higher (and you get less for your money in terms of amenities generally compared to Arlington, especially in terms of gym and pool).

If you want to be in DC and are commuting by car to McLean, you'd want to be somewhere with easy access to a highway in that direction. I live in Adams Morgan and commute by car to Arlington. Being close to Rock Creek Parkway to be able to get out of the city quickly is key to my commute.

The farther north or east you get in DC, the farther you are from highways that will take you to Virginia. In the southern part of the city, Navy Yard or the Wharf can also have easy access to highways and are places where young people live.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read on this forum.

No, young people don’t want to live in McLean. No, it is not walkable and lively. It is great if you are 40, married and wealthy, but not a hotbed of young professionals.

Exactly, young people would not want to live in McLean, it is not for them, it is for older people (mid 30s onwards) with a family.

McLean is not walkable in the slightest and there are very few things to do there in terms of bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping. For a young person either NW DC or Clarendon/Ballston is the logical way to go.

I’m the “hilarious” Capitol Hill resident poster.
McLean sounds like hell. I don’t know anyone that would live there.

Guess I’m too stuck in my happy little (if a tad “crimey”) bubble to realize how others live.

Different strokes for different folks, and different people have different "bubbles". I personally would not want to live in McLean either (especially at this point in my life), not walkable and too many highways.

However, on the flip side, I also would also not want to live in Capitol Hill, too much crime and weird people around. I think a nice happy medium is either North Arlington (Rosslyn-Ballston) or the nicer parts of DC (Georgetown, Foggybottom, Dupont, Friendship Heights).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read on this forum.

No, young people don’t want to live in McLean. No, it is not walkable and lively. It is great if you are 40, married and wealthy, but not a hotbed of young professionals.

Exactly, young people would not want to live in McLean, it is not for them, it is for older people (mid 30s onwards) with a family.

McLean is not walkable in the slightest and there are very few things to do there in terms of bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping. For a young person either NW DC or Clarendon/Ballston is the logical way to go.

I’m the “hilarious” Capitol Hill resident poster.
McLean sounds like hell. I don’t know anyone that would live there.

Guess I’m too stuck in my happy little (if a tad “crimey”) bubble to realize how others live.

Not clear if it's intentional but your word usage with "their partner" and avoiding gender suggests someone on the alphabet. Some neighborhoods have higher concentration of alphabet people than others.

Ballston is the new Clarendon.

It is different times though - ballston has like 5 or 6 higher end fitness clubs in 3 blocks.

Gyms have replaced bars for social lives in younger generations.

Both areas still have bars and restaurants- but ballston is newer, people walk to everything- mainly healthy eating and gyms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read on this forum.

No, young people don’t want to live in McLean. No, it is not walkable and lively. It is great if you are 40, married and wealthy, but not a hotbed of young professionals.

Exactly, young people would not want to live in McLean, it is not for them, it is for older people (mid 30s onwards) with a family.

McLean is not walkable in the slightest and there are very few things to do there in terms of bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping. For a young person either NW DC or Clarendon/Ballston is the logical way to go.

The Boro by the Greensboro metro in Tyson’s is maybe 1/3 complete, but, when complete, it may well be a more appealing place to live than Ballston. Presently, about 90% of the luxury apartments are occupied by tenants under the age of 35. And about 75% are 30 or younger. When complete, this single development will have approximately 10% of all the total retail found everywhere on the orange line between Rosslyn and Ballston. I can’t imagine it will ever have an evening or bar scene anything remotely like Clarendon though, because, as a consequence of being surrounded by commercial buildings with tech companies, I think they are targettng is a more affluent and slightly older (mid 20s to early 30s) demographic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age range are we talking?

Early to mid 20s:
VA- Clarendon, Ballston
DC - Adams Morgan, Navy Yard, Union Market, Mount Vernon

Late 20's to early 30's:
VA - Arlington, Alexandria
DC - Dupont, Logan, Kalorama, Capitol Hill

May I ask the VA residents why living in McLean isn't an option?

Do young people not live there? Is it not a walkable/lively neighborhood? I hate communting so much that I'd try rent for a bit in McLean first then just dip into DC,etc. on nights and weekends.

This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read on this forum.

No, young people don’t want to live in McLean. No, it is not walkable and lively. It is great if you are 40, married and wealthy, but not a hotbed of young professionals.

Exactly, young people would not want to live in McLean, it is not for them, it is for older people (mid 30s onwards) with a family.

McLean is not walkable in the slightest and there are very few things to do there in terms of bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping. For a young person either NW DC or Clarendon/Ballston is the logical way to go.

West End. Don’t do the metro