Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 17:28     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
VA either to Loudon or Fairfax County. MD is going downhill and you pay more in taxes.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:47     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:You are not priced out of arlington. Only 1 kid so you can buy an older smaller SFM or newer townhouse.

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Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 16:41     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
This thread is 2 years old. I doubt OP is still looking for responses.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:25     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:We are nearing the end of our city living years. We are in Ward 4 and would like to move in the next 3ish years. Both work in fed/fed adjacent roles. So probably a max 45 minute commute from the City. We have one kid - we would like to be in a good district by the time he is in early elementary years 1/2nd grade. We want a school district that is decent through middle school at least. Racially diverse would be great so our kid doesn't stand out. Budget would be under 1.2M or so. Prefer a SFH - no shared rowhome walls etc., our time in DC has cemented that. We seem to be priced out of Arlington. Alexandria schools seem underwhelming. Where should we go? We have a small preference for VA over MD, but happy to consider suitable areas in both.

Any help suggestions?


racially diverse and good school distrcit are mutally exclusive unless you mean asian white diverse
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2026 15:20     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:I'd encourage you to find an affordable community you like and talk to neighbors who send their kids to the public school. Do not listen to what people on DCUM say about schools their kids have never attended. Do not go by the Great Schools website. Talk to parents. I'm so glad I did when we moved to our neighborhood 16 years ago.


I thought great schools just ranked schools based on low economic diversity, and if that's what you want, an area's overall HHI is a better indicator.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 21:42     Subject: Re:Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:You can get a decent SFH right outside town of Vienna zoned for good schools for 1.2. You’d be very happy.


I live right outside TOV, and DH grew up in Burke: both are good options.
I really like Reston but it's a longer commute, especially to the parts of DC that have Fed offices. I actually find Burke pretty inconvenient to drive around but it has the VRE and express bus so the commute options are better.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 21:31     Subject: Re:Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
You can get a decent SFH right outside town of Vienna zoned for good schools for 1.2. You’d be very happy.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 13:26     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
OP here. Thank you for all the suggestions- you’ve given me new ideas to research and visit over time! We have time on our side for this planned move and will be going out to various towns on weekends and get the feel for them before we consider buying or moving.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 13:10     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Burke is the up and coming neighborhood in VA that has a good vibe, good schools and diversity.


I live near Burke and like it relative to many of the local suburbs, but there is nothing up and coming about it.


+1

Yeah I wouldn't have described it as up and coming either. Burke has decidedly arrived, in all of its suburban glory. lol

Other than the amount of traffic that cuts through every day, it really hasn't changed much in 40 years. It's a feature, really.


I don't know about 'up and coming' but would say it's very clear that single family houses in the general Burke area of NOVA are snapped up very quickly, typically with waived contingencies and usually over asking. With telework making it more popular to move to the burbs for more space (but still having access to city amenities on weekends), the area is very popular. It's not particularly walkable though. But for middle class families who couldn't afford the walkable premium without sacrificing space or having to buy a gut job, it's a great middle ground. It's an hour commute or more in rush hour, but on weekends, it's about a half hour to the city.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 13:07     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:Don't buy in MOCO. It is going downhill fast and the schools are rapidly declining.

The eternal and ubiquitous NOVA MoCo-hater has landed in this thread.

My schools and home equity are chugging along just fine, but thanks for the concern trolling!
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 12:58     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Don't buy in MOCO. It is going downhill fast and the schools are rapidly declining.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 12:50     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Burke is the up and coming neighborhood in VA that has a good vibe, good schools and diversity.


I live near Burke and like it relative to many of the local suburbs, but there is nothing up and coming about it.


+1

Yeah I wouldn't have described it as up and coming either. Burke has decidedly arrived, in all of its suburban glory. lol

Other than the amount of traffic that cuts through every day, it really hasn't changed much in 40 years. It's a feature, really.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 12:46     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Idk why the commenter said that recommending Rockville is bleak. Rockville is a great, safe (I leave my door unlocked) place to live and raise a family. Schools are great. With all the shops you can ever need and not terrible traffic


Shhhhh don't tell them. We live in a DCUM hellhole.


It's a fine suburb. A hard transition for someone who is used to and enjoys urban living and not having to drive everywhere. As are all the other recommendations here.

OP will have to get used to starting the car more than once a week regardless if they want a SFH at that budget
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 12:43     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
You are not priced out of arlington. Only 1 kid so you can buy an older smaller SFM or newer townhouse.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2024 12:42     Subject: Where Should We Move? MD/VA?
I'd encourage you to find an affordable community you like and talk to neighbors who send their kids to the public school. Do not listen to what people on DCUM say about schools their kids have never attended. Do not go by the Great Schools website. Talk to parents. I'm so glad I did when we moved to our neighborhood 16 years ago.