What's it like living in DC?

Question

What is it like living in Washington DC? Directly in the city and living in the surrounding towns/counties. What are the probs about living in that area? What are the bonuses?

Answer 1

I grew up very close to DC in Montgomery County, MD. (Bethesda/Rockville area). I then moved away to go to college and haven't moved back since. (Although that was only a few years ago and I go back a lot for work - several times a month.) I honestly think that DC is a better city to visit than to live in. It's one of the most expensive cities as far as cost of living in the country. The city has a high crime rate and in order to live in any place that is considered "safe" then you have to pay a lot of money. Many of the suburbs, especially Montgomery County, MD or Fairfax County, VA have excellent public schools and other local services, but the DC government itself is literally barely functional. Corrupt police, terrible public schools, etc. Many parts of the city are literally like third-world countries (and yes, I've been to third-world countries). Of course, any major city has "good" and "bad" neighborhoods, but in DC there seems to be a striking difference between very exclusive and very ghetto neighborhoods. It also has among the worst traffic of any city in the US, bad restaurants (unless you pay a lot of money and even then they're questionable), and unfriendly, self-centered people.

The ONLY good thing about DC is the tourist sites, such as all the monuments, and especially the Smithsonian. Honestly, besides my family and friends there, the Smithsonian is the only thing I miss about living in DC. I live in Boston now, which is comparable to DC in terms of cost of living, and we have some problems here too but nowhere near on the scale of DC plus we have a lot of good things here too.

Answer 2

DC is a great city, I actually lived there recently....versus others answering who haven't lived there in awhile. Things change for the good. The city itself has been under quite a transformation over the last 7-10 years and the results have been astounding. It used to be that a small pocket of the NW part of the city was the only "safe" place to live. Now, there are great neighborhoods everywhere...the always nice spots like Dupont Circle, Cleveland Park and Georgetown have been joined by Capitol Hill, Eastern Market, Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, U Street/Cardozo and
now even Shaw....which used to be horrible 10 years ago. Ever since the City Government was able to secure a $5000 federal tax credit for first time homebuyers in DC (in 1999), the turnaround in city neighborhoods has been dramatic.
In terms of personal safety, since 9/11, most of NW DC and about half of the Capitol Hill neighborhoods benefit from not only DC Police jurisdiction but Uniformed Secret Service, Capitol Police and US Park Police as well. When I lived in the Dupont/Logan neighborhood I would always see a law enforcement presence. In the 7 years I lived there, neither myself or anyone I knew ever were a victim of a crime. Any city, small or large presents opportunities to become a victim...if you stay aware of your surroundings and practice common sense, you'll be fine. So no, crime is not a unique problem here.
However, traffic is. I would strongly urge you that if you will not give up your car for commuting, which I did....best of luck to you.
If for whatever reason you do not decide to live in the city, make sure you're in an inner ring suburb with easy Metro access. The transit system is quite good and you can get anywhere you need to using it 20 out of 24 hours in the day. If you were to choose NW DC for example, you can actually walk most places as the
city is compact and very pedestrian friendly. If I had to choose over again, I'd live in Cleveland Park...great neighborhood...it has it's own little "downtown area" centered around it's own Metro station....it feels like you're in a small town, yet just 10 minutes to the center of DC.
It's a beautiful city, appearing more European than American, with tons to do and see. If you choose right, you'll be happy there for a long time. Good luck!

Answer 3

you have in basic terms defined the secret anybody needs to comprehend the respond to: less expensive housing in astounding neighborhoods without commutes (close in) in Washington, DC. Um, probable no longer. The median abode expenditures greater desirable than $400K interior the DC section. till you're prepared to shuttle by vehicle from fantastically a ways out (and, particular, commuting is a nightmare interior the DC section), you're no longer likely to discover a subdivision single-relatives abode which you would be able to at present handle to pay for (till you're coming from San Francisco, the place you in basic terms offered your abode for $1M). That reported, and assuming you would be at DC national (no longer Dulles international), you will discover small, older properties or townhouses in Arlington and Alexandria and take the metro to artwork to avert the force. I agree that Silver Spring, Tacoma Park, and Bethesda are astounding, yet Maryland is extra away and not an undemanding shuttle, even by metro. additionally, i might probable avert Vienna, Centerville, Fairfax and the different section in direction of the west and outdoors the beltway in VA, because of fact the shuttle to return east to national is indescribably perplexing.

Answer 4

Bonuses: ethnic varity, very global, thousands of great restaurants, excellent schools in Fairfax County, free museums in DC and so much which I can not list.....

Probs: TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC
people are more hectic somehow, hot sticky humid summers, tons of aggressive mosquitoes

I loved living in the Washington DC area!!!