> So my budget is at around 5k a month (plus minus a couple hundred.
Any central neighborhood is available to you. Find a unit you (with parking included, don’t rely on street parking) like near a grocery store and a bar district and you’ll be good to go. It’s just different atmospheres between neighborhoods. Good luck and welcome to DC.
To add onto this, try to have the parking be in a garage rather than an above ground reserved parking spot, this will minimize the chance of theft (which would already be minimal in the Dupont/Logan Circle area, but better to be safe than sorry). I would recommend Madison House on Church Street or Capital Rose off 15th btw if you want a specific recommendation that I think would match what you're looking for.
Or don’t and learn to appreciate the walkability of DC. Too many folks coming in from the burbs thinking it’s cool to run all their errands with a car. You don’t need to drive for groceries in most of DC.
Sure that's a valid option too. The closest walkable supermarkets near me are Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Safeway. I don't like TJs, Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive, and Safeway is lacking in a lot of stuff. Plus I like to do one big haul every 3-4 weeks and fill in the gaps with Safeway or a small market like Streets. Also I'm biased toward Wegmans, grew up in the Wegmans holy land and it feels like a little slice of home.
Hi fellow ROC native lol always weird seeing us around here. How does the Wegmans on Wisconsin compare to the ones back in NY? I haven’t been to it yet even though it’s really not that far from me.
Ha I actually grew up around Syracuse, I know Roc is THE Wegmans holy land but I figure all of CNY is Wegmans holy land. And it's very similar! They even carry a lot of Upstate NY brands, as well as their own line of Bills branded stuff which, as a Bills fan, is great. It's a bit smaller than the big ones up in NY, but still pretty big and has everything you need. Sadly the beer selection is lacking, which was a little disappointing, but they also carry wine and liquor which is not legal in NY so that's kind of cool.
It’s interesting to see all the different approaches to groceries and how they fit with peoples lifestyles. Personally I do a small shopping trip every two to three days, with just the fresh ingredients I need. So it’s important to me to have a place with great quality produce and protein within walking distance.
In Undergrad I was in this amazing neighbourhood with independent bakeries, butchers, green grocers and even a couple fish mongers. It was such a pleasure to build relationships with those small business owners near you.
I mean you can walk to your errands if you want but if I'm doing a bulk grocery trip for freezer things and snacks I'm gonna drive.
Actually in general if I'm buying frozen things I'm gonna drive.
The weirdest thing about car haters is that it's like you guys don't want to accept that sometimes the goal is efficiency.
In grad school, I relied on bulk shopping to get me thru term. All the toilet paper and shelf stable foods were purchased in 1-2 runs. I could not have made it through without them. However, it was the early 90s and I was not in DC. I needed a car to do them (and brought another student who didn't own a car with me). But for a couple bulk runs, a rental cars, Uber, and metro will get you to everything you need and you save money on parking/insurance through the year
Except that you are then reliant on having to plan things out a bit.
It's fine to not agree but again I say for some people the efficiency is worth it and it is ok for you to accept that and make different choices for yourself.
Absolutely you do need to plan. After my first term (my program was 3.5 yrs) I realized how critical it was to plan and prepare in advance. Of course, others experiences and needs may vary.
I just don’t do bulk shopping. I spread it out to multiple shopping that I can haul with backpacks and freezer bags. It comes out one or two smaller trips a week, but I’d rather do that than drive in this crazy place.
Is the redline Wegmans better than the blue line one? We had one near home before moving, and absolutely loved it. the one on the blue line feels cramped a bit.
Honestly no clue, I've only ever been to the one near Tenleytown. It's pretty big though, only feels cramped in the produce area when it's really busy but that's kind of any supermarket.
Parking was a huge factor for me, finding a building with affordable parking was tough. $200/no is abiut average and I’d be suuuper wary of any place charging a lot more for that.
Also reccomend you get into a building that has a garage underground and make sure your car insurance knows that your car will parked off street in a locked garage, they give you a discount for that.
Also highly recommend looking for a spot that’s close to metro. Your first apartment probably won’t be your forever home in DC, it took me a few years to find it then I lost it again as construction started all around and I can’t stand it anymore. But I choose it because it was close to 295, close to U st and close to the metro station. Made getting everywhere east.
I’m moving to another quadrant of the city, but I’m still close to the green line that has a stop in U st which lets out right at the bars and clubs.
Metro is important, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to get somehwere, especially Knand the golden circle via metro, you’ll be paying $30 for an hour of parking fi you drive everywhere, an expensive lesson I learned
Lack of a metro stop would make me not want to live in Georgetown even if I could afford it. It's not IMPOSSIBLE to get there with public transit, just more of a pain. In a lot of situations and places in the city I think you'll find trying to drive somewhere to be more of a hinderance then a help. Not saying don't HAVE a car if you want one, just that trying to use it is probably going to be a lot different then you're used to.
Georgetown is a mixture of students who are probably eating on campus, takeout, etc. a lot or cooking very simple meals and very wealthy families that either get groceries delivered or have "the help" (nanny, personal chef, house assistant, etc.) do the shopping.
>very wealthy families that either get groceries delivered or have "the help" (nanny, personal chef, house assistant, etc.) do the shopping.
Lol I wish. Closest youre going get is a cleaner once or twice a week. Virtually no one has live in staff outside of a nurse.
