Honest opinions on commutes, quality of life with kids in MD and VA

[stpickrell]

I'd worry more about your job and where your family/friends are.

[jhhc99]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

I'd worry more about your job and where your family/friends are.

We own a fitness business that is virtually all done online.. So it doesnt really matter where we live in the country we just perfer living outside of a major city. We are very friendly and will make friends wherever we live so again, thats not a big deal.

[acgood]

Agree that both areas would be pretty interchangeable to an "outsider" - but there are some differences. Both are strong job markets, but science jobs are much more plentiful in MD vs. high tech jobs expanding in the Dulles corridor, for example

[slowlane3]

If you work online and don't have to commute, there are many sizable cities that have much cheaper COL than the Washington area -- although the cultural attractions and overall sophistication of Washington are outstanding. And if you do live in the Washington area, you may want to pick a neighborhood away from public transportation, since housing in those areas is much costlier, and you won't be needing to commute to work. Do you have children? And will your spouse be working, and if so, in what field?

[maybemoving13]

My husband and I are trying to move OUT of the area for a better family life. Even without children, a commute can be very taxing. I've been taking the metro to work for 4 years now and I am just over it. We're having our first baby soon and I can't imagine how it will be working day care into the morning and evening commute routines... Same would go for getting older children to school and activities. I just don't know how people do it in this area!!

I agree with slowlane3 about cost of living issue.

[bonnielisabeth]

If you can live anywhere, then I would decide whether you want urban, suburban, or rural. You can do all 3 in MD or VA outside of DC.

You might want to go with a different strategy and post what you want and have people here recommend areas. (i.e. Looking for a SFH 600K to 700K, in a friendly suburban neighborhood with good activities for kids(?) outside of DC--where should we move? etc...etc...)

[slim04]

Originally Posted by jhhc99

We own a fitness business that is virtually all done online.. So it doesnt really matter where we live in the country we just perfer living outside of a major city. We are very friendly and will make friends wherever we live so again, thats not a big deal.

You might want to read some threads about the DC area. It isn't as friendly as lots of places in the country because of the long commutes and hours people work here. Not like they are mean, its just a lot don't have time to get to know neighbors or make new friend when they don't have time to spend with their existing friends. Honestly, I wouldn't move here unless it was job related. It's just too expensive and work obsessed.

[airjay75]

The naysayers are starting to come out, but I would note this about many of them, generally speaking. There are a lot of transplants in the DC area, many of which have never lived in one of America's major metropolitan areas before moving here. As a result, a lot of them have a hard time coping with some of the day to day realities of living in such a place - expensive housing, long commutes, dual income families, urban unfriendliness, etc. Because all they have to compare are more mid-size metro or rural areas where the cost of living is much cheaper and the pace of life is much slower, they think the DC area is a uniquely terrible place to live.

While I don't personally have a lot of experience with Seattle and the culture and lifestyle there, my presumption would be that it has some similarities to some of the other major metro areas in which I have lived - Philadelphia, SF Bay Area, San Diego. Assuming it does, I don't think there is much that you will find to be so terrible about living in this area. To the contrary, you might find that this area is more friendly, cheaper cost of living in categories other than housing, and filled with a lot of cultural amenities and options for living that put it at least on par with America's other great cities. There are pluses and minuses to living here just like there are anywhere else, but it sounds like it could very well have some qualities for which you are looking. Of course, you might move here and hate it, but I would take what some of the naysayers on here say with a grain of salt.