Moving to Maryland?

Greetings all

I have just accepted a new job in Washington DC and am starting the process of determining where we will live. I am 6 months out from RNY so I will also be looking for a surgeon to handle follow ups and WLS support groups. We have lots of question and I was hoping some of you could help provide answers from the perspective of someone already living in the DC area.

1. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to living in Maryland vs Virginia?

2. What area do you live in and why do you like or dislike it? If you didn't live where you currently do, where in the DC area would you like to live, and why?

My office will be near the central Metro station in DC, so access to a Metro station is important. Our sons are all in college, so school districts aren't an issue for them. On the other hand, my wife is a school nurse and would like to continue working in that field. I plan on renting a room or a cheap appartment until we can sell our home in Ohio, so I will have some time to look around the area before we settle in.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to PM me if you don't wish to post your responses.

Thanks

Dave

Hi Dave!

Congrats on the new job and welcome to you and your family.

Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about DC and its suburbs, except that it can be very pricey.

Good luck and feel free to join us here anytime!

Tia

Hi Dave and welcome.

I can't speak to Virginia but I believe that many folks live in Maryland and work in DC... I think that VA has higher taxes and such...

I'm in Baltimore which is about 45 minutes from DC on a good day.    Be aware that traffic is a bear in DC no matter when you drive...

I hope someone closer to DC can give you some better insight.

Heya Dave

Welcome to this area!

We live in Md and my husband works in VA/south DC. He has a hell of a commute but that's ebcause he has to jump on 2 separate commuter train systems (MARC and DC Metro). however, if you were to live in let's say Silver Spring MD, you'd only have to get on Metro. However, the cost of living is almost double too. Where we bought a 2 bedroom condo (1500 sq ft) for 250K, my friend bought a studio style condo (750 sq. ft) in Silver Spring for 350K. Just to compare. I have many friends who work in DC and live in northern VA. If you look at Alexandria and Arlington, they are on the Metro system too and lots of people commute form there to the DC area.

Hey Dave!

I actually live in Laurel, which is about 20 Min's outside of DC. The Laurel area is pretty pricey (due to the location) but I do like the area (like not love lol) The good thing about laurel is its basically right smack dab in between DC and Balt and has lots to offer. Hmm the closest metro stops that come out of DC that are close to me are College park and Beltsville I believe, but those aren't *great* areas. Unfortunately unless you want to go with Mont County areas. Anything close surrounding the DC area (MD side)  is not the great of a neighborhood if you get my drift. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that ALL surrounding areas of DC are bad but I it may be a challenge finding an area you like, unless you search in Mont County.

My surgeon is actually based out of INOVA Fair Oaks in VA and I LOVE him. He is an extremely skilled surgeon and VERY personable as well. The aftercare has been awesome and the support groups were great.

HTH at least a little.......lol

Dave,

Congrats on the new job and welcome to the Maryland Board. 

I work in Southeast DC and Arlington, VA.  I've lived in both Northern VA and Maryland and I have to say that I prefer Maryland.  That being said, I live on the Eastern Shore of MD and have a 50-55 mile commute one way (It takes about an hour driving myself).  I believe that the best areas in MD for traffic are coming down the Route 50 (East of DC) corridor or from Southern MD (Southeast of DC).  Most of the other ways, and all of Northern VA, have a ton of traffic.  One of the drawbacks in living in MD are that the taxes are higher than VA. 

Wherever you choose to live in the area, the closer you are to DC, the more expensive it's going to be. 

Hope that helps,
Heather

Hey Dave ;o) We will thrilled to have you join us here on the Maryland Board. I hope you have a smooth transition. I would highly reccomend Dr Mark Kligman at the University of Maryland. I am partial though :o) I ADORE HIM!!! But I think you would get excellent follow up care. Also Anne Arundel County Schools are always in need of a great school nurse. Please look up aacps.org and check out their openings. All the best to you and your family honey. (((Hugs)))

Congrats on the new job.  Traffic is REAL BAD in northern Virginia.  House cost go down based on miles from DC. Crofton, Maryland is where I live about halfway between DC and Baltimore
Good house hunting as prices are  12-15% down from 2 years ago.  You may want to shift your checkups to a PCP.  At 6+ mos out all you need is labs, meds and a web belt unless you have WLS problems.  Go to the mens forum    Good luck

1. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to living in Maryland vs Virginia?

One of the major advantages to living Maryland vs Virginia if you're commuting into Washington, DC is that most of the affordable, suburban housing in Virginia is much further away from Metro stations than what you'll find in Maryland.  Most of my NOVA friends that work in DC have about an hour commute to their metro stations because traffic in NOVA is sooo bad in the morning.

On the other hand, according the tax blogs, the taxes in Maryland are way more expensive than NOVA.

2. What area do you live in and why do you like or dislike it? If you didn't live where you currently do, where in the DC area would you like to live, and why?

I live in Anne Arundel County and the only other county I would even consider living in is Howard County, but I prefer being closer to Baltimore than DC.  Montgomery County has the highest average income and second highest average home cost.  Avoid Prince George's County at all costs.

In DC, I would only consider upper NW DC, Conneticut Ave and Massachusettes Ave from the MD line down to about the Zoo.

In the suburbs, in MD, Bethesda, Potomac. The rule in MoCo is west of 270, not east.

In Virginia, Great Falls, McLean, parts of Fairfax. In VA I would stay away from Springfield.

Hope this helps.  If you have specific questions, post them. I have a lot of friends in the metro area that would love to give their $.02.

Oh.. I wanted to add something from a crime perspective...

For DC subway stops the safest are Friendship Heights, Tenlytown, VanNess, Cleveland park and the Zoo. All Red Line.

Some like living in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, and SW DC. While fun and exciting, they still have crime issues.