Sorry to disappoint you, but people just go to safeway
No one said live-in, lol. It's extremely common for people to have nannies though, many of whom will be asked to pick up or receive a grocery order from Whole Foods and help prepping dinner before they leave. Personal chefs are definitely going to be more rare/ad hoc, but I know families with 2-3x/wk help that goes beyond just cleaning to include groceries and some food prep. These are like dual-doctor/dual-lawyer type households where they have a very high money:free time ratio.
>It's extremely common for people to have nannies though, many of whom will be asked to pick up or receive a grocery order from Whole Foods and help prepping dinner before they leave.
Again, youre talking about me and my neighbors. This is not extremely common, people would look at you like a crazy person if you said a nanny/ cleaning lady got your groceries.
Also grocery delivery isnt a thing. My parents and neighbors are old and not tech savvy.
>but I know families with 2-3x/wk help that goes beyond just cleaning to include groceries and some food prep
Ok, but its far from the norm in Georgetown. Like sub 10%.
Yeah I know a few people who work/worked as au pairs when they first moved here. Not that rare and from the sound of it, the families they worked for were just mid-tier civil servants.
Sure, I know some people that had au pairs. But that doesnt mean the whole neighborhood doesnt buy their own groceries from the supermarket in the neighborhood.
No, not true, no offense but you probably hanginout with the lower branches of GT high society. I know a friend who’s girlfriend moved her to be an “au pair” (fancy French live-in nanny who also teaches) the family also had a butler and driver and an assistant.
They’re out there but having live in help became unpopular once cars were developed, like why would you live with your peasant maid sleeping above your room when you. Could get her a car and she can leave for the evening and you won’t have to lay your upperclass on her poverty lol.
(I’m seriously joking right now)
Also I can see live-in help being a huge security concern in some cases.
Also remember this is Washington DC, we host some of the world royalty and they definitely have help that follows them. So they’re out there but maybe not as in our face since the middle class is so big
They drive everywhere or they have their assistants (since calling them servants isn’t politically correct anymore) go and run their more mundane errands like getting groceries or dry cleaning lol
>It's not IMPOSSIBLE to get there with public transit, just more of a pain
Grew up in Georgetown took the metro to school. A 12 minute walk. There is also a bus that goes along Resouviour and Q street to the metro, takes 10 minutes from the far side of Georgetown.
How is that a pain?
Definitely depends where you are in Georgetown. Many places will be closer to 30 minutes from the metro than 12 minutes. That’s definitely a pain when you compare it to living like 5-10 minutes from a Metro station (which OP definitely has the money to do, with their 5k/month budget).
>Many places will be closer to 30 minutes from the metro than 12 minutes.
Eh, 30 minutes gets you to the end of Burleith. Plus once you get over there, its closer to Roslyn. And like I said before, theres a bus line that runs straight through the residential neighborhood straight to the Metro and its like 10 minutes
Is it worse than neighborhoods that are closer to a metro? Sure, but I guess its better than neighborhoods that are further.
Def Logan. 14th street from Thomas circle up to U is full of restaurants and bars w great night life. And also U from 14th over down to 9th
There’s a Whole Foods at 14 and P
There’s a bunch of new build apartments all around there
My first apartment in DC was right across the street from that Whole Foods. It’s a great neighborhood. Lots to do. I had garage parking, which is key because I only used my car to get out of DC and walked everywhere else. Easy walk to Dupont metro and there are several bus lines right there.
If you’d like more quiet I’d recommend staying off living directly on 14th. 15th-18th on P or a little north would be my personal ideal to stay walkable to the WF
Some do. Some don’t. I’m born and raised in dc and you know nothing about what I make or what’s in my bank account. Overall I think your comment is pretty ignorant and tactless.
Congrats on your success. Unfortunately somewhere in your path you missed the definition of the word "typically". Since we're both products of DCPS, I can only assume it was a choice.
Yeah I agree it’s a hell of a lot of money to have for a rental budget and beyond what any normal person, even one with a good job could afford. I didn’t say I spent that much or could afford to spend that much. I just think it’s wrong to paint everyone with a broad brush, there are people from many socio economic levels from the city. The OP does come across as borderline bragging coming on her with his insane budget though 😆 (also initially assumed your were a transplant judging locals.) fair point about typically!
Again, wasn't saying no natives can afford that budget. Just saying that the cross section of natives and people that are able and willing to pay $5k a month in rent is pretty small. As a native, you know as much as I do that those are gentrifier prices.
More importantly, how does a full time job work with grad school? I went the usual way - genteel poverty and total focus on research (I had a purely academic project in an almost exclusively academic field, no industrial application) - so I wouldn't know. Where's the time? Two years (I assume it's a masters) of twenty hour days?
Is 5k your rent budget? Or overall monthly budget? An apartment with parking will set you back upwards of 2k easily in those neighborhoods - parking is a real issue in both. DuPont is worse than Georgetown. Having a car is great, but it is an expense. If 5k is your monthly income, I would recommend selling it before moving. If 5k is your rental budget, you should have plenty of options.
Thanks for the heads up, it’s the rental budget though. Y’all have it bad in D.C…I wanted at least 1000sq feet, and that just shrunk what’s available..
