OP here. I am so grateful for all these very helpful responses! And it is reassuring to hear that if we do decide to stay in Capitol Hill, we might feel more at home here eventually. Any suggestions on how to meet more people in the neighborhood would be appreciated too. We hung out at some nice parks but it seemed like the majority of the people we talked to were nannies (many suggesting we best move to Northern Virginia Is it easy to meet other quirky families in the Brent area?
Is the takoma park MD neighborhood near a metro? I was definitely wanting to either bike or take the train to work if possible. We are not too keen on purchasing a house at this point and would rather rent for a few years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park, MD schools are excellent and you will find lots and lots of families similar to yours

I thought the schools in Takoma were not as good...?

Takoma DC schools not good. Takoma Park MD schools very good.

Takoma Park MD is the hippy part (Takoma DC is just a pretty neighborhood of 1920s houses) and is in the much stronger and better resources Montgomery County schools.


You might also look at Hyattsville, Mt Ranier for hippyness. The Hill is lovely and progressive but not hppy/crunchy, in my experience. The schools in Takoma Park MD are the best of the bunch, though.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/a-post-hippie-takoma-park/2012/07/07/gJQAXgtSUW_story.html

We live on the Hlll and go to Brent - love, love, love everything about living on the Hill. Used to live in Dupont (pre-kids) - great place to live, but I think the Hill is better with kids. Brent is a special school - I really don't think your kids would have any problems there whatsoever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.

I live across the street from Ross. R Street between 17th and New Hampshire. It's an awesome neighborhood. Tons of kids, Stroller-city in the last few years. Not when I first moved here though, but the neighborhood is totally different now. It's not downtown at all. Dupont is just north of downtown. When I see tourists up here with a map, I know they're totally lost and looking for monuments. Ha.

Ok thanks for this info!
Are there older kids too? I am worried that once the kids get older there won't be that many kids their age. When you have a baby it is easy to live anywhere

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.

I live across the street from Ross. R Street between 17th and New Hampshire. It's an awesome neighborhood. Tons of kids, Stroller-city in the last few years. Not when I first moved here though, but the neighborhood is totally different now. It's not downtown at all. Dupont is just north of downtown. When I see tourists up here with a map, I know they're totally lost and looking for monuments. Ha.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park, MD schools are excellent and you will find lots and lots of families similar to yours

I thought the schools in Takoma were not as good...?

Takoma DC schools not good. Takoma Park MD schools very good.

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park, MD schools are excellent and you will find lots and lots of families similar to yours

I thought the schools in Takoma were not as good...?

OP, stay in Portland. I hate it here in DC and would move back to PDX in a *heartbeat* if I and DH could find jobs.

I agree Hill East and NE are going to give you a little bit more of that vibe. Brent's a great school, and you'd adore SWS but have to lottery in. Renting in Brent is a good place to start...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.

Every park on Capitol Hill is packed with kids and parents every weekend and after school. If your kids are artsy they might like the classes at Little Loft.

And art, music, and dance classes at CHAW, Joy of Motion on H Street, and THEARC which is 15 minutes from the Hill.

Takoma Park, MD schools are excellent and you will find lots and lots of families similar to yours

I think you'll like both Brent and Capitol Hill. I bet in a few months you'll be in love with the neighborhood. Brent is a great school with plenty of quirky kids. Welcome!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.

How about Takoma Park, MD? Just over the line from Takoma but you get the Montgomery County public schools, which are very good.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.

Every park on Capitol Hill is packed with kids and parents every weekend and after school. If your kids are artsy they might like the classes at Little Loft.

OP here. Thank you for the comments.
We did hear about Takoma park but also heard the schools were not nearly as good as Brent public school. Plus I really like a short commute. I haven't heard too much about Ross. Perhaps it's worth posting on the school forum. I thought Ross was downtown so wasn't sure how many other kids would be living in the neighborhood and if there wouldn't be a community feel.
Is there a place in Capitol Hill to meet like minded parents... And kids? We had a family food gardening group that was great. There were also nice workshops for kids.