I'm considering a job in DC. I have a young family, so low crime and safety are very important. Schools are not a factor -- we are homeschooling our kids. My job would be in the city, so being near a Metro station would be great. I'm not terribly familiar with the communities in suburban VA or MD. Any suggestions? Thanks!
2007-01-23 18:35:22 · 11 answers · asked by rosbossjc 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Washington, D.C.
Arlington, VA has a low crime rate especially near the Pentagon. There are plenty of areas that are near metro stops although it is a very expensive place to live. You'll want to do plenty of research on what's best for you before you move to DC. Traffic is terrible here and cost of living increases more than the US average. Make sure your job can cover the cost of living. Mine can't. I'm actually getting ready to move out primarily for that reason and because I can't afford to buy a house unless I move far outside the city. I'm single, though, and have different priorities. You should do what's best for your family.
2007-01-24 02:22:07 · answer #1 · answered by Land Warrior 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As someone said, Silver Spring is a good area to live and there are a couple of Metro stations there. Also Takoma Park is becoming a very cool place to live. Bethesda is also nice. (All of those are in Montgomery County which has a great school system as well even though you don't care about that). All are very safe and have a sort of "downtown" with restaurants, stores, etc. If you want to live IN the city, pretty much anywhere in Northwest DC is nice (I like Tenleytown and Van Ness) but I wouldn't go anywhere else in DC. All are right near the Metro (on the Red Line). Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the VA suburbs but if you're looking at MD then those are the places I would check out.
2007-01-24 10:01:42 · answer #2 · answered by Mike R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've lived in the Washington DC area for more than 10 years. Most of the Northwestern quadrant would be safe (especially the far western reaches of it with Tenleytown, Georgetown, Cathedral, Glover Park, Cleveland Park etc). However, not all parts of NW DC are safe. The eastern part of the quadrant which borders the NE quadrant is not the safest. I should know, I lived in this area for a year.
Also, there are pockets of NE and SE DC which are pretty safe as well. There are areas near the US Capitol building (where all the quadrants connect). As for Southwest DC, it's just blab. This quadrant is mostly populated by government agencies, so in the evenings and weekends, there's not a lot to do. I lived there the first year I came to DC and it was boring.
As for the suburbs, in Maryland, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton, and Friendship Heights are great places. Also, College Park (where the University of Maryland is located) is a great area as well. Pretty much all of Northern Virginia (the part of Virginia which is considered suburban DC) is safe. There is a rough pocket in Alexandria, but it's not major.
The thing you have to realize is that it isn't easy to make general observations on crime and safety in DC. Realistically, DC is more like a checkered board in this regard. You will many times have a good block bordering a bad block. I have a friend who lived in SE Washington (which is considered unsafe). She lived in the part of SE Washington across the Anacostia River (which many think is really, really bad). Her block in SE was safer and nicer than my block in NW DC. The closer you are to the center of DC, the more the city becomes a checkerboard. The further out you go, more uniform the neighborhoods become in terms of crime and safety. Also, DC is going through major gentrification so neighborhoods that were once classified as rundown are now being revamped.
Currently I live in the Dupont-Scott Circle area of DC. It's downtown near the White House. I feel fairly safe here, but there is crime in this area, but it's definitely on the low-end. Also, if Metro access is an issue, you will need to stay within the beltway (I-495). Once outside the beltway, metro access becomes scarce. All the areas I and others here have mentioned are within the beltway.
2007-01-24 11:07:04 · answer #3 · answered by JMT 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Silver Springs is an awesome place to live. There is crime all over the DC area, but it seems to be less violent in the Silver Spring area. There are some great parks and a couple metro stations right in town. Plus there is great shopping and tons of awesome restaurants.
2007-01-24 02:39:04 · answer #4 · answered by bashnick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole thing depends on your salary. Housing is very expensive all over. To buy a house in DC is well over $600,000. The surrounding Maryland areas are $450,000 and up. Virginia is in the $450,000 and up range. These are not for the upscale houses but basic houses.
COnsider that Maryland has a county income tax and Virginia has sales tax on food as well as having property tax.
DC has high violent crime rates against people. Virginia has lots of gang violence and Maryland is having an increase in violence between races.
Muggings are happening on streets more and more. The Metro has had people robbed at gun and knife point recently.
If your salary is high enough (over $100K), you may take your chances, otherwise, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
2007-01-26 11:57:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best place for a family is Damascus, Maryland. It is about 20,000 people and is only about ten minutes from the Shady Grove station. It is very popular and people are moving up from DC. It is very close to many parks and it has a nice public library. There is a cute downtown, and it is very nice. Unfortunately, like most of DC, it costs an arm and a leg to live there. If you are able, look into it! You won't regret it.
2007-01-26 17:00:17 · answer #6 · answered by Lana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are homeschooling your kids why not live in the city. If you live in NW there is little crime. Its like a suburb in the city. The schools in DC aren't so great but thats no problem for you. It'll be short commute and you wont have to deal with highways which are the big traffic problem in DC. If you wanted a suburb I would say Fairfax or Montgomery counties.
2007-01-24 16:08:48 · answer #7 · answered by Paul 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1600 Pennsylvania Ave is very safe, though the current occupant is arguably a felon. It's quite close to the Metro.
2007-01-25 20:31:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think Cleavland park is really nice there are nice houses very safe and is like a 2 min. walk from the metro it very safe many stores around and restaurants tenley town is a very nice neighborhood and is also near a metro there are many nice neighborhood it depends on your budget
2007-01-24 12:56:32 · answer #9 · answered by trix 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LUCKILY, THE METRO SERVES SEVERAL NICE SUBURBAN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND TOWNS. SILVER SPRINGS MD IS NICE AS IS FAIRFAX AND VIENNA VIRGINIA
2007-01-24 15:40:49 · answer #10 · answered by KGB9108 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