Anonymous
02/22/2022 21:04
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Hi, this is OP again. Thanks again for all the input. We are getting pretty excited for the move!
Anonymous
02/22/2022 18:01
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recommendations so far and appreciate the poster who broke down the neighborhoods into Bay Area equivalents. Someone asked about spouse: Chinese.
We don’t mind some renovation work but could probably actually go up to 2.5 if really necessary.
We thought we would check out things online and get some sense of the neighborhoods so when we do talk to a realtor we at least have educated questions. We will also spend some time driving around when we first arrive. We have temporary housing from work already set up for a few months.
Historical a decent number of Chinese at Stoddert ES; mixed race families are pretty common in most of these neighborhoods (zip 20007/8 and eastern 20016), but they skew younger; most of the older neighbors are white. At your budget, you can pretty much do any neighborhood, have fun exploring! Try to get a sense of if the neighborhood is more public school vs private school. They have very different feels, especially after you have kids.
Also, make sure to be within walking distance (like a block) of a grocery store or two, they make life so much easier.
dccheng510
02/21/2022 23:21
Subject: Re:Best DC Neighborhood For US
Georgetown
Anonymous
02/21/2022 22:39
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:I don’t mean to offend. But I will say this: we and our large group of friends who work in DC and have children are not from DC. We’ve lived on DC for a quarter of a century, and outside of targeted hikes or road-trips or airports have crossed over to Va/Md like fewer than ten times each? Rough, but enough said? Top Ed/top jobs (objectively): gvt-private sector.
What does that last sentence mean? Your friend group consists of federal employees and nonprofit folks? Why would your post be offensive?
Anonymous
02/21/2022 22:31
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
I don’t mean to offend. But I will say this: we and our large group of friends who work in DC and have children are not from DC. We’ve lived on DC for a quarter of a century, and outside of targeted hikes or road-trips or airports have crossed over to Va/Md like fewer than ten times each? Rough, but enough said? Top Ed/top jobs (objectively): gvt-private sector.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 22:10
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:I don't feel like this thread devolved. People have their opinions but it hasn't gotten nasty. ????
This:
Anonymous wrote: McClean is terrible. No wonder you don't like it here. Most of DC is much better than McClean.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 17:00
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Unsurprisingly this thread devolved pretty quickly, but some of the earlier posters had it right, georgetown/burlieth/woodley park for a rowhouse or any neighborhood 5 min north for a single family home. The only neighborhood in upper NW that is out is Glover Park, since there is pretty much nothing over 2M there, though it is the most family-friendly of all the neighborhoods.
Of course OP doesn't NEED to max out their housing budget. If they can get something that meets their needs in a neighborhood they like well under 2M, why not? It's a nice luxury to have. The extra could go to a college fund, a country house, you name it. It's pleasant to live a little below one's means.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:41
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
I don't feel like this thread devolved. People have their opinions but it hasn't gotten nasty. ????
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:38
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Unsurprisingly this thread devolved pretty quickly, but some of the earlier posters had it right, georgetown/burlieth/woodley park for a rowhouse or any neighborhood 5 min north for a single family home. The only neighborhood in upper NW that is out is Glover Park, since there is pretty much nothing over 2M there, though it is the most family-friendly of all the neighborhoods.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:21
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:19
Subject: Re:Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spring valley or Wesley Heights
It’s a beautiful place to live. Both neighborhoods have walkability to stores and restaurants, a car is most likely necessary for many trips, and it’s incredibly safe.
I’ve never once seen anything bad happen In my 10 years of living in Wesley Heights (will get a little more for your $ in SV)
Wesley Heights, yes. SV, no. Mustard gas (google it) and can't walk to much unless you are close to Mass Ave. And there isn't much to walk to even then.
Can't walk to much at all and talk about a homogenous neighborhood. It's like a suburb transplanted into the edge of the city.
I'd suggest Dupont or maybe Kalorama. For a while I had the communte to georgetown and lived first in dupont and then in kalorama. Would generally walk or bike. People on this board seem to hate dupont, but we found it to have everything we loved and more. If you live there you'll get to know neightbors, have events in parks, walk to little hidden gens of restaurants but still close enought to downtown or logan for going out to maybe trendier places. We initially met tons of neighbors through walking our dog/dog parks and then later when our kids were young through playgrounds, etc.
One thing that good friend who moved from san fran underestimated were the benefits of a covered parking space. We don't get a lot of snow/ice here, but when we do if you need to get your car, it's pretty nice to have it inside so it's all clean. Minor but it drove my friend crazy
Dupont isn't great for kids IMO. 1) no good public schools, 2) few parks, 3) few green spaces, 4) no SFHs (if that is what you are looking for). Commute to G-town is ok (I think there is a shuttle bus), but Dupont is also kind of a dying neighborhood. All the cool stuff moved further east & south in DC a while ago. Lots of tumbleweeds. Kalorama is great if you have $5 million budget. (Jeff Bezos, Barack Obama live there now. Vanky Trump lived there when she was moonlighting as a serious person in DC.)
