Also, you didn't say whether you are British or just Americans living in London. But if you are the former, people will love you. Your accents will automatically make everyone think you are smarter and funnier than you are. We can't help it--it's all those years of watching BBC shows on PBS.

Adding to the above--- you'll most certainly meet other parents in either Eastern Market of Capitol Hill, or near Dupont.

Welcome to DC, OP! I'd focus on the area right around Eastern Market Metro station on Capitol Hill if you keep your child in the preschool at Federal Triangle. Eastern Market station is on the same metro line as the Federal Triangle station. There's really no place to live for families around Federal Triangle. If Capitol Hill doesn't work out, I'd focus on the Logan Circle/Dupont Circle neighborhood, say, between P Street and U Streets NW, and 18th and 14th Streets NW. If you decide on another preschool, then that changes the whole equation. Good luck! You'll enjoy it here. The ocean is a couple of hours to the east, the mountains are just an hour to the west, and the city is very international. It's not London, certainly, but DC def. has it's own vibe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Metro stations - Farragut West and Federal Triangle - work and preschool respectively. We're looking to rent in the short term. Looking for 3 bedrooms, budget upto $4,000 a month. Is that realistic? We're moving from London. So used to walking everywhere and using public transport. Also won't have a car initially.

Farragut West is on the Orange Line. How do you feel about the burbs? Fairfax/Vienna metro, Oakton? Good schools, good preschools, affordable, on metro.

Don't mean to rude, but Oakton would be a terrible idea for the OP! They won't have a car and, although Oakton has the metro, they will need to drive to the metro station….Oakton is a perfectly fine community, but it's not for anyone wanting city living.


OP - as the other PPs have stated, DC is very different than London (and many other cities, even within the US). All of the inbound neighborhoods mentioned are good options - Capital Hill, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Kalorama, Woodley Park). Will you have a chance to come here before your move to look for housing and see the city a bit? Only you can determine what type of area you would be most comfortable in. Definitely get a one-year lease (and maybe only 6-months if possible) so that you can explore the area you want to be longterm.

Also, DC can sometimes be harder for newcomers to meet other people. People here tend to be very busy and on the move. But don't worry - there are really wonderful people here even if it takes you a little time to find them! I would definitely recommend joining a mom's group and getting out as much as possible.

Good luck and welcome to DC!

There's no reason for PP to "get out more" and go to Oakton if she lives in DC. I'm sure it's nice but it is far away.

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill! I have lived in Dupont and Penn Quarter, and Capitol Hill is by far the best for families. A couple of great schools (Brent, Maury) to boot! We drive our car maybe once a week (and that is for fun, but not necessary). Living out in the 'burbs (e.g., Ballston or whatever, like some have suggested) without a car seems insane to me - you'd be trapped and at the whims of public transportation. If you live on the Hill you always have the option of walking where you need to go, e.g., a lovely 2 mile walk (on the Mall) to Federal Triangle.

As far as where on the Hill, I would stay north of 295, south of H street, and west of 12th St.

Agree that Capitol Hill is ideal, but the boundaries (at least for the invaluable Moms on the Hill group) seem to extend to the Navy Yard to the south, Florida--maybe farther!--to the north, RFK to the east, and the Capitol to the west. Obviously that isn't all truly the Hill, but those are geographically and community-wise the boundaries that a lot of people use. I mean, I know people who live right by RFK whose kids attend Hill schools, who play at Lincoln Park, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Metro stations - Farragut West and Federal Triangle - work and preschool respectively. We're looking to rent in the short term. Looking for 3 bedrooms, budget upto $4,000 a month. Is that realistic? We're moving from London. So used to walking everywhere and using public transport. Also won't have a car initially.

Farragut West is on the Orange Line. How do you feel about the burbs? Fairfax/Vienna metro, Oakton? Good schools, good preschools, affordable, on metro.

