Where to live for working in DC
I might have an opportunity to relocate to Washington DC. I’ve heard it’s a bit of a hole. Where would be a nice place to live and commute into DC? I’ve a family and 3 kids so looking for somewhere family friendly.
SE Washington DC is very affordable if you don't need to leave home at night.
I’ve lived in SE DC for 8 years now. Every city has its bad side but there are decent parts. Especially where I am, things are not what they used to be.
It’s been on the come up in recent years. Not as family oriented, though. I’d say it’s more bachelor oriented.
Depending on the age of your children, I would suggest living in the suburbs of Maryland or Virginia and commuting into the city. While you might pay slightly higher taxes in Maryland, your commute might be easier. Be prepared for sticker shock though for housing prices / rent. Living in DC with kids is doable, but I would not recommend it.
We have lived in both Maryland and Virginia. Stay on the Virginia side to save paying the county incomes taxes in Maryland. In Virginia, our state income tax is 5.75%; in Montgomery County, Maryland it was 8.95%. (It is also 8.95% in DC.) We live in Loudoun County and when my partner was commuting into the district he took one of the long-haul busses - about 45 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening. The metro out of Wiehle-Reston is also an option and it is currently being built out further into Loudoun county. Loudoun has good schools, is affordable relative to the region, and has good schools. Fairfax and Arlington counties also offer a good family environment at a higher price than Loudoun. There is a lot to see in the region. I hope you enjoy your time here. (We generally avoid DC after dark.)
Are you joining HQ2 or some other employer? It depends on your preferences... If you are looking for suburban arra, you can move out a bit of DC like Bethesda, Vienna. Are you looking to buy house or rent an apartment. What's your budget?
I grew up in Fairfax. Great school opportunities, diverse population, generally safe, close enough to DC. Suburban with proximity to farms and cities, a nice environment to raise kids.
DC is a fantastic place to raise kids. Universal full day Pre-k starting at 3 years old. School Lottery can be a bit of a gamble (no pun intended). As far as location, cost of housing is a good indicator of the type of neighborhood, and good neighborhoods aren’t cheap. A good 3 br apartment will run you $4,500+ a month at minimum.
Depends what part of DC. Metro is great by the way so I’d consider somewhere close to a station