please help! (Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville: cliquey, low crime, homes)

[mmmmmmmm]

My family lives in San Diego. We are looking to see if living in MD/NOVA would suit us. My husband will soon be submitting a resume in the D.C. area. Here's a bit about ourselves:
* want close metro access since husband will be working near the Navy Yard.
* want to live in a very low crime neighborhood with surrounding low crime neighborhood.
* want to live in either Montgomery County or Fairfax County.
* want to be around other unitarian-like, open-minded people who are not going to give a high religion flavor, nor look down if not as educated or rich as they are nor be cliquey/keep up the Jones kind of folks.
* want to be around people who value health, yoga...
* want a town that has stuff to offer for kids to do

[tercel95]

Budget?

[WannaComeHome]

How about Vienna or Oakton in NoVA? Or maybe Takoma Park in MD?
Compared to CA, you should be fine finding what you're looking for (esp comparing MD/VA crime to CA crime or attitudes).

[mmmmmmmm]

In response to last Budget would be 450K to 550K.
I'd like to hear about the flavor of people and what they do with their time in Fall Church as well as Vienna.

[charliegr]

I was raised in California and in trying not to make a sweeping generalization I think that Marylanders are a bit more progressive and liberal thinking. Many areas in Virginia are very new communities, with more of the cookie cutter style homes. Montgomery County has lots of Cape Cods, Victorians, and Colonials with tree lined hilly streets. Also, there are several different ways to get into DC from Maryland. Coming from Virginia you have to cross bridges over the Potomoc that can get very congested at times. I have lived in both Northern Virginia and Montgomery County and I prefer Maryland as it does not feel quite as much a strip mall community. This is just my opinion though.

Good luck!

[mamax3lovelife]

Choose Montgomery county

[TrippingJay]

Both areas actually share more similarities than differences, so ultimately the choice should be dependant on what area will be best for your husband's commute.

For MD, based on what you've described I would look in Rockville, Bethesda, Derwood, Kensington, Olney, Silver Spring (zips 20901 & 20910 are more sought-after), also Colesville in 20904 & 20905.

For VA, I would concentrate on Vienna, Oakton, Falls Church City (outside of Fairfax County or in 22043 zip and Annandale, west of the Beltway, not east. West Springfield may also be a good option.

Generally, it's easier to not have to commute via 270 in MoCo or 66 in Fairfax, if that helps.