DH and I make $120K combined and we live in Bethesda. Will probably be moving to NC in a year or so though. It's awesome here, but the cost of living is quite high, traffic is horrendous and taxes keep going up, up, up (in Md at least). You can make it and be OK (we actually love living here); I think we're just tired of the rat race. Things are packed all the time (the Costcos are RIDICULOUS; you can't even imagine) and while people are nice, in a crowd mentality, they are rude. Lots to do though and tons of free stuff and it's a nice place to raise a child (read: schools are good).