Tell Me About Living in Washington, D.C.

[Ladcassidy]

We've lived in NoVa for twenty years now, so it is home. But I can remember first moving here and thinking it was a whole other world. I commute into downtown DC from Alexandria every day. DH works in Arlington. I agree with other posters that you should live as close as you can to your husband's work -- otherwise he will spend a big chunk of time commuting. Calculate the time value of the commute and roll it into what you are willing/ able to pay for rent. Gas and food prices are about 15% more expensive here than elsewhere. Eating out costs about twice as much. Lots of people move in and out, especially military families. My daughter goes to our neighborhood parochial school, and her class constantly changing as students join and leave. I'm the anomaly among the moms because I work, and most of them stay at home.

 

[Swimalie]

Look for houses in Dominion Valley, The Piedmont, Breamar to get an idea of very nice areas about 45 minute commute west of Tysons.

It's called Parks at Piedmont (non-gated) or Piedmont (gated), not The Piedmont. The neighborhood is about 3 miles from my house and it takes my husband an hour, at least, to get to Tyson's for work.

Dominion Valley is really nice. We almost built a house there last summer but then realized why bother when we want out of this area as soon as possible. Braemar is nice as well. For Dominion Valley and Piedmont (as well as Lake Manassas) look to psend about $400-450k for a townhome. Single family houses are $550,000+ there. Houses in the 400-450 range go in days here because they are so rare but the neighborhoods may not be the best. Closer in to DC, the more you will spend, but the more you will spend in traffic.

 

[danygirl]

Lots of Debbie Downers on here! Don't let them discourage you. People make friends here. We have fun. And the drive to Disney is straight down 95.

PM me if you have questions , I am happy to give you more feedback.

 

[Jridou]

Lots of Debbie Downers on here! Don't let them discourage you. People make friends here. We have fun. And the drive to Disney is straight down 95.

PM me if you have questions , I am happy to give you more feedback.

We're in Burke, plenty of 4bd/2ba houses under 500K or $2500/mo rent. On the express lanes or back roads I can get to Tysons in 20 minutes (except in December when everyone is headed to the mall) Very good schools. Good luck with your decision !

 

[TinkTock]

I think commute times are also strongly tied to which hours you work. If the job requires 9:00-5:00 hours (ok, let's be real, more like 8:00-6:00 hours), the commute will take much longer than working flexible hours, like 6:00-3:00 or 11:00-8:00.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

I live in Anne Arundel Co., in Annapolis and work near the White House. I take a commuter bus, which does take about an hour, give or take, each way, and work a flexible schedule (6 - 3), and it isn't too bad. Decent houses in my zip code tend to run about $500K to $700K, but of course there are track-mansions on 0.5 acres to be had for $1.5M and up. It really isn't too bad.

As far as prices, gas near me is running about $3.15/gal. Milk is, ironically, about the same in Food Lion, but closer to $4 in Safeway or Giant. There is a toll to go over the bridge to the eastern shore, but I rarely do so I don't mind paying whatever it is.

 

[Missypyxi]

I grew up in CT and moved to northern VA in my late 20s about 10 years ago. It is the best decision I ever made. If you like it, you'll find it here. Shopping, parks, nature, museums, activities...everything is within an hour. There's the Kennedy Center for shows, the smithsonian museums, art museums, so much culture!

We live in Centreville, VA which is part of Fairfax county and is one of the best public school districts in the area. Our neighborhood is perfect and quiet and the 2br houses here start at around $300k. We are a 30 min drive from DC during non-peak hours. It's more like 90 mins in rush hour traffic. From Cville to Tysons is about 30 mins off peak and 90 mins in typical gridlock.

You might also check out Ashburn/Sterling/Dulles. They are working on a new metro line that will run through Tysons to Dulles and could be perfect for your husband's commute. Schools there are not as good as Fairfax but still highly rated. Lots of new development out there with neighborhoods of McMansions going for around 650-700k.

Front Royal is about an hour out of Centreville and the prices there are much lower. It's out in the Blue Ridge mountains and absolutely gorgeous! Your husband would have a 2 hour commute but I know some people who don't mind the commute if they can have a nice house in a beautiful setting.

My typical weekly grocery bill for a family of 3 is $150. Gas right now is $3/gal. Milk is around $5.50/gal but I buy organic.

If you have kids, a fun site to check out is our-kids.com to get an idea of the amazing programs and activities available here for kids.

The area congested and very suburban, but there are so many opportunities and resources available no matter what your interests, talents, culture, and beliefs are. People here are very diverse and generally friendly. On that note, PM me! I'd love to answer any other questions you might come up with about the area.

