Is Rockville a nice, convenient place to live for DC commuter? (townhouse, neighborhoods)

[Checkered24]

Hello,

I am hoping to get some advice here. I have been doing some ongoing research this spring (well now summer) into moving to the DC area. There is a potential job opportunity for me in DC, and I am looking into the costs, and lifestyle requirements of taking the job and living in the metro area.

Rockville is one area that appears to meet my most important criteria. Important to me are affordability, decent area, distance to DC (trying to keep commute times as low as possible). Rockville would be about a 30 min commute on metro for me, platform to platform, which isn’t too bad (I am used to 15 min, my door to my desk but know I won’t find that in DC area). There seems to be some properties that would be in a price range I could consider ($400,000, maybe a bit more as a ceiling), and the area appears to be fairly good, with a newer more prosperous city center, good school system, etc.

What I would like to know is whether my potential budget would actually buy me a decent place, or whether I am being fooled by good sounding listings that are hiding faults. Also, how is travel in the area. I have researched here and elsewhere and seen comments about congestion, but what kind? Is it mostly rush hour congestion? General congestion anytime? Will it take an hour to get to a grocery store? Does the metro normally operate on time? Or when it says 30 minutes station to station, should I automatically double that time? Is it often late or behind schedule? Would the MARC trains be a better option?

Thanks all!

[SandpaperTongue]

I haven't looked at properties in Rockville for a while, but I think $400K is a good price and you should be able to find something at that price range, especially if you are willing to consider a townhouse.

30 mins station to station is pretty good bet. The Red line has been experiencing some delays of late due to the horrible accident back in June, but normally, it's very predictable. There may be an issue with parking, if you have to drive to one of the metro stations. Parking at Shady Grove fills up quickly, and the other stations have limited parking.

Travel in the area is generally bad, as it is with a lot of the DC metro area. Having said that, I lived in Rockville for a while, and I didn't have any issues because I was lucky enough to have a flexible job where I could come in late. 355 is the main throughfare in Rockville, and it's a rather annoying road with lots of lights. Rush hour traffic is painful, but off-peak times are usually fine.

As to neighborhoods, a general rule of thumb is to stay west of 355. The farther east you get, the shadier the neighborhood.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Checkered24

Hello,

I am hoping to get some advice here. I have been doing some ongoing research this spring (well now summer) into moving to the DC area. There is a potential job opportunity for me in DC, and I am looking into the costs, and lifestyle requirements of taking the job and living in the metro area.

Rockville is one area that appears to meet my most important criteria. Important to me are affordability, decent area, distance to DC (trying to keep commute times as low as possible). Rockville would be about a 30 min commute on metro for me, platform to platform, which isn’t too bad (I am used to 15 min, my door to my desk but know I won’t find that in DC area). There seems to be some properties that would be in a price range I could consider ($400,000, maybe a bit more as a ceiling), and the area appears to be fairly good, with a newer more prosperous city center, good school system, etc.

What I would like to know is whether my potential budget would actually buy me a decent place, or whether I am being fooled by good sounding listings that are hiding faults. Also, how is travel in the area. I have researched here and elsewhere and seen comments about congestion, but what kind? Is it mostly rush hour congestion? General congestion anytime? Will it take an hour to get to a grocery store? Does the metro normally operate on time? Or when it says 30 minutes station to station, should I automatically double that time? Is it often late or behind schedule? Would the MARC trains be a better option?

Thanks all!

Off peak travel is fine, but I agree with the other poster about 355 being annoying. Rush hour is awful. Metro normally runs on time. The last few weeks it hasn't, but eventually it will again be on time. Usually, if it's 30 minutes to another station, it will be pretty lose to that. Depends on track work or single tracking, which is happening alot this year, though mostly at night or on weekends.