Anonymous wrote:We make between 180K and 210K depending on the year and are looking to buy in the WJ cluster (Wyngate/Ashburton/KPES elementary). We would like to be in a place where we would fit in both socio economically and with the community. Are we a lot poorer than the families who live there?

We make less than that (one income) and don't feel poor in our WJ cluster neighborhood. Part of that might be that our expenses are lower (no childcare expenses) and that the mortgage on our average-sized house is smaller than it would be on one of the larger houses nearby. But additionally, I think that people around us don't have showy, expensive lifestyles. It's one of the things we really like about the area.

Anonymous wrote:The odds of Ken-Gar zoning to WJ in a decade are not high, given the growth in demographics in the relevant areas. Possible yes, but not 100%. Also, ken-gar is historically an Aa neighborhood. To think that isn't reflected in price is naive, unfortunately.

Where would they go? Einstein is also projected to be overenrolled in 5-10 years.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the Town of Kensington and Ken-Gar are zoned to Walter Johnson. What people are forgetting about the WJ district is that there are a ton of apartments and condos zoned to WJ, unlike Whitman. And that many, many, most? SFHs in the WJ district are less than $1M. I think OP will be very solidly in the middle.

I agree with this. Luxmanor and Wyngate and some parts of Garrett Park and KP will have pricier homes. Ashburton, some parts of Garrett Park and K-p will have less pricy SFH, and there are the townhouses, apartments and condos around that are also less expensive, or a bigger bang for your buck, depending on perspective.

I think you'll be fine economically speaking. I get you - you don't want your kids to feel like they have to keep up with Suzy next door. From what I see, that isn't happening at WJ - there are other clusters nearby where that may be more of a concern.

I think you hit the middle to high middle based on my experience.

I wouldn't worry too much about fitting in, since nobody knows your salary and people who make $180 are probably not that different from people who make $250k or more. But I do think WJ is a stretch on that income, unless you are willing to sacrifice something in what you're looking for. We make a bit less and live in the Einstein cluster and don't feel that we could afford more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well the median HHI in MoCo is a little less than 100K, so I doubt you will be the poor people.

Not in bethesda

I would say you are mid to low mid

I am the PP. You're right! Here is the census data:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_12_5YR_S1901&prodType=table

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about something like this?
http://franklymls.com/MC9002582

Super cute, and $600K is not bad for an updated house in a good school district.

Didn't realize WJ kids came from all the way over there. Love the house+price and the school district, but don't like the location.

Jeez, "all the way over there." It borders the unincorporated part of Kensington that goes to the much maligned Einstein. Horrors!

What no one has mentioned is that this house sold for a mere $303,000 in May of this year. Even with the reno, that doesn't add up.

Einstein is very bad it is a horror.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about something like this?
http://franklymls.com/MC9002582

Super cute, and $600K is not bad for an updated house in a good school district.

Didn't realize WJ kids came from all the way over there. Love the house+price and the school district, but don't like the location.

Jeez, "all the way over there." It borders the unincorporated part of Kensington that goes to the much maligned Einstein. Horrors!

What no one has mentioned is that this house sold for a mere $303,000 in May of this year. Even with the reno, that doesn't add up.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the Town of Kensington and Ken-Gar are zoned to Walter Johnson. What people are forgetting about the WJ district is that there are a ton of apartments and condos zoned to WJ, unlike Whitman. And that many, many, most? SFHs in the WJ district are less than $1M. I think OP will be very solidly in the middle.

Thanks!~ thought they all went to Einstein.

This house, not great, might work if the price is adjusted some. The bb heaters & cabinets are a huge turn off, good location though. http://mocorealestate.com/idx/mls-mc8219431-9802_marquette_dr_bethesda_md_20817

Yes, the Town of Kensington and Ken-Gar are zoned to Walter Johnson. What people are forgetting about the WJ district is that there are a ton of apartments and condos zoned to WJ, unlike Whitman. And that many, many, most? SFHs in the WJ district are less than $1M. I think OP will be very solidly in the middle.

Anonymous wrote:How about something like this?
http://franklymls.com/MC9002582

Super cute, and $600K is not bad for an updated house in a good school district.

Didn't realize WJ kids came from all the way over there. Love the house+price and the school district, but don't like the location.

Anonymous wrote:How about something like this?
http://franklymls.com/MC9002582

Super cute, and $600K is not bad for an updated house in a good school district.

No google "street" view. Looking out the back window photo....
This house in my WJ neighborhood might be in the $750k range if I had to guess.

That is a fine income. I have friends whose kids go to Ashburton who earn around 200k

We are a 200K HH and live in the KPES district. Sure there are a bunch of million dollar rebuilds in our neighborhood (Parkwood) but there are plenty of modest homes like ours as well. My sense is we're pretty average for the area but I couldn't say for sure.

I don't know what the source or the quality of the data is on this site, but I looked around at it the other day and found it interesting. It doesn't list HHI by school, but does have average home price ($515,000 for WJ), which you might use as a proxy.

http://mocorealestate.com/schools/walter-johnson-cluster/