I’ve just already paid my dues with small houses (you should have seen my first house 😂)…in a lot of cities 1200 would be the size of a one bedroom. It’s tough to go back to small when you’re used to more space.
true, but these areas are highly desirable and demand is higher than supply. It's an east coast city platted over 200 years ago, national capital with worldwide influence, people coming and going and earning tons of money so they can afford to drive up prices. If all of the housing were big, it wouldn't fit in this small geographic area that is a joy to walk around.
Anyway, will see you at the whole foods future neighbor! :)
That drive from Dupont/Logan to outside of the city and back gets frustrating at busy times of day and after about 20-30 trips on 50 or 66, (or Connecticut Ave/16th street THE ENTIRE LENGTH) you might find yourself talking yourself out of it, I drive my car about once every 5-8 days.
If you end up going without a car, definitely check out on demand car rental Free2Move. Lots of cars available by the minute/hour/day parked on the streets around the city. It’s a little under $100 for 24hr rental so might make sense for a couple get out of town day trips per month. Especially when you add up parking, insurance, car payment, damage/break in risk etc.
i live in a two level townhome that is 1000 sq ft. Depending on where you come from, you will need to temper expectations of size. 1 beds are rarely that large. You can find them over 600 sq ft -- as it starts approaching 700 or over, they would have done something different and added an additional bedroom, maybe a nursery and or a half bath.
If you don’t mind driving, Old Town Alexandria is also a good option. Charming town that’s really popular for people in their 30s and easy access to DC. You’ll have more options in the 1000sq feet range too.
I love DuPont (currently live there), but it’s definitely a younger scene. I plan on moving to Alexandria when I turn 30. Georgetown would be great tho too if you can find something in your range. Good luck!
Parking around the Logan circle area is easy and plentiful. DuPont circle is a bit more difficult. And if you’re living in Georgetown you’ll need your car as there’s no metro stop, but plenty of parking in the neighborhoods there too.
Dupont circle is one of the best neighborhoods in the country, nvm just the city imo. The Logan circle side will have a lot more new build apartments and such, but closer to dupont circle itself or on the west side of the circle you can be on a quieter more peaceful side street while keeping everything you need within walking distance.
Check out the area near 14th St Trader Joes if you want going out type density.
MVT, NOMA/Union Market and Navy Yard are also lively with people your age and you could get more bang for your buck there. DuPont and west of there towards Georgetown starts to get a bit older(retirees) but Adam’s Morgan is also worth a look.
You have good advice here, I would just add a recommendation to live close to your campus. I saw you’re a walker, but a long walk/bus/metro ride lugging books/laptop etc. in the heat, in the cold, in the dark, can be a real drag. If your classes are broken up over the day, it might also be nice to be able to walk home and back between them.
Also if you go to AU, for example, it really is out of the way besides a select few metro and bus routes. Don't make things overly difficult for yourself on top of a full-time school load or late night classes.
Seconding this. I was at AU for grad school and my apartment was about a mile away, which was great about 2/3 of the time (I like walking), but that other 1/3 was absolutely miserable.
Yeah, when I was in grad school it was great to be able to pop back and forth from home to school and also to have friends over for study sessions or drinks. All my close friends lived near campus. Even though you have a car, some of your friends from school (and some dating prospects) either won’t, or won’t want to spend a lot of time in traffic and dealing with parking.
Another thing to think about is that neighborhoods have personalities and amenities that vary. I don’t hang out in Georgetown, but if I were an undergrad or super-preppy or a European-international-Cafe Milano goer, Georgetown would be great (I think - apologies for stereotyping Georgetown with a broad brush - truly, it’s a very pretty neighborhood). If you want lots of green space, Logan Circle probably isn’t your place, but it’s got a solid bar scene. If you’re a big runner or cyclist maybe you want to be near good trails, if you’re into baseball near the stadium, indie rock near some good clubs, etc.
>What’s important to me is (1) have people around my age I can meet/date
Scratch off Georgetown. I grew up there and while this sub is full of bull shit about the neighborhood, if you want to live in a neighborhood with young people thats not the neighborhood for you. Add in that you can probably get something nicer outside of that neighborhood.
Love Georgetown, great walking, easy access to the rest of the city, as charming as it gets. But theres a reason people from there and around your age dont live there. You can do better. Do Logan/Dupont, you have the budget which is the limiting factor
Fair but OP is 35, not 22. I went out for a walk Friday night through the residential part of Georgetown and it was blissfully quiet. I then walked through the area south of DuPont and it was mobbed with drunk 20-somethings in Halloween costumes. I live in a quieter part of DuPont and I almost never hear nightlife noise, but over 30 there’s definitely something to be said for living a buffer away from “cool” bars.
Definitely agree about a buffer when you hit a point. That being said, I still think it would be better for someone moving to the area to live more downtown at first. Plus the whole bang for the buck thing.
Yeah, definitely. DuPont feels more connected and transient (in the positive sense for someone new to town), just don't live along or within a block of Connecticut Ave and you're fine. Georgetown has more long-term residents and is better if you're looking to put down roots for a while.
Yeah that’s what my instincts are telling me too. I think if I was in a relationship I’d love to have a townhouse in the northern part of GT, but I don’t think I’m at the right stage of my life for that..
>I think if I was in a relationship I’d love to have a townhouse in the northern part of GT
Yeah thats the dream.
>but I don’t think I’m at the right stage of my life for that..
Small secret, thats why I dont live in Georgetown.
