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I lived in dc and liked it. Anyone familiar enough to compare dc burbs to the other three? I know it’s work but appreciate it. What are each of these metros versions of say Tyson’s, Reston, ashburn etc
They're all great in their own way. It just depends on what is most important to you. I lived in DC, spent much time in Philly and lived in and around NYC for most of my life. Boston I only started going to for work about 6 years ago so I'm the least familiar with that metro out of these 4.
That being said, Philly is good value and you're only 2 hrs from NYC. If I ever decide to start a family and want to move to the burbs I wouldn't have a problem going to Bucks county or more likely Mercer county in Central Jersey (Princeton area) which is right across the state line from Bucks county. Those are two very nice suburban areas with great access to most everything. NYC, Philly, the Shore, the mountains, etc.
I lived in dc and liked it. Anyone familiar enough to compare dc burbs to the other three? I know it’s work but appreciate it. What are each of these metros versions of say Tyson’s, Reston, ashburn etc
Tysons and Reston are kind of their own thing.. Very commercially developed, largely new developments and sub developments, and apartment complexes. Mid rises downtown. I'd say Burlington, MA is the closest thing to it. Or, for a larger, more urban, more commuter heavy version, maybe Waltham, MA. But most businesses are built along the highways or along busy roads.
Ashburn could be a lot of places in Eastern Mass. But a bit cheaper than most areas you'd find. You can get new build 2.5k sqft condos for <$600k. I suppose I'd compare to Lexington to Ashburn, though Lexingtons businesses are purposefully kept towards 95, while downtown Lexington is more quaint, walkable New England.
Do you like newer towns with subdevelopments and mid rises? Do you like older, more established communities near the city? Do you like walkable or train access? Do you prefer large lots?
They're all great in their own way. It just depends on what is most important to you. I lived in DC, spent much time in Philly and lived in and around NYC for most of my life. Boston I only started going to for work about 6 years ago so I'm the least familiar with that metro out of these 4.
That being said, Philly is good value and you're only 2 hrs from NYC. If I ever decide to start a family and want to move to the burbs I wouldn't have a problem going to Bucks county or more likely Mercer county in Central Jersey (Princeton area) which is right across the state line from Bucks county. Those are two very nice suburban areas with great access to most everything. NYC, Philly, the Shore, the mountains, etc.
Princeton was mentioned earlier and is intriguing. A bit worried about property taxes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mwj119
Do you like newer towns with subdevelopments and mid rises? Do you like older, more established communities near the city? Do you like walkable or train access? Do you prefer large lots?
This would help.
I'm flexible, however, DW, prefers new, and slick. Hence why we like Irvine, Greenwood Village and Bellevue . We were fine with Arlington as well. I guess this is why Ashburn looks attractive. A lot of new builds, decent enough shopping and reasonably affordable. But super far from DC, but that's not a huge deal to us.
Forgot to mention, I've been to Boston quite a few times, for various duration. Citizens seemed remarkably nice. Not what I expected. That being said, given the price tag, they're definitely not under consideration anymore.
Forgot to mention, I've been to Boston quite a few times, for various duration. Citizens seemed remarkably nice. Not what I expected. That being said, given the price tag, they're definitely not under consideration anymore.
I really think DC will be your best bet, aside from the one-off commutes to NYC.
Nothing in the legacy Northeast cities, with maybe only a few exception, will be as new and shiny as NOVA. Philly, NYC, and Boston suburbs are far more like the Chevy Chase-Bethesda-Silver Spring-Annapolis region.
E.g. Middle-upper class outer suburbs of Boston, commonly known as the 495 belt in Massachusetts - like Southboro, Andover, Hopkinton, Westford, etc. - will have some new homes, but for a SFH you're looking at a floor starting price of $1.4M, with most floating closer to $1.75 and beyond well into the Millions. And even then, many of those are teardowns or new lots in older neighborhoods or sub developments. And even still, these towns won't have a lot of new commercial development and infill (largely by design). It's the same in much of southern CT, and Westchester County, NY. Stamford, CT or White Plains, NY MIGHT be worth a look.
Maybe there are some better examples in Bucks County or Mainline in PA, but if there are, I'm not familiar.
I really think DC will be your best bet, aside from the one-off commutes to NYC.
Nothing in the legacy Northeast cities, with maybe only a few exception, will be as new and shiny as NOVA.
E.g. Middle-upper class outer suburbs of Boston, commonly known as the 495 towns in Massachusetts - like Southboro, Andover, Hopkinton, Westford, etc. - will have new builds, but for a SFH you're looking at a floor starting price of $1.4M, with most floating closer to $1.75 and beyond well into the Millions. And even then, many of those are teardowns or new lots in older neighborhoods or sub developments. And even still, these towns won't have a lot of new commercial development and infill (largely by design). It's the same in much of southern CT, and Westchester County, NY. Stamford, CT or White Plains, NY MIGHT be worth a look.
