Another vote for Bethesda. It just makes more sense for quality of life. Georgetown has its charm, no doubt but you will spend so much of your life sitting at red lights on Wisconsin. People drive like lunatics on that stretch and I just think you'll regret it. If your kids are into sports, so many of the practices/games will take place in Bethesda, North Bethesda, Rockville and beyond. It will be untenable to participate if you have to do that commute.

I've lived in various parts of DC, including Georgetown. Only place I've been mugged is Georgetown. I also had to park on the street. Spent so much time finding spots and had my mirror knocked off and a huge gash in the street side of my car due to side swipes on those narrow streets. I now live in Chevy Chase with kids. I have a house with a yard and about a 25 minute commute to K Street via either car or metro. I've found my neighbors to be kind, interesting, worldly people. They look out for my family and vice versa. My kids walk to their friends houses. It's been a peaceful, lovely place to live for this chapter of our lives.

Good luck with the move and welcome to the area--hope you find a place that feels like home for your family!

Anonymous wrote:I know both of these areas and hands-down Bethesda. I can't imagine why anyone would actually want to live in Georgetown.

Georgetown is crowded, full of tourists, parking is a nightmare, driving around is terrible, the people are stuffy and elitist, you're surrounded by people like RFK and his wife, and then on the other hand a bunch of spoiled Georgetown students. And then boatloads of clueless tourists. Everything is overpriced. And the crime is much worse. Why would anyone live there?

When is the last time you lived in GT? We were away for awhile too (left before the pandemic), and when we came back, it was not as safe feeling as before (e.g., some of the bums seemed more aggressive and would approach, whereas this had not been the case when we frequented before). I think this has gotten somewhat better in the last couple of years, but I would feel more comfortable with my teens roaming Bethesda on their own.

Bethesda for your kids.

The commute, though not long in miles. Is traffic hell.

Also, nobody is ever going to want to drop kids at your house in Georgetown. You will have to drive your kids to meets friends.

If your kids are going to school in Bethesda they will have a lot of friends living in Chevy Chase, Potomac and other areas not easily accessible by public transit. You will be driving them to social activities until they can drive. (If you are giving them access to a car)

You could also do:
Chevy Chase Village
Town of Chevy Chase (part closer to Wisconsin from Bethesda)
Friendship Heights
Tenleytown
Cleveland Park

All have some walk ability and less ugly

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: there is a school bus service but it is 45 minutes-1 hr each way. On days when there are school activities there is no later bus and they would need to be picked up at 5-6pm which sounds equally bad from Georgetown. Another issue with the bus schedule is I don’t think weekday afterschool sports (not at school) would be possible - unless we drive to pick them up, and stay in Bethesda for activities.

I could bike to work which seems easy from Georgetown.

That commute is way too long for your kids. That’s what I did in high school and it sucked. Don’t do that to them.

Plus wont have many friends on weekends and nights unless parents are driving. And after school activities will be horrible.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: there is a school bus service but it is 45 minutes-1 hr each way. On days when there are school activities there is no later bus and they would need to be picked up at 5-6pm which sounds equally bad from Georgetown. Another issue with the bus schedule is I don’t think weekday afterschool sports (not at school) would be possible - unless we drive to pick them up, and stay in Bethesda for activities.

I could bike to work which seems easy from Georgetown.

That commute is way too long for your kids. That’s what I did in high school and it sucked. Don’t do that to them.

I know both of these areas and hands-down Bethesda. I can't imagine why anyone would actually want to live in Georgetown.

Georgetown is crowded, full of tourists, parking is a nightmare, driving around is terrible, the people are stuffy and elitist, you're surrounded by people like RFK and his wife, and then on the other hand a bunch of spoiled Georgetown students. And then boatloads of clueless tourists. Everything is overpriced. And the crime is much worse. Why would anyone live there?

Put your kids in NW schools (Sidwell, Cathedral schools, WIS, GDS, Field) and live in NW DC… even Gtown. You get the best of both worlds. Why do they have to go to school in Bethesda? Can’t you change that? Kids are young and make friends everyone quickly

Leaving close to school is important for kids. I used to live in Bethesda near metro so I get it is is a bit fake compared to Georgetown and a lot of chain stores.

However, although I currently live in Potomac when I moved here I was suprised the amount of kids friends in High School who live walking distance Winston Churchill HS. The houses are smaller, have smaller plots, many just have car ports.

What they have is walking distance HS, sidewalks, walking distance to pool clubs, walking distance to Cabin John mall and walking distance middle school. I see people with big jobs who could afford a fancy mansion living in the homes But kids wise the kids being right by their HS is what is good for them.

And boring Chipotle, 5 guys, Starbucks, McDonalds, Bethesda Bagel, Potomac Pizza, Cava, HS and MIddle School events and the pool club plus Montgomery Mall is their life from 6th grade to 12 grade.

I moved here 8 years ago and youngest graduates HS this year. I am ready to move on to be honest buy my kids loved the safe bubble and being near kid friendly stuff with no bums or crime or drunk college kids in Gtown.

If you hate your kids, Georgetown.

Georgetown is absolutely the better place to live, but if you’re choosing to send kids to school in Bethesda, live there. Traffic on Wisconsin is horrible and you will make your family life miserable. Too late to have kids go to school in /near Georgetown?

Under these circumstances, Georgetown is not worth the hassle and logistics of getting two kids to Bethesda early every morning and a spouse going in a completely different direction to Farragut and all this without access to a metro. Doing this every day for years - no thank you. You will be spending all your time driving everyone around during rush hours. Miserable.

If you're only going to have one car, you need to live somewhere metro accessible, which GT is not. Live in AU Park, Bethesda, Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, etc.

As others have said, at least one car for horrible commute from Georgetown to Bethesda every morning and afternoon would suck. Your commute would also be easier from Bethesda to Farragut and does not require a car. I did this commute and it’s very easy. 5 min to walk and get down to metro, 16-18 minute ride from Bethesda to Farragut.

Agreed the restaurants are better in Georgetown by far, but given twice daily commute, Would weigh this factor less. Your kids would also like more friends from school who live in Bethesda.

I would live in Glover Park or Observatory Circle. Plus you will be driving/taking the bus to Bethesda and back with no traffic because you are driving the opposite way of traffic both in the morning and afternoon. Quieter and beautiful neighborhoods that are still very much in the city and are both very green and close to Georgetown (15 min walk). I live in one of those neighborhoods and love it. My kids though walk to school…

OP here: there is a school bus service but it is 45 minutes-1 hr each way. On days when there are school activities there is no later bus and they would need to be picked up at 5-6pm which sounds equally bad from Georgetown. Another issue with the bus schedule is I don’t think weekday afterschool sports (not at school) would be possible - unless we drive to pick them up, and stay in Bethesda for activities.

I could bike to work which seems easy from Georgetown.