Why on earth would you live in Oakton if you can afford to be close? And won't have a car.
I don't want to be rude but that advice seems crazy. They're coming from London and want to walk everywhere and be close to work!

DC native here: where is Oakton?

I'm not being facetious. I've lived here all my life and never heard of it, so it must be a "new" bedroom community development in the middle of nowhere.

OP, choose Brookland if you want a classic single family home with yard and parking. If you want to walk to everywhere and be close to work, move to Eastern Market.

You need to get out more. Oakton has been around for a long time and is a well established, highly- regarded, upper-middle class community with great public schools. It's definitely NOT what I would recommend for the OP, since they will have no car and are coming from London (very cosmopolitan environment) but you need to get out of DC (fake, crappy city with no identity) a bit more!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Metro stations - Farragut West and Federal Triangle - work and preschool respectively. We're looking to rent in the short term. Looking for 3 bedrooms, budget upto $4,000 a month. Is that realistic? We're moving from London. So used to walking everywhere and using public transport. Also won't have a car initially.

Farragut West is on the Orange Line. How do you feel about the burbs? Fairfax/Vienna metro, Oakton? Good schools, good preschools, affordable, on metro.

Why on earth would you live in Oakton if you can afford to be close? And won't have a car.
I don't want to be rude but that advice seems crazy. They're coming from London and want to walk everywhere and be close to work!

DC native here: where is Oakton?

I'm not being facetious. I've lived here all my life and never heard of it, so it must be a "new" bedroom community development in the middle of nowhere.

OP, choose Brookland if you want a classic single family home with yard and parking. If you want to walk to everywhere and be close to work, move to Eastern Market.

Capitol Hill: you'll have plenty of parks, schools, other moms and walkable places.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Metro stations - Farragut West and Federal Triangle - work and preschool respectively. We're looking to rent in the short term. Looking for 3 bedrooms, budget upto $4,000 a month. Is that realistic? We're moving from London. So used to walking everywhere and using public transport. Also won't have a car initially.

Farragut West is on the Orange Line. How do you feel about the burbs? Fairfax/Vienna metro, Oakton? Good schools, good preschools, affordable, on metro.

Why on earth would you live in Oakton if you can afford to be close? And won't have a car.
I don't want to be rude but that advice seems crazy. They're coming from London and want to walk everywhere and be close to work!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Metro stations - Farragut West and Federal Triangle - work and preschool respectively. We're looking to rent in the short term. Looking for 3 bedrooms, budget upto $4,000 a month. Is that realistic? We're moving from London. So used to walking everywhere and using public transport. Also won't have a car initially.

Farragut West is on the Orange Line. How do you feel about the burbs? Fairfax/Vienna metro, Oakton? Good schools, good preschools, affordable, on metro.

Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill! I have lived in Dupont and Penn Quarter, and Capitol Hill is by far the best for families. A couple of great schools (Brent, Maury) to boot! We drive our car maybe once a week (and that is for fun, but not necessary). Living out in the 'burbs (e.g., Ballston or whatever, like some have suggested) without a car seems insane to me - you'd be trapped and at the whims of public transportation. If you live on the Hill you always have the option of walking where you need to go, e.g., a lovely 2 mile walk (on the Mall) to Federal Triangle.

As far as where on the Hill, I would stay north of 295, south of H street, and west of 12th St.

Anonymous wrote:Dupont Circle. Walk to Farragut West. Send DC to Ross ES if she turns 5 before September. Otherwise next year. Don't need a car. Might need to go a bit over 4k for a nice 3 br is the only thing.

DC school boundaries are important when you a choosing where to live. Your five year old will have a right to a kindergarten seat in her in boundary school. Current boundaries are at the link below. Keep in mind though there is a reform process going on and these are set to change by school year 2015/16.

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/SCHOOLS/Boundary%20Maps%20-%202009/DCPS-Attendance-Zones-Elementary-Grades-September-2009.pdf