Anonymous wrote:So sorry for you, OP. I think most people in DC would be moving to Raleigh.

Agree. GL OP

Just repeat to self, traffic, traffic, traffic when making your decision. Also I think MoCo has excellent schools for Autism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So sorry for you, OP. I think most people in DC would be moving to Raleigh.

Not.

+1. We moved from Charlotte to DC. I couldn't get out of Charlotte fast enough. We live in DC. In Colonial Village. Our kids go to a charter school. We love the school. It's just as good as the best school in Charlotte, which my kids attended.

You can't compare any place in DC, MD or VA to Raleigh. It's just so much more crowded. That's the only thing I miss about NC, it's is really easy to get around. Then again, there was no place to go.

You should look in Reston or Herdon. I'm not sure about local Montessori schools but it's reasonable close to Dulles Airport (for your husband), not terribly expensive, lots of green space (and walking trails), good public schools, and the traffic isn't terrible. Does your DH also need to commute into DC? His job location when not traveling is important too.

Given the son on the autism spectrum, I would probably start by researching how the public schools (if you'll be using public) handle special needs, autism in particular, and go from there. Look at Montgomery County (MD), Fairfax County (VA), Arlington County (VA) and Falls Church City (VA) if you want to stay close-in. (City of Alexandria is also close in, but a lot of folks are not crazy about their high school option, and there's not much green space.) If you prefer to live farther out for more green space (and probably more traffic), expand your search to Loudoun county, etc. Fairfax and Arlington both have lots of parks, often walkable from homes, so in my mind that would address the "green space" issue.

Once you figure out your public school needs, I'd see where the local montessori options were and then use that criteria to help narrow down areas to neighborhoods, then ask for advice on DCUM again.

good luck!

Accommodate.

Bad rap.

Per se.

Mongt Co is a good option b/c hubbie would be able to fly out of all 3 airports without much trouble. I've lived in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Falls Church and Fairfax and all of those areas would be good for you. Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac are actually great for getting to all 3 airports as long as you're not too far from the highway. Skip DC proper. Don't do Leesburg, Federick, Annapolis, Manssas, Clarksburg, etc. They are all WAY too far out. Since you have a decent budget, there's no reason to move to those towns. If you're near/inside the beltway, you'll be able to enjoy trips to the Zoo and museums with the kids.

It's all a trade off. Bigger house, more yard - go further out (Fairfax, Gaithersburg). Want the best public schools - Fairfax County, North Arlington, Bethesda. Want short drives to the stores - stay near the major roads & highways. We have some of the best public schools in the nation, so there's no reason to go private if you carefully choose where you live, IMO.

If OP's hubby will be going all over the area, then any of North Arlington, Bethesda, or Silver Spring that feeds to Blair HS would work IMO, depending on where more of his visits will be (more on the VA side or the MD side, you want to minimize river crossings on car if you want.)

You could also get a place in DC that zones to the JKLM elementaries/Deal/Wilson for $5k a month.

If it's 50/50, I'd stay in VA due to VA having two airports and MD having only one, and that is a ways away in BWI.

If most of the locations are Metro-accessible then places like Fairfax VA and Rockville MD become options.

Take a look at the map, too. If your DH will be going around the faster-growing exurbs, like Leesburg, Frederick, Annapolis, Manassas, etc., and will rarely be heading into DC/Arlington/close in MD, forget what I said earlier and pick one of those areas and avoid the close-in traffic.

The DC Metro is a big area and I've been predicating my advice on your DH being asked to go to Leesburg one week, Bethesda another week, Stafford another week, Arlington another, etc.

Like the PP said McLean or Arlington would be a very wise choice

Anonymous wrote:My husband will be overseeing the opening of rehab and pain clinics. So he'll be all over the DC area. However he doesn't have to go out daily per say. With his flights, his business partners are in Dallas and LA. From what it sounds like there are 3 airports so he should be more than okay. It's good to hear that excellent schools are the norm. That's a huge relief considering the cost of living. The private school costs are about the same here. PG and Baltimore City were x'ed out long ago. I thought PG was improving as the location seemed convient but from what I read online the schools aren't that good. There also seems to be a lot of turnover in the school admin as well. We're heading up that way in a week sounds like I've got some things to add to the list.

As someone who also travels all over the DC & Maryland area for work there is no way to avoid traffic, unfortunately. He can try to minimize traffic by living near George Washington Parkway - McLean or Arlington. Or near DC on route 50.

Anonymous wrote:I would look at Arlington, VA. You can find something relatively nice to rent for 5,000 and the schools are good. In addition, you are a VERY quick drive to Reagan National Airport.

+1. Traffic isn't bad in Arlington, it's a quick hop to the airport, tons of parks, great schools.

My husband will be overseeing the opening of rehab and pain clinics. So he'll be all over the DC area. However he doesn't have to go out daily per say. With his flights, his business partners are in Dallas and LA. From what it sounds like there are 3 airports so he should be more than okay. It's good to hear that excellent schools are the norm. That's a huge relief considering the cost of living. The private school costs are about the same here. PG and Baltimore City were x'ed out long ago. I thought PG was improving as the location seemed convient but from what I read online the schools aren't that good. There also seems to be a lot of turnover in the school admin as well. We're heading up that way in a week sounds like I've got some things to add to the list.

I disagree with PPs saying there is a lack of green space close in. Hello?! Rock Creek Park? DC is actually very leafy compared with other cities its size.

I would look at Arlington, VA. You can find something relatively nice to rent for 5,000 and the schools are good. In addition, you are a VERY quick drive to Reagan National Airport.

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to stay below $5000, my husband may say more but I disagree and think that's a good price. I'd rather not break the bank. Right now I'm for private, but I'd go for public if it's good. She's only 2, but from what I can gather about the DC area you need to think about your education choices sooner rather than later. Traffic is a big deal for me, especially coming from a place with 70 mph highways and traffic jams lasting no longer than 15-20 mins. I'd prefer to be closer to wherever the school is. As I'm home during the day I can get a lot of errand type stuff done while most folks are working. As for my husband he flys a a lot so if it's a hassle to get back and forth from the airport he can use a car service. I've never used public transportation so I plan on sticking with my truck. No real deal breakers with the house. I understand that the DC area only has so much room to expand, while NC has a ton of room to grow. It would be nice to have a 2 car attached garage and a somewhat updated kitchen.

Where will your husband be going when he is not flying? If he is flying less than 1-2x a month I wouldn't even consider that in my calculations.

Good public schools are the rule not the exception in Northern Virginia and Maryland (minus Prince George's and Baltimore City.)

Traffic gets bad around rush hour in Leesburg but during the rest of the day it's not bad at all. Some parts of Fairfax it's bad from 6am to 10pm.

If you will explicitly rule out public transit, then no point in living closer in unless your husband's commute becomes two hours.