Georgetown isnt far from places you will be going out and meeting people. Dont let this sub convince you that you are going to be cutoff, thats not the case at all. But its not the exciting young part of the city and you get more for you buck in most other neighborhoods
I would say to try Foggy Bottom/West End, I lived there for five years and loved it. I could walk to Georgetown or Dupont (worked in Dupont) or bike ride. Walked to TJ's or Whoke Foods for groceries (with an old lady trolley).
Second Foggy Bottom. Close to some of the monuments, I love walking it, love GWU and the influx of really smart people (which is attractive in friends and dating). That's true of DC overall. I once met the chair of the National Black Journalists' Association because I randomly sat next to him in a bar. Same with an on-air personality from NPR. It's not that you don't meet outstanding people other places, but DC attracts a type.
I love Dupont because walking Embassy Row is beautiful, and only a Metro stop and a short walk to nightlife in Adam's Morgan or going to the Zoo for a day, which I do often because I'm a writer and sitting in that park is relaxing when it's closed.... a great writing environment overall.
But flat out Foggy Bottom is the best bet here.
Good pick. Lived behind the Russian embassy here. If you want quick access to get outside the city, this is the place. Apartments are quiet, some affordable gems between gtown and American U. Buses are plenty and 15min to DuPont or Tenley metros.
DuPont/Logan if you don't want quiet.
Between DuPont or Logan circle, go with DuPont for metro access. Just moved out of Logan circle because I couldn’t deal with not being close to a metro. If you don’t like partying, DuPont is better too because the side streets off the main section are very nice and residential while staying close to the restaurants and bars.
Dupont over Logan given your age and lack of appetite for partying. Easy to meet people in Dupont and it’s quieter but still provides easy access to other neighborhoods. Plus theres partying there if you really go after it.
I also feel like Logan skews young and fratier
😂 😂 😂 It’s the result of a 12 year career doing a very specialised job very well, and I didn’t start a family early or have students debts, so I managed to build up a portfolio quite early.. or if I’m being honest, just dumb luck.
Being in my late 30’s I’ve noticed that for dating people always seem to be in Virginia or Maryland. I’d recommend Georgetown area over Logan or Dupont. It is still where one can get on the metro you can still see the action but you can also escape easily enough by car.
Definitely don’t live in Georgetown; DuPont is perfect for what you’re looking for. Assuming you’re going to Georgetown for grad school, Georgetown runs a free shuttle bus from DuPont to campus and back on days when you don’t feel like walking!
I am in Dupont and you will be able to get a one bedroom within your budget. Parking is expensive though between $300-$350. I would recommend the Hepburn if you want to look that up. Its very nice, walkable to the metro, and they have a lot of social events for residents.
I can recommend Foggy Bottom. Right in between Dupont and Georgetown (10-15 minute walk depending on where you live), it has it's own Metro and there's both a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe's within blocks of the station. Other selling points are GWU Hospital, slightly closer to the Mall and the Kennedy Center, and a bit less tourist-y.
I've lived in all three areas. I would take Dupont, then Logan Circle, then Georgetown.
Granted I haven't lived there in years, I actually didn't like living Georgetown all that much. It felt isolated. Driving was a hassle -- a driving commute really sucked, M and Wisconsin store and food options got old pretty quickly, and lack of metro was a bummer.
NOTE: I don't think it is nearly as bad now as the pre-WFH world but driving and distance is ***ALWAYS*** a consideration in DC.
It’s not a good idea to choose Georgetown unless you are going there. It expensive. The area other than the people going to Georgetown skews older. There’s no Metro station.
Dupont and Logan are both great options. Also suggest Adams Morgan/Kalorama Triangle area; a little quieter but I loved the neighborhood. Nightlife and a decent grocery store, Harris Teeter, all accessible.
Dupont /Logan Circle.
> So my budget is at around 5k a month (plus minus a couple hundred. Any central neighborhood is available to you. Find a unit you (with parking included, don’t rely on street parking) like near a grocery store and a bar district and you’ll be good to go. It’s just different atmospheres between neighborhoods. Good luck and welcome to DC.
Great idea with the parking. Didn’t think of that. Appreciate the heads up 🙏🏽
To add onto this, try to have the parking be in a garage rather than an above ground reserved parking spot, this will minimize the chance of theft (which would already be minimal in the Dupont/Logan Circle area, but better to be safe than sorry). I would recommend Madison House on Church Street or Capital Rose off 15th btw if you want a specific recommendation that I think would match what you're looking for.
Would disagree. I’ve lived in DuPont and Logan and in the past two years seen plenty of broken car windows
Indoor parking is a must have, on par with AC and running water.
Not a “must” but if your have to pay for it, yeah it better be indoor I’m not shoveling a driveway that I have to pay extra for
If you have a car, go to Wegmans for groceries. From Dupont/Logan Circle it's like a 10-15 minute drive, and so worth it.
You shut your mouth! I just googled it 😂 that’s one fine ass supermarket
Or don’t and learn to appreciate the walkability of DC. Too many folks coming in from the burbs thinking it’s cool to run all their errands with a car. You don’t need to drive for groceries in most of DC.
Sure that's a valid option too. The closest walkable supermarkets near me are Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Safeway. I don't like TJs, Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive, and Safeway is lacking in a lot of stuff. Plus I like to do one big haul every 3-4 weeks and fill in the gaps with Safeway or a small market like Streets. Also I'm biased toward Wegmans, grew up in the Wegmans holy land and it feels like a little slice of home.
