Least "Suburban Feeling" Area on the MD Side of DC? (Silver Spring: 2014, crime)

[MrIndependent]

I am currently evaluating relocating to the DMV metro area within the next couple of months. I will not get a chance to visit the area before making the actual move.

I've done extensive research both on this website and through other content/media about the area.
However, I've reached a point where I need the opinion of people who actually live in the area.

I have decided that I do not want to live inside the District (Congressional Representation is VERY important to me), so that leaves me with VA and MD as options.

Which community on the MD side specifically checks the following boxes (arranged in order of importance):

• Not more than 8 miles away from downtown DC
• Does not feel 100% like "suburbia generica"
• Public Transportation Friendly (bus and train)
• Bike-able/Walkable
• Good amount of urban amenities inside the community

Looking on the VA side, I am very impressed by both Arlington and Alexandria. Arlington looks incredibly urban. Alexandria doesn't seem quite as urban, but it has some other redeeming qualities about it (historic charm, pleasant waterfront, and a downtown that looks sufficiently vibrant)

At this point, I personally would prefer to live in MD, but I am uncertain/concerned about how suburban it will feel compared to the VA locations mentioned above.

P.S. - school districts will not be an issue for me.

[bufflove]

Easily downtown Silver Spring. It's not surprising it was just voted "most exciting" suburb of DC. Bethesda (in MD) and Arlington (in VA) are nice - for what they are - but they are exceedingly generic. They're the best "anywhere USA"-type suburb, but at the end of the day, a lot Millennials aren't interested in that. It sounds like you count yourself among that group so I'd strongly recommend checking out downtown Silver Spring as it's very dense/walkable, vibrant, diverse, and has more public transit options than you can count. It is, however, not as polished/sterile (depending on your point of view) as Bethesda and Arlington, so if you're looking for something completely sans grit then downtown Silver Spring isn't for you.

Your Votes Are In: Silver Spring Is D.C.'s Most Exciting 'Burb - Results Are In - Curbed DC

[Cmusic29]

I second Silver Spring. To a lesser extent, Bethesda or Rockville.

Thing with Silver Spring is, city center (downtown proper) is small and always strikes me as ending rather abruptly. And once you are about a mile to a mile and a half away from the city center there is not much. Plus, if you want to get to the metro it can be a pain depending on where you are. I like Mont. county but found Ride On buses to be horrible (worse than metrobus even) and not at all dependable, at least if you need to be to work on time. Otherwise, if you can find a place right in downtown, it is a nice area. So I recommend SS if you can be right in the center of the action.

[wildcat3]

If you like Clarendon, you'll like Bethesda.
Silver Spring is great and has the Fillmore, which is a major ammenity.

I'd discount the "most exciting burb" poll. That was just great blog clickbait.
Does anyone really call Arlington "exciting"? It doesn't have a venue like The Fillmore.

Wheaton and Rockville fit some of your criteria, but not all.

[wildcat3]

Originally Posted by Cmusic29

I like Mont. county but found Ride On buses to be horrible (worse than metrobus even) and not at all dependable, at least if you need to be to work on time. Otherwise, if you can find a place right in downtown, it is a nice area. So I recommend SS if you can be right in the center of the action.

Agreed on Ride-On. Many lines stop running pretty early in the evening, so make sure you check the routes. And the county has been cutting bus service in recent years.

You really want to be close to work if you're using transit since Metro can be costly if your employer doesn't subsidize your fare. Unlike NYC, you pay based on how far you travel on the system.

[tcave360]

I agree with the above suggestions. But you should also think about checking out College Park, Mt. Rainier (got some grit as well), City of Hyattsville, University Town Center/Prince George's Plaza, and perhaps Takoma Park as well.

[MrIndependent]

Originally Posted by tcave360

I agree with the above suggestions. But you should also think about checking out College Park, Mt. Rainier (got some grit as well), City of Hyattsville, University Town Center/Prince George's Plaza, and perhaps Takoma Park as well.

I had looked long and hard at College Park and Hyattsville.
I'm a little worried that CP will feel too, well, college-y. Yes i am a 20 something year old working professional, but I don't want to be completely surrounded by kids. I like some more age diversity.

Hyattsville seems to be closer to downtown DC. But on Google Maps, it takes about 20 minutes longer to reach DC by public transportation as compared to CP. Why is that?

Also, is Hyattsville seen as some sort of up and coming area? I've read mixed reviews about it. On one hand it sounds like it has a lot more issues with crime and poverty. On the other hand, it seems like it has some new developments there. Would it be accurate to describe Hyattsville as the best place to live in Prince George's County Inside the Beltway?

[alfoa]

Neither College Park nor Hyattsville are anywhere near "downtown" DC, in my opinion. Btw, what is considered "downtown"? To me that could be Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Capitol Hill, etc.

Based on what you have described, I'm not sure how happy you would be in MD. Like a previous poster said, Silver Spring (which came to mind first) only has a few blocks that feel like a "city". Same with Bethesda and Rockville. Northern VA seems to have more of the right kind of "vibe".

I guess I'm wondering if you would really want to rule out DC...DC and Northern VA have the most people in your age group. Not so much in MD. Lots of stollers (as in kids, not people walking around).

[MrMaryland455]

I definitely recommend Downtown Silver Spring or Bethesda. There both gerat areas with plenty to do and a professional atmosphere. Montgomery County is a great place to live and either place will be great for you


Here a few Links you should check out

Downtown Silver Spring

Downtown Silver Spring Maryland Chompie - YouTube

Fileowntown silver spring wayne.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bethesda

Downtown Bethesda Living - YouTube

[MrIndependent]

Originally Posted by alfoa

Neither College Park nor Hyattsville are anywhere near "downtown" DC, in my opinion. Btw, what is considered "downtown"? To me that could be Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Capitol Hill, etc.

Based on what you have described, I'm not sure how happy you would be in MD. Like a previous poster said, Silver Spring (which came to mind first) only has a few blocks that feel like a "city". Same with Bethesda and Rockville. Northern VA seems to have more of the right kind of "vibe".

I guess I'm wondering if you would really want to rule out DC...DC and Northern VA have the most people in your age group. Not so much in MD. Lots of stollers (as in kids, not people walking around).

Like I mentioned in my OP, I have to rule out DC due to lack of congressional/senatorial representation. That is a must for me, wherever I live.

I don't have to be around only 20 something year olds. I do not want to feel like I live on a college campus. It seems like Arlington skews very heavily towards that age bracket (more so than other places in the metro).

Based off of some of these responses, and what I already knew, I am torn between Arlington/Alexandria vs. Silver Spring.

So how does Alexandria's downtown compare to Silver Springs? Are they about on par, or not really?