Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 11:51     Subject: Re:Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Depends on your budget and you can't go wrong with either.

The schools are better in Bethesda, but it's not like Alexandria has terrible ones. Alexandria has some great elementary schools, and if your kid is at all motivated and/or you pay attention to their progress they'll do well in the middle and HS. And the schools will likely get better and better the more Amazon and Virginia Tech moves in. Their rankings are lower on Great Schools thanks to how they skew against schools with low income and non-native English speaking students.
Also in-state college options in VA > MD.

In terms of feel, Bethesda is more refined and stately though perhaps stuffy while Alexandria has a more relaxed feeling with better diversity in terms of housing stock and people and things to do.

Bethesda/CCMD is the safest part of the close-in metro. Alexandria is also very safe.

Your dollar tends to go much further in Alexandria and the income tax savings could allow a bigger mortgage / fund your kid to go to private school if need be.

SS is great and kind of a blend between Bethesda and Alexandria, wide array of housing stock and very diverse and Sligo creek is nice. But parts of SS are much less safe and schools are more hit (Woodlin, Blair etc) or miss (Northwood).

In the right neighborhood+house all are great options.

Schools in Alexandria are terrible.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 11:48     Subject: Re:Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Silver Sptimg would be closer to work and you could get more house for your money than Bethesda.


How are schools in silver spring?


Similar to Alexandria.


+1

If you were fine with schools in Alexandria, you'll be fine with the schools in Silver Spring.

You both are clueless.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 09:23     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is a sh.it.hole compared with the City of Alexandria. It's like asking if Anacostia is nicer that the Palisades.


This! No comparison.


What? What are you talking about?
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 09:12     Subject: Re:Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
You're talking about Mt Vernon Alexandria? Then just do Bethesda for shorter commute, better schools, and less crime.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 05:51     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:My only comment is that in Maryland, I feel trapped in terms of driving options. That part of the beltway is a constant headache -- sometimes at its worst on the weekends. In Alexandria, I have Rte 1 and 95 going south, beltway right there to head east west, etc. 395 to head into DC. I could not imagine living in Maryland suburbs for this reason alone.


Funny I think of thev395/495 part of the beltway as the biggest nightmare and the toll lanes are so confusing...I avoid the area. Living in MD you can enjoy the Clara Barton Parkway into DC.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 05:46     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Live in VIrginia near Chain Bridge. Relatively easy access to work and cheaper taxes and much better college options. You’ll be there before you know it!


You'll spend that tax money on gas and tolls...
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 01:26     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
It's kind of deceptive to say you live in Alexandria when you actually live down Rte. 1 near Mt. Vernon. Obviously some very nice neighborhoods down there near the river but it's a far cry from living in City of Alexandria. I do know that your postal address is called Alexandria but basically you live in FFX county and spending time in Old Town involves a trip.

I don't imagine many of these commenters are even familiar with that part of FFX county so it would be hard to compare it to Bethesda.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 01:21     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Live in VIrginia near Chain Bridge. Relatively easy access to work and cheaper taxes and much better college options. You’ll be there before you know it!
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 01:13     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Bethesda is at least 20% more expensive than Alexandria when controlling for house type / size. They are both desirable but that gap will probably always be there. You can't underestimate the value of high quality education.

Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 01:08     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Alexandria has gotten very expensive. Prices are probably similar now with HQ2 coming. Bethesda is very nice but that area hasn't seen as much growth as NOVA. You'll have access to downtown from both locations. I'd guess in 5-10 years Alx is more expensive


Eh I dunno if Alexandria will be more expensive than Bethesda in 5-10 years, but do agree that it'll become more pricey. With the HQ2 rollout Alex houses may see the greatest % of appreciation in the DMV.


+1. As expensive as Alexandria is, Bethesda is getting more expensive too. The appreciation over the past year has been insane. I wouldn’t be surprised if more HQ2 managers with families choose to live in Bethesda over Alexandria despite the commute.


What are some of the top reasons that might compel then to make that choice? Change of scenery?
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 00:44     Subject: Re:Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
I live in Bethesda and like it and also like Alexandria. The main factor I’d consider is what the PP said re having a parent within easy drive of school/home
when kids are young.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2022 00:30     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Alexandria has gotten very expensive. Prices are probably similar now with HQ2 coming. Bethesda is very nice but that area hasn't seen as much growth as NOVA. You'll have access to downtown from both locations. I'd guess in 5-10 years Alx is more expensive


Eh I dunno if Alexandria will be more expensive than Bethesda in 5-10 years, but do agree that it'll become more pricey. With the HQ2 rollout Alex houses may see the greatest % of appreciation in the DMV.


+1. As expensive as Alexandria is, Bethesda is getting more expensive too. The appreciation over the past year has been insane. I wouldn’t be surprised if more HQ2 managers with families choose to live in Bethesda over Alexandria despite the commute.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2022 23:34     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Alexandria has gotten very expensive. Prices are probably similar now with HQ2 coming. Bethesda is very nice but that area hasn't seen as much growth as NOVA. You'll have access to downtown from both locations. I'd guess in 5-10 years Alx is more expensive


Eh I dunno if Alexandria will be more expensive than Bethesda in 5-10 years, but do agree that it'll become more pricey. With the HQ2 rollout Alex houses may see the greatest % of appreciation in the DMV.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2022 22:49     Subject: Re:Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
I’ve lived in both. Old Town Alexandria is beautiful and the waterfront is nice to have.

Both have access to nature, trails, etc.

Virginia has better colleges if that matters to you. You can find good schools in either area.

Both are fairly snobby.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2022 22:43     Subject: Living in Alexandria vs Bethesda
Anonymous wrote:Alexandria has gotten very expensive. Prices are probably similar now with HQ2 coming. Bethesda is very nice but that area hasn't seen as much growth as NOVA. You'll have access to downtown from both locations. I'd guess in 5-10 years Alx is more expensive


Bethesda is plenty expensive-- a compromise for all the people suggesting SS is you can look at Kensington-- if you're concerned about schools, choose a neighborhood feeding to BCC or WJ.