Need a cheaper version of the Clarendon/Courthouse area (Arlington: real estate, neighborhoods)

[Kassad]

For those of you who have been to the Clarendon/Courthouse area of Arlington, VA perhaps you know of other cities, or towns in the U.S. that are walkable like this. There is a Whole Foods (that even has a craft beer bar upstairs), a Trader Joes, lots of ethnic restaurants, sports bars, bistros, coffee shops, cozy cafes, etc. The area has a good vibe to it; it's trendy/hipster, safe, oh and did I mention has a farmer's market on the weekends and the metro stations are right there and can take you into DC, the airport, etc.

The problem is if you want to be within a 5 minute walk to this area you are spending > $1 million dollars for a 3-4 bedroom house.

Are there other cities or towns like this, hopefully near the coast? Doesn't need to be a huge city, but have good rail transportation to the closest large city (to go to Museums, airports, etc)

-Harry

[Badger21]

No.

places near the oceans with walkable downtowns tend to have very expensive real estate.

[Ffxdata]

You mean in the whole country?

Austin, TX?
Parts of Houston proper
Parts of San Antonio
Oddly enough Huntsville, Alabama
Denver or Boulder
Charleston, SC
Philadelphia

Of course all but Houston and Charleston aren't near the coast

I mean it seems like a lot of cities have neighborhoods like that.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

Of course all but Houston and Charleston aren't near the coast

Philadelphia is as close to the coast as DC is.

[Flamingo13]

Here is the General Moving forum- lots of threads on "where to live, etc." http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-moving-issues/

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Philadelphia is as close to the coast as DC is.

Yes... did I say otherwise? As I stated, the only ones on my list near the coast were Houston and Charleston.

[Kassad]

I was hoping there might be a city/town like that in NC, MD, or Delaware. South Carolina might be a little too far south for my liking.

Unfortunately I am not in the area right now, otherwise I would drive the coast looking around. Might still have to do that in a year when i am in the area.

[Old Guard]

Once they put a Whole Foods in a neighborhood property values have already risen or will rise soon after in my uninformed opinion.

I wish they would open a Whole Foods within a mile of my home.

EDIT: An option would be to get a list of Whole Foods and throw out the ones in cities you do not think you would go to off the top of your head. Then research those that remain.