OK, tell me the district's secrets. Don't scare me away from moving there -- just tell me what I need to know, veteran to newbie. Best answerer gets big points.
2006-08-13 06:24:55 · 10 answers · asked by openthepodbaydoors 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Washington, D.C.
A lot of people dont know that DC is actually high in crime and poverty. Basically it's the hood...try somewhere in Maryland or Virginia. Parts of DC are urban SLUMS. Be careful!!!
2006-08-13 06:31:00 · answer #1 · answered by sicem09 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly I'm not trying to scare you away from DC because the city does have some good things to offer, but I grew up in the suburbs of DC so here is what I can tell you (good and bad).
-The city DOES have one of the highest crime rates in the country. Of course as with any big city there are "good" and "bad" areas - NW DC is generally the safest and SE is the worst. The area where most of the tourist attractions are (i.e. the Mall) are generally safe.
-The traffic is also one of the worst in the country. Especially in the suburbs. I believe only LA and San Francisco have worse traffic.
-It has a very high cost of living across the board - housing, food, transportation, etc.
-The people in DC aren't the friendliest. I live in Boston now and the people here are much nicer.
-The Metro (DC's subway system) is excellent - it's clean, safe, and fairly reliable although from what I hear the reliability is slipping. The rest of the public transit - especially commuter rail transit - is terrible.
-DC has a LOT of great attractions: The Smithsonian, National Zoo, the FDR, Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, Washington Monument, all of the war memorials, Dumbarton Oaks (gardens), the Kennedy Center, and a lot of other great stuff. Most of them are free as well.
-As far as restaurants go: There aren't as many good neighborhood restaurants in DC as other cities I've been to. There are good high-end outrageously expensive restaurants but not as many good neighborhood places.
-DC has one of the worst public school systems in the country. However, Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA have some of the best. If you've got a family, I would move to one of those areas. Actually, for the most part, the DC local government is fairly dysfunctional - I know people who live there. However, if you don't have kids and want to live IN the city, Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle are good areas to live in.
Basically I think that DC is a great city to visit but it's not the most liveable city in the country. Again.... just my honest assessment based on having lived there...
2006-08-14 09:44:01 · answer #2 · answered by Mike R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Camden NJ has the highest crime rate. DC was number 6 last time I looked. Still nothing to be proud of, but...
I moved here two years ago and I love it - and I live in the District, not VA or MD. It's a city like any other - it has crime and poverty, problems with its schools, and scary neighborhoods, just like NY and LA and Chicago; it also has great restaurants and museums and parks, just like LA and NY and Chicago.
The first thing I did after moving was sell my car. I didn't need it as I ride the Metro, use Zipcar, ride my bike or walk. I rent a car at the airport when I need to drive out of town. And it's cheaper than maintaining one here.
Housing is more expensive than where I came from (Chicago) and it took me awhile to adjust to that.
I have found that people who move here from another urban area seem to like DC a lot; people who come from small towns have more complaints. I guess it depends on your perspective and expectations.
2006-08-13 19:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by nomadgirl1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope you have a good paying job secured before you come here. $85,000 per year is the least amount of salary you should consider if you move to this area. Apartments range from $1500 to $3000 for a one bedroom in the city. Houses cost from $400,000 in the outer burbs to around $900,000 for a moderate house in the city or closer in trendy burgs.
Crime is both property and personal crime. If you go out at night, carry at least $50 to give to a mugger in the fairly good probability you will get mugged in your first year. If you do not have at least $50 to give them, they will more than likely hurt you bad.
Pretty good transportation system in the Metro system which is the subway. Parking a car is expensive - around $200+ per month in a lot.
Lots of concerts and shows but depending on who you want to see, it can cost over $100 per ticket.
Lots of racial diversity depending on where you hang out. Celebrate the diversity and the different cultures of the city.
Traffic during rush hours is terrible. The Capitol Beltway is turned into a virtual parking lot if there is an accident and there usually is during rush hour. Some people commute from Gaithersburg or Germantown in Maryland but this will take well over an hour each way.
If you do move to DC, enjoy it to the fullest, but be aware of your surroundings at all times for your safety.
2006-08-17 12:08:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Most of NW DC is pretty safe especially Georgetown. Columbia Heights can be a little shady at night though
2. SE DC is the crime ridden part of DC. That's where most of the drug dealing goes.
3. Prince Georges County inside the Capital Beltway is high in crime too.
4. Outer Prince Georges County is one of the richest African American areas in the country.
5. Arlington County is where a lot of yuppies and young single professionals live.
6. Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA are rich, diverse, affluent areas and safe.
2006-08-13 22:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
DC is a fun place to spend the day. Otherwise, most of the people are rude, traffic is abysmal, and some people (like me) have to commute forty miles to work because they can't afford to live there.
Sorry if I've scared you.
2006-08-13 21:08:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
be ready for alot of crime. the people down town are not so nice, the police are A**holes, look out for speed cameras, the city never sleeps, the public school education is some trash, alot of things to do for all ages.
2006-08-13 13:33:57 · answer #7 · answered by joe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HOT AS H... IN THE SUMMER. CRIME EVERYWHERE EVEN AROUND THE MONUMENTS. EXTREMLY EXPENSIVE, TRAFFIC IS VERY BAD, PARKING IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. TOO MANY POLITICIANS. OTHER THAN THAT ITS A GREAT CITY TO VISIT WITH SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO.
2006-08-15 20:58:53 · answer #8 · answered by andyval@verizon.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has the worst crime rate of any other city
2006-08-13 13:30:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its busy and expensive.
2006-08-13 13:31:01 · answer #10 · answered by Jeff2smart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