You are a Middle Class Family, Would you Move to Prince George's County? (Annapolis: apartment, lawyer)

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Fast GTO

I dunno if I'd call Fort Washington diverse...lol

I have no problem with this area, given I bought here, but my anecdotal experience is that it is still 75-80% black.

I used to date a girl there and I would see the more Whites and Filipinos then anywhere else in Southern PG but they tended to be east of the Highway. Maybe living in virtually all-Black Temple Hills at the time skewed my perceptions.

[Mahatma X]

Only Greenbelt or Laurel. Possibly Adelphi or Langley Park.

[Zimar]

I felt super, duper paranoid about moving to PG at the time. I knocked on every neighbor's door and talked to them before I bought the house, I monitored crime reports websites for months at a time, I read every article/document/website I could find on the area, I asked every person who I knew who lived in PG, I stalked city-data, I spent sleepless nights musing over what a big "risk" I was taking. I live in Lanham-Seabrook. And now I live here and it is basically a quiet, uneventful suburb (which is exactly what I wanted) and in retrospect I was being nuts. I don't have to deal with schools for another few years though so we'll see what happens when we reach that point.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Well I guess you're answering the question but isn't it really a no if you plan on bolting once your kid gets to middle school?

No, not necessarily. That is one option. Middle school is an issue, but I didn't go into another one here. Which is the lack of suitable schools (public and non), for my other child, who is special needs and TAG. The County's approach is sorely lacking.

[MrMaryland455]

Originally Posted by molukai

Fort Washington is definitely becoming 'less black'. Totally ignoring National Harbor nearby, about 30-40% of the people I see while going to the local grocery store or restaurants are white. I have also noticed an uptick of non-Filipino Asians in the area. Sure, this is anecdotal based on my observations at any given time, but I think that due to the neighborliness and progressiveness of Fort Washington it is encouraging a more multi-cultural atmosphere. If I was a betting man, I'd bet that there will be a sudden point in the near future where developers are going to crowd to get in on the Oxon Hill and Fort Washington areas.

I'm from Montgomery County..........but I will say this when it comes to FORT WASHINGTON that what you want to see more ASIANS and WHITES it brings more value to the location and that's the honest truth..........I'm happy to see the increase of Demographic in that area...........I wasn't trying to be racist....I'm a young black professional raise in MOCO and that's what bring value to the community

[cjmeck]

I am home shopping in the area, we're a middle class family and PG county is not an option for us. I don't need or care about the best schools in the state, but I wanted a safe, at least above average district. At the middle and high school levels, I could not find that in PG county. If we didn't have that need for those schools, I would consider it. If we could afford private schools, I'd consider it also bc there are very nice areas of PG.

[TechlawyerinPG]

No one has to guess about the racial makeup

Mapping the 2010 U.S. Census - NYTimes.com

Try 65-67% Black.

That is about what my neighborhood looks like about 60% Black, 10% White, 15% Asian, 15% Latino and I am in Oxon Hill on the Ft. Wash Border.

My child goes to a preschool in Ft. Wash and is one of only 3-4 black students in the school which is majority White and Asian. Though that is likely because there is no aftercare and you have to have a nanny or family to pick them up at noon.

[Fast GTO]

Originally Posted by TechlawyerinPG

No one has to guess about the racial makeup

Mapping the 2010 U.S. Census - NYTimes.com

Try 65-67% Black.

That is about what my neighborhood looks like about 60% Black, 10% White, 15% Asian, 15% Latino and I am in Oxon Hill on the Ft. Wash Border.

My child goes to a preschool in Ft. Wash and is one of only 3-4 black students in the school which is majority White and Asian. Though that is likely because there is no aftercare and you have to have a nanny or family to pick them up at noon.

Well, the numbers jump between 65-77% depending on the area.

Fort Foote is about 66% while Tantallon is looking to be in the mid 70's.

Highest percentage of whites was around Fort Washington park at about 22% with the area south of National Harbor between 7-13% with the high end likely a result of the Town Homes at the Harbor.

NoVA is looking to be the reverse.

Northern PG looks looks like it is more diverse due to a larger Hispanic population.

East of 210 looks like it is 70-90% black.

Good find. Will make an interesting comparison to the next census since I've read more about whites coming to the area over the last couple of years.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by Fast GTO

Good find. Will make an interesting comparison to the next census since I've read more about whites coming to the area over the last couple of years.

I agree. Even in this forum we're getting inquiries from white people. And as the county continues to feel the effects from BRAC, more transit oriented development, and potentially the FBI move, I would imagine a noticeable shift in demographics in the next 10 years. At least in northern PG where I'm more familiar.

[TechlawyerinPG]

We are an upper middle class family (moved here as middle class but the last decade has been good to me!) and am trying to decide whether to upgrade to the dream house in Ft. Wash. with an racially balanced Alexandria private school or move to an average house in NoVa that is $300-$400k more with great public schools and where we would represent 1-5% of the neighborhood/school.

Since I have become more involved in the community of parents here in Ft. Wash. via preschool, playdates and mommy groups...I have come to love living here more than I did before. I was pretty isolated before kids. There is something about having kids that seems to make you get more involved in local activities and meet other families. I now have made great friends with families from a variety of backgrounds that share my values about education, parenting and more and are great down to earth people. As we get together with our kids to do things I really can imagine staying here more than I did a few years back. I can say that I do feel the community here is more down to earth. I may have Bethesda/McLean/North Arlington socioeconomic status, but I have to say that I do not know if that community is really "Me" and it is definitely not my husband. I have a lot of family and friends in or near Ft. Wash. as a support system and that is huge. I am not sure if it is worth giving that up, especially with infants and toddlers. I do not feel like the crime over here is any worse than other parts of the area that are as close-in. I feel safe in my community and in Ft. Wash. in general though I use common sense as no matter where you live here, this is a major metro area with major metro crime.

I do think birth up to middle school is probably the best time to live here assuming you have kids. The years before they are school age are the most expensive for a family and this is one of the most affordable places in the area during that time for housing, childcare, preschool...the prices cannot be beat and we have some quality options for all three. The same house and comparable quality childcare or preschool will cost you more elsewhere this close-in to DC. I do think this is a great affordable area for a family before kids, infants and preschoolers and even during the elementary years depending on what you choose to do with schools.