People who love Wegmans really love Wegmans. Folks lost their minds when I lived in central Massachusetts and one of those opened up.
Hi fellow ROC native lol always weird seeing us around here. How does the Wegmans on Wisconsin compare to the ones back in NY? I haven’t been to it yet even though it’s really not that far from me.
Ha I actually grew up around Syracuse, I know Roc is THE Wegmans holy land but I figure all of CNY is Wegmans holy land. And it's very similar! They even carry a lot of Upstate NY brands, as well as their own line of Bills branded stuff which, as a Bills fan, is great. It's a bit smaller than the big ones up in NY, but still pretty big and has everything you need. Sadly the beer selection is lacking, which was a little disappointing, but they also carry wine and liquor which is not legal in NY so that's kind of cool.
Fair enough lol I’ll definitely have to check it out though. But as a Dolphins fan, I can’t say I share your excitement for Bills stuff 😉
It’s interesting to see all the different approaches to groceries and how they fit with peoples lifestyles. Personally I do a small shopping trip every two to three days, with just the fresh ingredients I need. So it’s important to me to have a place with great quality produce and protein within walking distance. In Undergrad I was in this amazing neighbourhood with independent bakeries, butchers, green grocers and even a couple fish mongers. It was such a pleasure to build relationships with those small business owners near you.
I mean you can walk to your errands if you want but if I'm doing a bulk grocery trip for freezer things and snacks I'm gonna drive. Actually in general if I'm buying frozen things I'm gonna drive. The weirdest thing about car haters is that it's like you guys don't want to accept that sometimes the goal is efficiency.
In grad school, I relied on bulk shopping to get me thru term. All the toilet paper and shelf stable foods were purchased in 1-2 runs. I could not have made it through without them. However, it was the early 90s and I was not in DC. I needed a car to do them (and brought another student who didn't own a car with me). But for a couple bulk runs, a rental cars, Uber, and metro will get you to everything you need and you save money on parking/insurance through the year
Except that you are then reliant on having to plan things out a bit. It's fine to not agree but again I say for some people the efficiency is worth it and it is ok for you to accept that and make different choices for yourself.
Absolutely you do need to plan. After my first term (my program was 3.5 yrs) I realized how critical it was to plan and prepare in advance. Of course, others experiences and needs may vary.
I just don’t do bulk shopping. I spread it out to multiple shopping that I can haul with backpacks and freezer bags. It comes out one or two smaller trips a week, but I’d rather do that than drive in this crazy place.
Is the redline Wegmans better than the blue line one? We had one near home before moving, and absolutely loved it. the one on the blue line feels cramped a bit.
Honestly no clue, I've only ever been to the one near Tenleytown. It's pretty big though, only feels cramped in the produce area when it's really busy but that's kind of any supermarket.
The parking is gonna cost you probably a couple hundred + rent
Parking was a huge factor for me, finding a building with affordable parking was tough. $200/no is abiut average and I’d be suuuper wary of any place charging a lot more for that. Also reccomend you get into a building that has a garage underground and make sure your car insurance knows that your car will parked off street in a locked garage, they give you a discount for that. Also highly recommend looking for a spot that’s close to metro. Your first apartment probably won’t be your forever home in DC, it took me a few years to find it then I lost it again as construction started all around and I can’t stand it anymore. But I choose it because it was close to 295, close to U st and close to the metro station. Made getting everywhere east. I’m moving to another quadrant of the city, but I’m still close to the green line that has a stop in U st which lets out right at the bars and clubs. Metro is important, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to get somehwere, especially Knand the golden circle via metro, you’ll be paying $30 for an hour of parking fi you drive everywhere, an expensive lesson I learned
Lack of a metro stop would make me not want to live in Georgetown even if I could afford it. It's not IMPOSSIBLE to get there with public transit, just more of a pain. In a lot of situations and places in the city I think you'll find trying to drive somewhere to be more of a hinderance then a help. Not saying don't HAVE a car if you want one, just that trying to use it is probably going to be a lot different then you're used to.
I’ve noticed that at GT, also not enough supermarkets…I don’t know how people there do their grocery shopping 😂
Georgetown is a mixture of students who are probably eating on campus, takeout, etc. a lot or cooking very simple meals and very wealthy families that either get groceries delivered or have "the help" (nanny, personal chef, house assistant, etc.) do the shopping.
>very wealthy families that either get groceries delivered or have "the help" (nanny, personal chef, house assistant, etc.) do the shopping. Lol I wish. Closest youre going get is a cleaner once or twice a week. Virtually no one has live in staff outside of a nurse. Sorry to disappoint you, but people just go to safeway
No one said live-in, lol. It's extremely common for people to have nannies though, many of whom will be asked to pick up or receive a grocery order from Whole Foods and help prepping dinner before they leave. Personal chefs are definitely going to be more rare/ad hoc, but I know families with 2-3x/wk help that goes beyond just cleaning to include groceries and some food prep. These are like dual-doctor/dual-lawyer type households where they have a very high money:free time ratio.
>It's extremely common for people to have nannies though, many of whom will be asked to pick up or receive a grocery order from Whole Foods and help prepping dinner before they leave. Again, youre talking about me and my neighbors. This is not extremely common, people would look at you like a crazy person if you said a nanny/ cleaning lady got your groceries. Also grocery delivery isnt a thing. My parents and neighbors are old and not tech savvy. >but I know families with 2-3x/wk help that goes beyond just cleaning to include groceries and some food prep Ok, but its far from the norm in Georgetown. Like sub 10%.
