Anonymous wrote:I don't think a marginally better "walkable restaurant and coffee scene" is as important as schools and safety. Not by a long shot.

The main commercial strip of CCDC on Connecticut is a great place for a stroll and has a few good neighborhood restaurants, an amazing independent toy store, and an actual greengrocer. Lots of great preschools around too!

You'd also be close to the walkable commercial areas of Cleveland Park and Downtown Bethesda if that interests you.

CCDC is not exactly walkable to downtown Bethesda…..and it’s a hike to Cleveland Park

They are both safe and the schools are no sure bet anywhere but good in both places so just start looking for houses and go on vibes and when you win one you like.

Anonymous wrote:I would think Takoma Park and CCDC would appeal to wildly different people.

Is this a joke?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — This is all helpful thank you.

We are definitely more hippie than preppy😂

Reading the replies, I think I’m realizing it really does come down to the safety question. Otherwise, I’d prefer takoma park for a lot of reasons - I just think I’m nervous to move and have the same experience we’ve had recently in Columbia Heights wrt safety.

TKPK is very safe, especially with that budget if you're buying on the NW side of Carroll.

We moved to the historic district in 2016 from Columbia heights and it felt like a huge weight off my shoulders safety wise. That's not to say it's perfect. If you leave your car doors unlocked, it will be rifled through eventually. We had some store windows broken overnight a few months back, repeatedly. We had that rash of Kia thefts and the police department sends out notices about air bags and catalytic converters being stolen. I've never felt personally threatened and I don't hesitate to take my kids out or walk around myself, though. I really love the community and I don't find the crime level unreasonable, though if course it's disappointing.

Anonymous wrote:OP here — This is all helpful thank you.

We are definitely more hippie than preppy😂

Reading the replies, I think I’m realizing it really does come down to the safety question. Otherwise, I’d prefer takoma park for a lot of reasons - I just think I’m nervous to move and have the same experience we’ve had recently in Columbia Heights wrt safety.

TKPK is very safe, especially with that budget if you're buying on the NW side of Carroll.

CCDC is going to have a lot more very wealthy people and depending on where you are could be more or less car dependent.

I think the schools are probably a wash, as is safety.

TKPK has a very small town hippie feel, like if you took UC out of Berkeley. During the fall it has an almost Gilmore Girls level of town events from the very large street festival to Pajarama and markets. The farmers market even does a pie contest. Between the DC side and the Maryland side someone seems to know someone else at any given moment hanging out on a weekend when it's even remotely nice.

CCDC also has restaurants and a community, just a very different one. Much preppier. A lot more private school folks. And frankly $1.7 probably won't go as far (though taxes will be lower).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:???

DC public schools are not better than Takoma Park schools.

And if in Maryland, you are in state for all the Maryland colleges.

Look in both and base it on which house you like best. If the houses are a toss up, choose Takoma Park for sure. Better schools, better services, more community.

The public schools in CCDC are most certainly better than the public schools in Takoma Park.

Absolutely not.
They are not even in the same league.
TPMS & Blair are leagues above Deal and JR

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:???

DC public schools are not better than Takoma Park schools.

And if in Maryland, you are in state for all the Maryland colleges.

Look in both and base it on which house you like best. If the houses are a toss up, choose Takoma Park for sure. Better schools, better services, more community.

The public schools in CCDC are most certainly better than the public schools in Takoma Park.

No, they are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — This is all helpful thank you.

We are definitely more hippie than preppy😂

Reading the replies, I think I’m realizing it really does come down to the safety question. Otherwise, I’d prefer takoma park for a lot of reasons - I just think I’m nervous to move and have the same experience we’ve had recently in Columbia Heights wrt safety.

I've lived in Takoma Park and worked in Columbia Heights. I find Takoma Park much more pleasant and comfortable, in terms of safety, than Columbia Heights. There's a real small town feel.

It's quite safe. You won't like the vibes in CC. Go with TkPk.

Anonymous wrote:OP here — This is all helpful thank you.

We are definitely more hippie than preppy😂

Reading the replies, I think I’m realizing it really does come down to the safety question. Otherwise, I’d prefer takoma park for a lot of reasons - I just think I’m nervous to move and have the same experience we’ve had recently in Columbia Heights wrt safety.

I've lived in Takoma Park and worked in Columbia Heights. I find Takoma Park much more pleasant and comfortable, in terms of safety, than Columbia Heights. There's a real small town feel.

OP here — This is all helpful thank you.

We are definitely more hippie than preppy😂

Reading the replies, I think I’m realizing it really does come down to the safety question. Otherwise, I’d prefer takoma park for a lot of reasons - I just think I’m nervous to move and have the same experience we’ve had recently in Columbia Heights wrt safety.

With that budget, I’d say neither location, if decision is based on public school. If intending to send kids to private, go with CCDC. Real estate appreciation is going to be better in CCDC, and I’d say CCDC is safer too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:???

DC public schools are not better than Takoma Park schools.

And if in Maryland, you are in state for all the Maryland colleges.

Look in both and base it on which house you like best. If the houses are a toss up, choose Takoma Park for sure. Better schools, better services, more community.

The public schools in CCDC are most certainly better than the public schools in Takoma Park.

+1

Coolidge HS serves Takoma DC. I believe it’s on the upswing, but don’t know the details. Ask in the DCPS forum if interested. The beautiful campus was just renovated.

I live in TKPK and have kids who are going through the schools. You are probably thinking about the historic district based on your budget, which will put you close to all the restaurants and such.

I have no concerns about safety, at least not more than if I lived in DC or any other close-in suburb. My kids are all over the town on their own, ride the public buses regularly, meet their friends in town or at any number of parks, and can walk to school starting in elementary school and going all the way through 8th grade.

The public schools are good, too. Not great, but I'd say the same about any of the MoCo or DC schools. They are just very big, so you need to be engaged as a parent and student to maximize the benefits.

I like CCDC, too, but my read is that Takoma Park--especially the part near the center of town--feels more like a small town, which I like. Tons of interesting people, and in general, it is very social (in my experience).