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:15
Subject: Re:Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed Asian American family and my husband works at Georgetown. We live in McLean with our 3 kids.
I personally would recommend Arlington or Bethesda. If DC, I personally would pick Georgetown or Palisades.
Not sure how important it is to you but all the Asian restaurants and stores are in Virginia and Maryland.
I just looked at the map and I would say Arlington. Arlington is very kid and dog friendly plus should be a decent commute for both of you.
Why would anyone moving to DC now that traffic is as bad as LA move outside of DC when both parents live in DC?
Also some new home buyers in Arlington only just dug themselves out from 2008 purchases. Traffic is worse, planes are worse, VA is Republican. Who would want to deal with that?
Ditto for sketchy crime stat neighborhoods. Avoid planes, trains, automobiles, crime buy in NW WOTP minus Palisades
+1 Moving to Arlington from SF would be a huge disappointment IMO.
I’m pp Asian American from NYC. DC is a big downgrade from SF.
I still miss NYC. My kids are thriving here in McLean though. I’m just not a big fan of DC.
McClean is terrible. No wonder you don't like it here. Most of DC is much better than McClean.
+1 (FYI- it’s McLean)
Thanks, I noted my autocorrect mistake immediately after posting.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:11
Subject: Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Rough conversion from Bay Area to DC transplant
Kalorama = Sea Cliff/Presidio (for prestige)
Georgetown = Marina
Wharf = SoMa-ish (newer development, pain to get to SFH areas deep in city)
Upper NW/Cleveland Park = Noe Valley
Chevy Chase/Bethesda = Marin
McLean/Great Falls = Atherton
Annandale = Santa Clara (Korean population)
Arlington = Burlingame
On the plus side, you get SO MUCH for your real estate dollar here. Best of luck with your move!
Bwahaha, Bethesda/CC = Marin; in your dreams…
The most prestigious area of DC is Woodland
+1 Woodland Normanstone for the win.
If you are cherry picking 2 streets and calling them neighborhoods then you might as well just cherry pick at the house level. From the Woodland “neighborhood,” I would take the Australian Ambassador’s residence.
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:07
Subject: Re:Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We are a mixed Asian American family and my husband works at Georgetown. We live in McLean with our 3 kids.
I personally would recommend Arlington or Bethesda. If DC, I personally would pick Georgetown or Palisades.
Not sure how important it is to you but all the Asian restaurants and stores are in Virginia and Maryland.
I just looked at the map and I would say Arlington. Arlington is very kid and dog friendly plus should be a decent commute for both of you.
Why would anyone moving to DC now that traffic is as bad as LA move outside of DC when both parents live in DC?
Also some new home buyers in Arlington only just dug themselves out from 2008 purchases. Traffic is worse, planes are worse, VA is Republican. Who would want to deal with that?
Ditto for sketchy crime stat neighborhoods. Avoid planes, trains, automobiles, crime buy in NW WOTP minus Palisades
+1 Moving to Arlington from SF would be a huge disappointment IMO.
I’m pp Asian American from NYC. DC is a big downgrade from SF.
I still miss NYC. My kids are thriving here in McLean though. I’m just not a big fan of DC.
McClean is terrible. No wonder you don't like it here. Most of DC is much better than McClean.
+1 (FYI- it’s McLean)
Anonymous
02/21/2022 15:07
Subject: Re:Best DC Neighborhood For US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spring valley or Wesley Heights
It’s a beautiful place to live. Both neighborhoods have walkability to stores and restaurants, a car is most likely necessary for many trips, and it’s incredibly safe.
I’ve never once seen anything bad happen In my 10 years of living in Wesley Heights (will get a little more for your $ in SV)
Wesley Heights, yes. SV, no. Mustard gas (google it) and can't walk to much unless you are close to Mass Ave. And there isn't much to walk to even then.
Can't walk to much at all and talk about a homogenous neighborhood. It's like a suburb transplanted into the edge of the city.
I'd suggest Dupont or maybe Kalorama. For a while I had the communte to georgetown and lived first in dupont and then in kalorama. Would generally walk or bike. People on this board seem to hate dupont, but we found it to have everything we loved and more. If you live there you'll get to know neightbors, have events in parks, walk to little hidden gens of restaurants but still close enought to downtown or logan for going out to maybe trendier places. We initially met tons of neighbors through walking our dog/dog parks and then later when our kids were young through playgrounds, etc.
One thing that good friend who moved from san fran underestimated were the benefits of a covered parking space. We don't get a lot of snow/ice here, but when we do if you need to get your car, it's pretty nice to have it inside so it's all clean. Minor but it drove my friend crazy