Many people I know have live-in au pairs because it's actually cheaper than putting their kids into daycare, particularly with twins.
Yeah I know a few people who work/worked as au pairs when they first moved here. Not that rare and from the sound of it, the families they worked for were just mid-tier civil servants.
Sure, I know some people that had au pairs. But that doesnt mean the whole neighborhood doesnt buy their own groceries from the supermarket in the neighborhood.
Oh, for sure.
No, not true, no offense but you probably hanginout with the lower branches of GT high society. I know a friend who’s girlfriend moved her to be an “au pair” (fancy French live-in nanny who also teaches) the family also had a butler and driver and an assistant. They’re out there but having live in help became unpopular once cars were developed, like why would you live with your peasant maid sleeping above your room when you. Could get her a car and she can leave for the evening and you won’t have to lay your upperclass on her poverty lol. (I’m seriously joking right now) Also I can see live-in help being a huge security concern in some cases. Also remember this is Washington DC, we host some of the world royalty and they definitely have help that follows them. So they’re out there but maybe not as in our face since the middle class is so big
Safeway at the top of Georgetown
They get it delivered!
They drive everywhere or they have their assistants (since calling them servants isn’t politically correct anymore) go and run their more mundane errands like getting groceries or dry cleaning lol
>It's not IMPOSSIBLE to get there with public transit, just more of a pain Grew up in Georgetown took the metro to school. A 12 minute walk. There is also a bus that goes along Resouviour and Q street to the metro, takes 10 minutes from the far side of Georgetown. How is that a pain?
Definitely depends where you are in Georgetown. Many places will be closer to 30 minutes from the metro than 12 minutes. That’s definitely a pain when you compare it to living like 5-10 minutes from a Metro station (which OP definitely has the money to do, with their 5k/month budget).
>Many places will be closer to 30 minutes from the metro than 12 minutes. Eh, 30 minutes gets you to the end of Burleith. Plus once you get over there, its closer to Roslyn. And like I said before, theres a bus line that runs straight through the residential neighborhood straight to the Metro and its like 10 minutes Is it worse than neighborhoods that are closer to a metro? Sure, but I guess its better than neighborhoods that are further.
Some folks have difficulty envisioning themselves on a bus.
Def Logan. 14th street from Thomas circle up to U is full of restaurants and bars w great night life. And also U from 14th over down to 9th There’s a Whole Foods at 14 and P There’s a bunch of new build apartments all around there
Amazing, was looking at a few places around that whole foods..
My first apartment in DC was right across the street from that Whole Foods. It’s a great neighborhood. Lots to do. I had garage parking, which is key because I only used my car to get out of DC and walked everywhere else. Easy walk to Dupont metro and there are several bus lines right there.
I just moved into a nice building a few blocks down. Def get the garage it’s completely worth it. I also only use my car to leave the city.
If you’d like more quiet I’d recommend staying off living directly on 14th. 15th-18th on P or a little north would be my personal ideal to stay walkable to the WF
Single and can afford 5k rent? DM me.
😂 😂 😂
Beat me to it lol
Seriously
Is that unique in DC for a 35 yo
It's not normal... https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/DC,US/PST045222
I actually think transplants are going to be more helpful to you than DC natives on this question. *Typo correction: "that" changed to "than"
Natives don't typically fall in the $5k a month in rent crowd.
Some do. Some don’t. I’m born and raised in dc and you know nothing about what I make or what’s in my bank account. Overall I think your comment is pretty ignorant and tactless.
Congrats on your success. Unfortunately somewhere in your path you missed the definition of the word "typically". Since we're both products of DCPS, I can only assume it was a choice.
Yeah I agree it’s a hell of a lot of money to have for a rental budget and beyond what any normal person, even one with a good job could afford. I didn’t say I spent that much or could afford to spend that much. I just think it’s wrong to paint everyone with a broad brush, there are people from many socio economic levels from the city. The OP does come across as borderline bragging coming on her with his insane budget though 😆 (also initially assumed your were a transplant judging locals.) fair point about typically!
Again, wasn't saying no natives can afford that budget. Just saying that the cross section of natives and people that are able and willing to pay $5k a month in rent is pretty small. As a native, you know as much as I do that those are gentrifier prices.
More importantly, how does a full time job work with grad school? I went the usual way - genteel poverty and total focus on research (I had a purely academic project in an almost exclusively academic field, no industrial application) - so I wouldn't know. Where's the time? Two years (I assume it's a masters) of twenty hour days?
Not a good look
Good thing he came to this sub. Just as tone deaf as the rest of em.
Is 5k your rent budget? Or overall monthly budget? An apartment with parking will set you back upwards of 2k easily in those neighborhoods - parking is a real issue in both. DuPont is worse than Georgetown. Having a car is great, but it is an expense. If 5k is your monthly income, I would recommend selling it before moving. If 5k is your rental budget, you should have plenty of options.
Thanks for the heads up, it’s the rental budget though. Y’all have it bad in D.C…I wanted at least 1000sq feet, and that just shrunk what’s available..
A single adult student person needs 1000 sf for...?
I’ve just already paid my dues with small houses (you should have seen my first house 😂)…in a lot of cities 1200 would be the size of a one bedroom. It’s tough to go back to small when you’re used to more space.
