Possible move w/ teen from Charlotte, NC to Bethesda area (Baltimore: for sale, real estate)

[hazardnc]

My spouse has a job offer for the Bethesda area. We have a high school sophomore currently attending school at one of the best public highs in the country (if you trust US News and World Report).

Which towns have the best public highs? I have heard Montgomery county schools are some of the best in the country.

One of the reasons we are even considering this move is to experience life in a bigger city with all of the amenities (arts, shopping, dining). How far from DC is really too far in order to get all there is to offer? Is Frederick too far?

[TrippingJay]

I would say Bethesda, Rockville, North Bethesda, Potomac, and the North Potomac area of Gaithersburg are your best bets. These are offer the best schools (in terms of test scores) in Montgomery County. I believe Richard Montgomery in Rockville was ranked 12th on the Best High Schools in America by Newsweek Magazine. Wooton, Churchill, Quince Orchard, Whitman, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and Walter Johnson are also the other top ranked schools in Montgomery County.

Bethesda definately offers a nice downtown with close promixity to DC. However; you can also be in close promixity to DC in Rockville. Frederick would be way too far from DC.

Good luck!

[pkoons]

How far do you want to commute?

I recommend Annapolis (in Broadneck school district) and Ellicott City (Centennial school district) pretty highly, but both are a hike from Bethesda. They both have their own walkable downtown areas with quaint shops, nightclubs, and restaurants, plus they are both within 30-45 minutes of Baltimore and DC on weekends for day trips.

I live in Crownsville just outside Annapolis and commute about an hour and a half into Bethesda each day. The quality of life is well worth it in my opinion - less local traffic on weekdays & weekends, boating & swimming in the river, friendlier & less harried people, lower home prices, larger home lots, low crime, etc...

Even though many people think otherwise, I think Bethesda is pretty dull - maybe it's because I work here and find a lot of people that are from this area that are my age to be a bit... bland.

That said, Bethesda & Chevy Chase are very safe and the schools are all really good. You might also try Poolesville, Brookeville, or Damascus in Montgomery County if you enjoy a quieter environment (and also very good schools).

[jmanfred]

Sounds like Bethesda offers what you are looking for--great schools, proximity to urban amenities, and you can't beat living near where you work--but you'll pay for it. A 1,000 square foot house built in the 1930s without a driveway that's a 15-minute walk to Metro can sell for more than $600,000. In many neighborhoods close to downtown Bethesda, these types of houses have been torn down and rebuilt with a 3,000 square foot or larger house squeezed in; these sell for $1,200,000 or so. Seeing these two types of houses side-by-side is pretty strange, along with the various approches to add-ons over the years. That said, the original houses are usually brick and the neighborhoods look very charming.

You might find something further out from downtown Bethesda but still on one of the prestigious school districts that's appropriate for a family of three for closer to $500,000, but it may be dated or need work. That said, living close to work and/or public transporation, particularly Metro, is the best way to take advantage of urban life. If you go further outbound on the Red Line Metro past Bethesda, you can find more affordable houses while maintaining a connection to urban areas. Last stop is in Gaithersburg, so Frederick is out of reach. Commuter rail is another option to extend your distance/affordability while maintaining a connection (this will get you past Frederick into West Virginia), but I recommend hunting for values closer in if you want urbanity. If cost is no object, find a place near work and the Metro in Bethesda and you'll have a great lifestyle. Good luck to you.

[superide]

I have lived in the Bethesda area all my life the schools are great, but the closer you get to DC the more outragous the pricing of houses get. I am currently living in Gaithersburg witch is about 20 mins from bethesda and 40 mins from DC. If you do decide to move and are looking for a house I know some great realtors and I also have a house for sale. Let me know.

[businessperson]

I live in Charlotte, NC and have a sister who is a realtor in Bowie, MD. If you'd like her contact info let me know. She's lived in the DC area for over 20 yrs and can give you lots of info on the area.

[DC resident]

As a DC resident I suggest if you want the full benefits of living in the city move to the city. Why mess around with Gaithersburg, Bethesda or Rockville. All would be considered suburbs located in the Washington metro area. And as you may have read our metro area is consistently rated for most congested highways and longest commute time. If you live in the city you would most likely have a reverse commute and you would be able to take full advantage of urban life. Bethesda has nice houses, but in terms of things to do other than eat, there’s nothing. Nice area to consider in DC would be Georgetown, Kalorama, Chevy Chase (which also has a MD counterpart), Logan, DuPont, (all NW) and in NE capitol hill is nice. I also recommend if you want to live in Bethesda you get a real estate agent from Bethesda not one from Bowie. If you want to live in Bowie, then deal with a Bowie agent. Oh, the DC school system is among the worst in the country so you would have to send your teenager to a private school which are among some of the most prestigious in the country. For instance the Clinton’s sent their daughter to Sidwell Friends, and there is St Albans.

[njmom8]

DC Resident: We are moving to the DC area this summer, and would prefer to move to DC for the reasons you suggested. I have done some research, and it seems there are 4 good elementary schools (our move is temporary): they serve chevy chase (dc), the palisades, and au park. Are you familiar with these schools? Can you give me any info?

[LMDott]

I wouldn't move to the DC area or the Maryland suburbs, especially not with a teenager. It's ridiculously expensive, terribly overcrowded (getting worse by the day), there's nowhere to park, if you find parking it costs and arm and a leg, and everyone in this part of the country is rude. I've lived out west, in New England, the south, Europe, and a bunch of other places and never have I ever encountered such rude people in my life. Everyone is either a raging, pissy politico with an opinion about EVERYTHING under the sun, or they're an attorney with an ego. The Maryland burbs are littered with snotty private school teens with very well-hidden drug habits and a sense of entitlement, and parents who believe their kids deserve everything they want. If you haven't already moved to the DC area, think twice. While my husband grew up here and turned out fairly normal, most of the people who live here now aren't. That is, they have no idea what the rest of America is like, they think people from the south are stupid just because of the accent, they don't tolerate views that are different from their own, and they exhibit a level of naivete that is very worrisome for a place that's supposed to be "cultured and open-minded." Not so much. The attitude and arrogance of everyone here is a huge turn-off. Yes, what they say about DC is true: There's great culture, lots to do, lots to see, and great restaurants. But a word of advice.....just visit. Don't make it your life. There's a whole underworld of dysfunction that exists here and most people are oblivious to it because they think it's normal. Best of luck to you and your teenager. That's a hard time to move. No job in Bethesda could ever make me raise a child here - so overrated and so not worth it.

[sundaze]

LMDott -- wow! I agree with you that there are problems here, however you are classifying "everyone" in your post. Not true that EVERYONE is a politico or an attorney -- there are police, teachers, doctors, store clerks, tech workers (lots of those), librarians, nurses, dentists, x-ray techs, hairdressers, military, etc. etc. etc. There is every job you could think of. My son graduated in 2002 from a public high school, went to a public college, never used drugs, has a nice job (stayed in the area) and many nice friends. Only 60% of the residents of Maryland are born here, and many have travelled around the country. I grew up in Washington State and have lived in Colorado besides Maryland. I have travelled extensively in the US and in Europe. My daughter lives in Raleigh. I don't think everyone here thinks people from the south are stupid, in fact I have never known ANYONE to say that and I know a lot of people from the south also. Obviously you have had bad experiences, and I don't question your right to relate them to someone moving here, but it just isn't true that everyone here is narrow minded. It is true there are problems here as everywhere, but to some extent wherever you go life is what you make it.