Maybe there are some better examples in Bucks County or Mainline in PA, but if there are, I'm not familiar.
Right. I was drawn to Philly because of the KoP area as it's newish and affordablish. I myself do like the colonial row home styles that are prevalent in Boston and Philly, but I think they're a bit crowded for families and are usually located in not the best school districs.
I will look deeper into the mainline burbs to see if anything fits, as I suspect there may be.
Right. I was drawn to Philly because of the KoP area as it's newish and affordablish. I myself do like the colonial row home styles that are prevalent in Boston and Philly, but I think they're a bit crowded for families and are usually located in not the best school districs.
I will look deeper into the mainline burbs to see if anything fits, as I suspect there may be.
KoP, from what I've seen, is nothing like Tysons or even Ashburn. It has some large commercial development, but new and shiny it is not.
There are most definitely suburbs in the further reaches of Philly (and NYC and Boston) that will have new developments, and that have largely been developed starting in the 90s. But not with the same type of infil/commercial development to match. That is what you'll struggle to find.
You know what area you'd love? Some of the outer ring suburbs of Chicago.. Somewhere like Naperville would be right in your wheelhouse. Too bad it's not remotely close to the Northeast!
No offense, but this side by side is meaningless and bordering on misinformation. There are obviously new developments and much better ones than those tacky mcmansions in the first one for ashburn.
In reality, the reasons why the comparisons exist is things like this: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0839...i8192!11m1!6b1
There are most definitely suburbs in the further reaches of Philly (and NYC and Boston) that will have new developments, and that have largely been developed starting in the 90s. But not with the same type of infil/commercial development to match. That is what you'll struggle to find.
You know what area you'd love? Some of the outer ring suburbs of Chicago.. Somewhere like Naperville would be right in your wheelhouse. Too bad it's not remotely close to the Northeast!
A few comments...
1. You shared 2 streetviews of Ashburn, VA, and 2 streetviews from KoP area. Ashburn is 25+ minutes from Tysons. A 25 minute radius around KoP includes most of the Main Line, which contains some of the most beautiful suburbs in the nation (IMO).
2. KoP and Tysons are similar in that they are the largest "edge cities" of their respective metros, both contain A LOT of industry, (businesses, warehousing, corporate presence, etc.), and both are anchored by massive retail centers. Tysons is definitely developed because the area embraced the development bug before KoP (Upper Merion), that has changed as of late.
Also, personal preference, but I find the streetview of Starflower Way to be awful, but my preferences.
Lastly, I don't think 2 streetviews are indicative of the general areas.
I tend to think the areas surrounding KoP have more housing options due to the area developing over time and a good mix of middle class and upper class areas all within 15 minutes, and now a denser town center development right near the mall. These is also within 10 minutes of the KoP Mall (the center of KoP):...
No offense, but this side by side is meaningless and bordering on misinformation. There are obviously new developments and much better ones than those tacky mcmansions in the first one for ashburn.
In reality, the reasons why the comparisons exist is things like this: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0839...i8192!11m1!6b1
and it has an Amtrak station with a direct train to NYC that's walkable in town
Respectfully - Nothing you just said, makes my post any less true.
Have you been to Ashburn? Do you really think Ashburn and KoP feel even remotely similar?
Drop a pin in KoP 10 times, and do it in Ashburn 10 times. There is a massive difference in residential feel. Ashburn, much like a lot of NOVA, is filled to the brim with massive modern development. Ashburn had 3k people in 1990. It's now at 46k. KoP had 18k in 1990, and is now at 24.5k.
You act as though it's an indictment on KoP. It's not at all. I specifically said, the OP will have a tough time finding a NOVA string of suburbs and cities like Tysons/Ashburn in legacy northeast cities like Philly, or Boston, or NYC.
I, personally, find much of NOVA (like Ashburn) void of any character at all. But, for the OP who lives in Irvine, and prefers shiny and new, NOVA is going to be a better fit than nearly any string of suburbia in legacy northeastern cities, Philly, Boston, and NYC included.
Now, as I said, OP can absolutely find areas that have seen a lot of development in the 90s and beyond. I gave the example of 495 towns in MA. But it'll be tough to find large swaths of modern residential build, with modern commercial activity, head to toe, throughout an area. KoP is absolutely not that. Ardmore even less so.
Let's not pretend KoP is Ashburn or Tysons, or vice versa. And no, a street view with a few new buildings doesn't change my perspective on the widescale differences between the areas.
Last edited by mwj119; 11-11-2022 at 07:25 PM..
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