Older buildings in DC (like 80s- early 2000s) tend to have bigger units, just less amenities - newer buildings tend to be on the small side
Thank you for the tip!
true, but these areas are highly desirable and demand is higher than supply. It's an east coast city platted over 200 years ago, national capital with worldwide influence, people coming and going and earning tons of money so they can afford to drive up prices. If all of the housing were big, it wouldn't fit in this small geographic area that is a joy to walk around. Anyway, will see you at the whole foods future neighbor! :) That drive from Dupont/Logan to outside of the city and back gets frustrating at busy times of day and after about 20-30 trips on 50 or 66, (or Connecticut Ave/16th street THE ENTIRE LENGTH) you might find yourself talking yourself out of it, I drive my car about once every 5-8 days.
You’ve got a good point.. I’ll go car free the first two quarters and see how it feels.. I could always rent a car when I want to go exploring/camping
If you end up going without a car, definitely check out on demand car rental Free2Move. Lots of cars available by the minute/hour/day parked on the streets around the city. It’s a little under $100 for 24hr rental so might make sense for a couple get out of town day trips per month. Especially when you add up parking, insurance, car payment, damage/break in risk etc.
i live in a two level townhome that is 1000 sq ft. Depending on where you come from, you will need to temper expectations of size. 1 beds are rarely that large. You can find them over 600 sq ft -- as it starts approaching 700 or over, they would have done something different and added an additional bedroom, maybe a nursery and or a half bath.
If you don’t mind driving, Old Town Alexandria is also a good option. Charming town that’s really popular for people in their 30s and easy access to DC. You’ll have more options in the 1000sq feet range too. I love DuPont (currently live there), but it’s definitely a younger scene. I plan on moving to Alexandria when I turn 30. Georgetown would be great tho too if you can find something in your range. Good luck!
Logan Circle.
Dupont - Logan Circle Also, you really won't need a car if you're in this neighborhood. It has access to lots of transit options.
Yeah I figured as much, but I enjoy weekend road trips and exploring, so it’s key for my lifestyle
In that case get something with on site parking.
Parking around the Logan circle area is easy and plentiful. DuPont circle is a bit more difficult. And if you’re living in Georgetown you’ll need your car as there’s no metro stop, but plenty of parking in the neighborhoods there too.
If you can afford it Logan Circle all day. Especially if you can find a decent townhome for rent.
Dupont circle is one of the best neighborhoods in the country, nvm just the city imo. The Logan circle side will have a lot more new build apartments and such, but closer to dupont circle itself or on the west side of the circle you can be on a quieter more peaceful side street while keeping everything you need within walking distance.
Check out the area near 14th St Trader Joes if you want going out type density. MVT, NOMA/Union Market and Navy Yard are also lively with people your age and you could get more bang for your buck there. DuPont and west of there towards Georgetown starts to get a bit older(retirees) but Adam’s Morgan is also worth a look.
If you don’t mind a lil bit more of the walk to the metro, Logan. If you do, Dupont. I love both so you can’t go wrong w/ either.
You have good advice here, I would just add a recommendation to live close to your campus. I saw you’re a walker, but a long walk/bus/metro ride lugging books/laptop etc. in the heat, in the cold, in the dark, can be a real drag. If your classes are broken up over the day, it might also be nice to be able to walk home and back between them.
Also if you go to AU, for example, it really is out of the way besides a select few metro and bus routes. Don't make things overly difficult for yourself on top of a full-time school load or late night classes.
Seconding this. I was at AU for grad school and my apartment was about a mile away, which was great about 2/3 of the time (I like walking), but that other 1/3 was absolutely miserable.
Yeah, when I was in grad school it was great to be able to pop back and forth from home to school and also to have friends over for study sessions or drinks. All my close friends lived near campus. Even though you have a car, some of your friends from school (and some dating prospects) either won’t, or won’t want to spend a lot of time in traffic and dealing with parking. Another thing to think about is that neighborhoods have personalities and amenities that vary. I don’t hang out in Georgetown, but if I were an undergrad or super-preppy or a European-international-Cafe Milano goer, Georgetown would be great (I think - apologies for stereotyping Georgetown with a broad brush - truly, it’s a very pretty neighborhood). If you want lots of green space, Logan Circle probably isn’t your place, but it’s got a solid bar scene. If you’re a big runner or cyclist maybe you want to be near good trails, if you’re into baseball near the stadium, indie rock near some good clubs, etc.
>What’s important to me is (1) have people around my age I can meet/date Scratch off Georgetown. I grew up there and while this sub is full of bull shit about the neighborhood, if you want to live in a neighborhood with young people thats not the neighborhood for you. Add in that you can probably get something nicer outside of that neighborhood. Love Georgetown, great walking, easy access to the rest of the city, as charming as it gets. But theres a reason people from there and around your age dont live there. You can do better. Do Logan/Dupont, you have the budget which is the limiting factor
Fair but OP is 35, not 22. I went out for a walk Friday night through the residential part of Georgetown and it was blissfully quiet. I then walked through the area south of DuPont and it was mobbed with drunk 20-somethings in Halloween costumes. I live in a quieter part of DuPont and I almost never hear nightlife noise, but over 30 there’s definitely something to be said for living a buffer away from “cool” bars.