 

[Disney Princess]

And the drive to Disney is straight down 95.

Funny you mentioned this. One of the first things I checked was airfare to MCO. There is a sale on Jetblue for $110 RT right around my birthday (when our APs are still valid ).

Thank you EVERYONE for all of the information you've given. DISers are the best; you've offered advice, info, and even PMs. Thank you!!!!

It sounds about like what we're expecting. I have sways of emotion being excited by all there is culturally and scared by all that comes with a huge metropolitan area. We truly appreciate the positive and negative - it gives us a realistic picture.

It isn't a done deal, and it'll take time, but at least we have a better idea of what to expect.

 

[Just People]

The best way to get a feel for the Washington DC area is to watch the movie Stepford Wives. This area has no soul, no culture. This area is the epicenter of self-entitlement. Housing is overpriced and traffic sucks. Sure you might make a little more money here, but to us it is no longer worth it. We're are selling our home in the VA suburbs and moving down south. Even if you do make more money here, its all gonna go to buying an overpriced house in a planned neighborhood callled (insert name here) Oaks or (insert name here) Estates. Oh, and you'll soon realize all the construction in the are of the "Lexus Lanes" are for nothing since by the time they finish that, traffic has quadrupled (Hi, mixing bowl).

--Don't move to DC!

 

[ssawka]

The best way to get a feel for the Washington DC area is to watch the movie Stepford Wives. This area has no soul, no culture. This area is the epicenter of self-entitlement. Housing is overpriced and traffic sucks. Sure you might make a little more money here, but to us it is no longer worth it. We're are selling our home in the VA suburbs and moving down south. Even if you do make more money here, its all gonna go to buying an overpriced house in a planned neighborhood callled (insert name here) Oaks or (insert name here) Estates. Oh, and you'll soon realize all the construction in the are of the "Lexus Lanes" are for nothing since by the time they finish that, traffic has quadrupled (Hi, mixing bowl).

--Don't move to DC!

Wow! That's quite negative. How long have you lived here? I'm guessing not very long since you are complaining about how expensive the houses are.

This is one of the problems with this area. People moved to here because of the job market, but they don't really want to be here. I can't say that I blame them because when you need a job, you go to where the jobs are; but it does affect others when you walk around negative because you don't want to be here.

 

[JeannieNM]

Wow some ridiculously negative posts which I totally disagree with.

First off the thread is not about living in DC, it's about living in Northern Virginia. We Washingtonians are very particular about that; NoVa is a nice area but it is a suburb of DC. That being said if you want information about living in DC, it is one the greatest cities in the world and a fantastic place to raise children. I lived in DC for 30+ years. While it is no longer the middle class city it was of my youth, it has become very expensive, it is full of wonderful engaging people from all over the world, museums, theaters, parks, and food to rival any city. If you chose to live in DC, try and live walking distance to a metro stop and forgo the hassles of commuting by car. I am sorry I do not have much to add about NoVa but if you have questions about DC, feel free to PM me.

 

[Just People]

Just one man's opinion. I've been living in NoVa since age 13. Next year wife and I are gone to the southwest. The DC area is ridiculously overpriced. It is assumed everyone works in the IT field making $100k. Oh, welll, welcome to Washington, D.C., pardon our dust, roads under construction.

 

[Eureka]

The problem in this area is being able to afford to live somewhere with good schools where the commute isn't going to kill you. We live in Maryland, but I work in DC. I drive just three days a week and telecommute two days, but it takes me an hour and a half in the mornings to go the 25 miles to work. In the evenings, it's only an hour or so because I leave a little later, 6pm or after. I am exhausted just commuting part time. I can't speak to electric in VA but gasoline seems to be a bit cheaper in VA than in MD or DC from what I see. I got it in MD tonight at $3.18/gal whereas right in the city it was $3.39. A gallon of milk at Giant (one of the local supermarket chains) is $3.99; it's $2.79 at BJ's.

 

[mikehn]

.....airfare to MCO is cheaper from the DC region than it is from Indiana

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow some ridiculously negative posts which I totally disagree with.

First off the thread is not about living in DC, it's about living in Northern Virginia. We Washingtonians are very particular about that; NoVa is a nice area but it is a suburb of DC..

But to most other people out there, living in that area IS D.C. Just like we live "in Seattle" to most who ask, because there are still some out there who haven't heard of Tacoma.

Or, if you say Tacoma when you're in/near DC, people think you live in Maryland and have forgotten how to spell where you live and have forgotten to add the Park to it.

