Moving to work in Washington DC. Where to live? (Silver Spring: apartments, day care)

[musman]

1. Do I need to be by a metro rail? Would I be okay if I were on a bus line?
Office is really close to Union station. (Red line)
2. How long of a commute to work am I willing to have? Would I be okay driving? Taking the commuter rail? (where will I be working?)
I dont mind 35-40 commute. I am driving in Atlanta. I would prefer rail.
3. Would I be willing to live with a roommate or multiple roommates?
No. moving with kids.
4. What amenities do I absolutely need in an apartment -- pets? gym? a/c? washer/dryer?
pretty much all.
5. What is the absolute maximum, with utilities and any fees, I can afford?
I am shooting for under 2K.
6. What is my definition of safe?
Kids friendly.
7. How important is nightlife? family community? schools?
family. schools are important,

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by musman

5. What is the absolute maximum, with utilities and any fees, I can afford?
I am shooting for under 2K.

How many bedrooms do you need? There may be small three-bedroom townhouses in that price range, but more two-bedroom apartments.

If you really need three bedrooms, look further out to Burtonsville or Olney. If you can get by with two bedrooms, you can find places in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Kensington, Aspen hill, etc.

[musman]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

How many bedrooms do you need? There may be small three-bedroom townhouses in that price range, but more two-bedroom apartments.

If you really need three bedrooms, look further out to Burtonsville or Olney. If you can get by with two bedrooms, you can find places in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Kensington, Aspen hill, etc.

Is area safe enough for the kids? how metro commute looks like in Rush hours to and from?

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by musman

Is area safe enough for the kids? how metro commute looks like in Rush hours to and from?

How old are the kids? Toddlers or teenagers? There are very different safety issues.

Burtonsville and Olney are very safe. But, I would estimate an hour to get to work in downtown DC. First you would have to get an express bus, then Metro.

The other suburbs are also safe, but a bit more congested. Commute time is more like 45-50 minutes depending on how long it takes to get to a Red Line Metro stop. Once you are at the Silver Spring Metro, it is 26 minutes to Union Station (I think, but you can look up that number.)

[musman]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

How old are the kids? Toddlers or teenagers? There are very different safety issues.

Burtonsville and Olney are very safe. But, I would estimate an hour to get to work in downtown DC. First you would have to get an express bus, then Metro.

The other suburbs are also safe, but a bit more congested. Commute time is more like 45-50 minutes depending on how long it takes to get to a Red Line Metro stop. Once you are at the Silver Spring Metro, it is 26 minutes to Union Station (I think, but you can look up that number.)

Kids are 3.5 and 1.5 years old. How safe is Silver Spring and Red line itself. I travelled on Red line couple times. I encountered some beat up trains while using red line. yellow on other hand had better/newer trains. I may be wrong.

[DistrictSonic]

Originally Posted by musman

Kids are 3.5 and 1.5 years old. How safe is Silver Spring and Red line itself. I travelled on Red line couple times. I encountered some beat up trains while using red line. yellow on other hand had better/newer trains. I may be wrong.

The red line and silver spring is pretty safe. Please realize the downtown area though it is a downtown in it's own right, albiet a smaller one.

The trains on the red line look beat up because the red line is the oldest line in the metro system. The entire line just went through a rehabilitation effort, and now they are in the process of replacing the trains to all new ones. Some of the trains are brand new in fact. The red line was the second to get 7000 series trains.

It was a pain for the last few years, but as of the last few months things have been steadily and significantly improving.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by musman

Kids are 3.5 and 1.5 years old.

So the kids would be under the care of a parent or day care provider all the time?? You certainly are not going to let them out alone in the yard. Under those circumstances, almost everywhere in the Metro DC area is safe for kids.

[musman]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

So the kids would be under the care of a parent or day care provider all the time?? You certainly are not going to let them out alone in the yard. Under those circumstances, almost everywhere in the Metro DC area is safe for kids.

Yes we are thinking abt daycare. Wife would be attending community college.

[musman]

Originally Posted by DistrictSonic

The red line and silver spring is pretty safe. Please realize the downtown area though it is a downtown in it's own right, albiet a smaller one.

The trains on the red line look beat up because the red line is the oldest line in the metro system. The entire line just went through a rehabilitation effort, and now they are in the process of replacing the trains to all new ones. Some of the trains are brand new in fact. The red line was the second to get 7000 series trains.

It was a pain for the last few years, but as of the last few months things have been steadily and significantly improving.

Got you!!. Thanks. :-)

[sarahstark]

I'm on the red line and in Silver Spring and love it.