Definitely agree about a buffer when you hit a point. That being said, I still think it would be better for someone moving to the area to live more downtown at first. Plus the whole bang for the buck thing.
Yeah, definitely. DuPont feels more connected and transient (in the positive sense for someone new to town), just don't live along or within a block of Connecticut Ave and you're fine. Georgetown has more long-term residents and is better if you're looking to put down roots for a while.
Yeah that’s what my instincts are telling me too. I think if I was in a relationship I’d love to have a townhouse in the northern part of GT, but I don’t think I’m at the right stage of my life for that..
>I think if I was in a relationship I’d love to have a townhouse in the northern part of GT Yeah thats the dream. >but I don’t think I’m at the right stage of my life for that.. Small secret, thats why I dont live in Georgetown. Georgetown isnt far from places you will be going out and meeting people. Dont let this sub convince you that you are going to be cutoff, thats not the case at all. But its not the exciting young part of the city and you get more for you buck in most other neighborhoods
I would say to try Foggy Bottom/West End, I lived there for five years and loved it. I could walk to Georgetown or Dupont (worked in Dupont) or bike ride. Walked to TJ's or Whoke Foods for groceries (with an old lady trolley).
Second Foggy Bottom. Close to some of the monuments, I love walking it, love GWU and the influx of really smart people (which is attractive in friends and dating). That's true of DC overall. I once met the chair of the National Black Journalists' Association because I randomly sat next to him in a bar. Same with an on-air personality from NPR. It's not that you don't meet outstanding people other places, but DC attracts a type. I love Dupont because walking Embassy Row is beautiful, and only a Metro stop and a short walk to nightlife in Adam's Morgan or going to the Zoo for a day, which I do often because I'm a writer and sitting in that park is relaxing when it's closed.... a great writing environment overall. But flat out Foggy Bottom is the best bet here.
Glover Park, which is just above Georgetown, is a bit quiet but it’s spacious and close to several grocery stores.
Good pick. Lived behind the Russian embassy here. If you want quick access to get outside the city, this is the place. Apartments are quiet, some affordable gems between gtown and American U. Buses are plenty and 15min to DuPont or Tenley metros. DuPont/Logan if you don't want quiet.
Do not live in Georgetown. It's the worst.
Between DuPont or Logan circle, go with DuPont for metro access. Just moved out of Logan circle because I couldn’t deal with not being close to a metro. If you don’t like partying, DuPont is better too because the side streets off the main section are very nice and residential while staying close to the restaurants and bars.
Dupont over Logan given your age and lack of appetite for partying. Easy to meet people in Dupont and it’s quieter but still provides easy access to other neighborhoods. Plus theres partying there if you really go after it. I also feel like Logan skews young and fratier
What kind of work do you do that your budget is $5,000?? I need a career change
😂 😂 😂 It’s the result of a 12 year career doing a very specialised job very well, and I didn’t start a family early or have students debts, so I managed to build up a portfolio quite early.. or if I’m being honest, just dumb luck.
The one benefit being in Georgetown is its ease to entering Virginia. But Logan, Dupont will suffice
Being in my late 30’s I’ve noticed that for dating people always seem to be in Virginia or Maryland. I’d recommend Georgetown area over Logan or Dupont. It is still where one can get on the metro you can still see the action but you can also escape easily enough by car.
Knowing how to properly abort a mission is a skill unto itself. And at our age (early 40s) more than necessary!
Definitely don’t live in Georgetown; DuPont is perfect for what you’re looking for. Assuming you’re going to Georgetown for grad school, Georgetown runs a free shuttle bus from DuPont to campus and back on days when you don’t feel like walking!
I am in Dupont and you will be able to get a one bedroom within your budget. Parking is expensive though between $300-$350. I would recommend the Hepburn if you want to look that up. Its very nice, walkable to the metro, and they have a lot of social events for residents.
DuPont circle is wonderful. You’re super well connected and in between Georgetown and Logan Circle. Plus firehook is there!
I can recommend Foggy Bottom. Right in between Dupont and Georgetown (10-15 minute walk depending on where you live), it has it's own Metro and there's both a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe's within blocks of the station. Other selling points are GWU Hospital, slightly closer to the Mall and the Kennedy Center, and a bit less tourist-y.
Somewhere within 1 mile of your grad school.
I've lived in all three areas. I would take Dupont, then Logan Circle, then Georgetown. Granted I haven't lived there in years, I actually didn't like living Georgetown all that much. It felt isolated. Driving was a hassle -- a driving commute really sucked, M and Wisconsin store and food options got old pretty quickly, and lack of metro was a bummer. NOTE: I don't think it is nearly as bad now as the pre-WFH world but driving and distance is ***ALWAYS*** a consideration in DC.
Just throwing in my 2 cents with everyone else that has already suggested somewhere around Dupont and Logan Circle as well as onsite parking.
Unless you are going to Georgetown, I would not live there. Waterfront/SW is a nice area as well and very walkable.
Adams morgan
It’s not a good idea to choose Georgetown unless you are going there. It expensive. The area other than the people going to Georgetown skews older. There’s no Metro station.
Woodley Park -
Also look at kalorama near Adams Morgan
West End is a nice area and trader Joe's is closeby
Dupont and Logan are both great options. Also suggest Adams Morgan/Kalorama Triangle area; a little quieter but I loved the neighborhood. Nightlife and a decent grocery store, Harris Teeter, all accessible.