So you say Seattle and narrow it down if needed. Same with DC. Welcome to living in a big city with lots of living spaces around it!

 

[DLgal]

Wow some ridiculously negative posts which I totally disagree with.

First off the thread is not about living in DC, it's about living in Northern Virginia. We Washingtonians are very particular about that; NoVa is a nice area but it is a suburb of DC. That being said if you want information about living in DC, it is one the greatest cities in the world and a fantastic place to raise children. I lived in DC for 30+ years. While it is no longer the middle class city it was of my youth, it has become very expensive, it is full of wonderful engaging people from all over the world, museums, theaters, parks, and food to rival any city. If you chose to live in DC, try and live walking distance to a metro stop and forgo the hassles of commuting by car. I am sorry I do not have much to add about NoVa but if you have questions about DC, feel free to PM me.

Well, the OP asked about DC, but her husband's job opportunity is in Tyson's Corner, which is NOVA.

The OP seems to understand that saying "DC" meant "in that region and its surrounding areas."

 

[kidshop]

They have ikea! . We moved to NOVA in the summer due to a military pcs. We came from a small town - feel area in FL, wow I can't tell you enough about the traffic. It has to be seen to be believed! But, I like it here a lot! There is so much to see and do. I thought we had great schools in FL, they are phenomenal here ( fairfax county). Millions of opportunities for the kids we didn't have before. Stuff we didn't even know we wanted!

The people have been wonderful, and they do let you over when you have to make a left turn from the right-most lane. You should get a good gps!

Housing is high, but everything else has been about the same for us. I use the military commissary less here, b/c there are so many other stores with good sales. Gas was 2.99 last week, I pay 2.59-2.75 for a gallon of milk. Our rent is about 1000 more a month (ouch), but this house is about 1500 sq feet bigger too! And the military increases housing pay for this area, so it is almost even for us. I wouldn't buy a house here, personally. Taxes are insane.

Good luck. I was nervous moving here, but now I don't think I want to leave!

 

[nordkin]

I can speak to the electric charges in both Maryland and Virginia. I live in Maryland and work for the electric company in Virginia. Virginia has the fourth lowest electric rates in the country. Maryland is much higher. On a typical 1000 kilowatt per month bill I pay about $45 more in Maryland than Virginia.

I love living in Maryland and yes the commute can be bad, but I leave home around 6 am and get to Alexandria and Springfield in 20 to 25 minutes from Bethesda. Tyson's and Mclean take about 10 to 15 minutes. Getting home from Tyson's and Mclean can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the time and traffic. The key is learning the back streets and getting on the beltway at Georgetown Pike. This does cut off a lot of time of setting in traffic.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

This is a great place to live , work and raise children. I was born in DC and have lived my life in MD right outside DC

It is important to choose housing close enough to your work so you will not be fighting traffic. Also research the schools.

There is always so much to do here. Museums , events etc. You are close to the beach and mountains. There are three major airports so flights are competitive and plentiful.

My children are fortunate to have grown here as the schools are diverse. The national mall has provided so many actives from the White House Easter egg hunt, spy training at the spy museum, paper airplane contest at the air and space museum, seeing the presidential aircraft overhead , seeing the presidential motorcade pass by , seeing the national Xmas tree every year, the national zoo with the pandas and special zoo lights at holiday time. They have met Buz Aldrin and seen Disney stars. Saw the space shuttle do a fly over on the way to Dulles.
We see the cherry blossoms. Locals see what many out of towners cannot. We see DC in the snow and skates amongst the museums on Xmas eve. We go during off times when there are no crowds.

There is excellent medical care here.

Don't be discouraged. Come to DC and see all there is to see. I've lived here almost 50 years and there is still more to see. I am proud to live here.

 

[Disney Princess]

Thank you again to everyone for the honest replies. We really appreciate the prices on gas, electric, and milk. It sounds like there are those who love it, those who like it, and those who hate it - probably like every city/area in the US. We truly appreciate all the information. Now, we have to be patient with his company and see if we are getting the transfer or not.

First off the thread is not about living in DC, it's about living in Northern Virginia. We Washingtonians are very particular about that; NoVa is a nice area but it is a suburb of DC.

I definitely wanted to apologize for referring to NOVA as DC. The two posters above were correct in that I am calling the entire metroplex DC. Since I'm not familiar with the area, I just lumped it all together. We (and all our friends) did the same thing with Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, etc. If we do move there, hopefully I'll learn the lingo quickly so as not to make a similar mistake.