OP, what's your budget?

Not OP, but 21st Centery SAHMs living in Manhattan don't have "budgets." Those are for the little people.

Georgetown is the best, hands down. Its kind of like Soho, bur nicer. Everything else sucks big time compared to most of Manhattan.

OP, what's your budget?

Anonymous wrote:

Vienna Va. Perfect town for you.

This is exactly the sort of place that would give Woody Allen hives.

DC Snob.

The 20008 zip code: Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Forest Hills. From most to least urban/walkable, but even Forest Hills (where I live) is quite walkable.

Housing stock in this zip includes apartments/condos, row homes, nice SFHs, and palatial estates. Close to the top private schools but also offering excellent public schools.

This is the answer, OP.

Vienna Va. Perfect town for you.

This is exactly the sort of place that would give Woody Allen hives.

Vienna Va. Perfect town for you.

Anonymous wrote:You will never find anything like Brooklyn or Mattanhatten here. Search the Like Brooklyn post.

I wouldn't put it QUITE this harshly but OP, I moved here 17 years ago from Manhattan and just want to let you know to give yourself lots of time to adjust. DC is a nice mid-size city but it's nothing like NYC. I remember a new friend here telling me -- completely seriously -- how much she loved connecticut avenue b/c it had so much to do. And I was like whaaa? One stupid little avenue is the best you can come up with here? But I've adjusted and also the city has changed so much. In any case, you've gotten tons of good advice here on neighborhoods. Good luck with your move!!

Kids are 5 and 8. So would like to be near activities / sports / classes, etc for them and someplace that has a sense of community, you actually know your neighbors, etc.

Native NYer here, 15 years in DC. I think you will like the DC suggestions, Cleveland Park, Gtown, etc, but the organized grab-ass for kids is better in Bethesda. Stay out of NOVA unless you're currently an Upper East Sider.

PP from directly above, also should have listed:

Cleveland Park
Forrest Hills


You definitely do not want to look in VA (I have lived there and its lovely BUT not convenient to the life you want).

OP, I live in NWDC (Kent) and my kids go to two different private schools, both in DC. I have lived in several places in the DC-MD-VA area and would suggest you look in the following neighborhoods, all of which would work for your criteria:

Georgetown
Wesley Heights
Kent/Palisades/Berkley
Spring Valley
AU Park
Chevy Chase, MD
Bethesda, MD

Of these none are particularly "city-like" although Georgetown will be the most. I dont think you can get much in G'town for $1.5 though. Since in your further comments you said a leafy-er suburban style area would be okay, these all fit that bill and are no more than 15-20 minutes from most private schools and your husband's office.

I am sure that your private in NYC will be able to help your children find places at a DC private. Never fear, I know several folks this has worked out for (also coming from NY) and, while some posters on DCUM do not like to admit it, schools can and DO make space for kids moving to the area unexpectedly (ecven those with extemsive waitlists). I know this for an absolute fact.

Georgetown (although it's pretty urban), Wesley Heights, Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase, DC or MD and downtown Bethesda all fit your description. If you're planning on doing private schools, you will find that the majority of students come from these neighborhoods.

Until op tells us how much house they can afford, this is pointless.

Anonymous wrote:Many people feel NW is the best neighborhood. Expensive. Also Chevy Chase and Bethesda MD. Expensive. For a certain kind of person McLean Va. Good luck in your search! $1.2M does not go but so far in some of these neighborhoods.

NW is not a neighborhood.

You will never find anything like Brooklyn or Mattanhatten here. Search the Like Brooklyn post.