DC or VA? (live in, moving, budget)

[gnab gib]

Originally Posted by AppleSky

For the most part living in VA you are detached from DC and MD.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing. You have all the stuff to do in DC only a short train ride away, but when you're done, you can go home to VA and put some distance between DC and yourself, if you want to.

[shibainu]

I am from upstate ny and looking to move to dc area to go to school and work. I currently live in rochester ny area. I am wondering when you guys speak of high taxes is it about the same as new york cause we are tax capital of the US. For example schools is about 8k, property is $30 to 33 dollars per 1,000, Sales tax is near 9%.

[saganista]

Some people will complain about the level of taxes no matter what they are. Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine. In actuality, the DC area (Virginia in particular) is a relatively low-tax region. The real estate tax rate in Fairfax County, for example, is currently $8.90 per thousand of assessed value. The Virginia sales tax rate is 5%, but 2.5% on food, and 0% on prescription and non-prescription drugs. Grover Norquist is having a heart attack over this...

[woodside]

Originally Posted by YoAdrian

No, it's actually pretty accurate. My wife works in PG Country, in Landover, within spitting distance of FedEx Field. Her company has security guards escorting women to their cars in the parking lot at night. Delivery trucks won't even come there after dark.

PGCo may have some nicer areas, but so does DC. It doesn't mean I'd ever want to live there. The crime is bad. That's not race bias, it's a statistical fact.

Please let me know if you wife knows anything about the new residential community next door to Fed Ex Field. There's a lot of new construction going on and I am curious if this is a good area. It's right next door to the metro rail! Any information would be apprecitated.

[Teamfour]

Originally Posted by saganista

Some people will complain about the level of taxes no matter what they are. Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine. In actuality, the DC area (Virginia in particular) is a relatively low-tax region. The real estate tax rate in Fairfax County, for example, is currently $8.90 per thousand of assessed value. The Virginia sales tax rate is 5%, but 2.5% on food, and 0% on prescription and non-prescription drugs. Grover Norquist is having a heart attack over this...

I find it amusing that folks whine about taxes in VA. Here in Lousyana I pay $8.44 per thousand assessed. Our sales tax is 8.75% INCLUDING food and drugs.

[sweet-t-virginia]

I've lived in Virginia all my life and spent most of my time in Arlington and Fairfax County. I love Virginia and agree with others that if you have children, Virginia is the place to be. The schools are excellent. There are many places in Northern Virginia within walking distance to the metro - my last house in Vienna was just two blocks from the metro. It was wonderful!

If you are single or a couple without children and aren't planning any, then I would choose DC. There is always something to do there and many places to eat.

Best of luck with your search!

[beachtraveler]

Originally Posted by shibainu

I am from upstate ny and looking to move to dc area to go to school and work. I currently live in rochester ny area. I am wondering when you guys speak of high taxes is it about the same as new york cause we are tax capital of the US. For example schools is about 8k, property is $30 to 33 dollars per 1,000, Sales tax is near 9%.

Same here. The state income tax for anyone making over $11k year is 9%, and property taxes are fairly high as well (depending on what county you live in). Granted we have no sales tax in OR, but we also aren't afforded the luxury of choosing to pump our own gas (how archaic!) so we pay a premium for gas.

[mark2544]

Crossing the river from VA into DC makes you about 500 times more likely to take a bullet.

[slim04]

Bought from a Virginian gun shop.

[vasinger]

In Virginia people speak English.