Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Question on living near Rockville, MD

Dear FT-ers, one of my cousins (a single woman) is moving to take up a new job in Rockville, MD. What are some nearby decent, safe suburbs to live? (15-20 minute drive or even closer).

Any suggestions appreciated.

Rockville covers a fairly large area along & past the Rockville Pike

The Washington Metro Red Line follows this road (which is an

extension of Wisconsin Blvd as it leaves the District) for much

of it going into Rockville with several (but not enough) stops

She might consider proximity to 1 of these Metro Stations

The Red Line has a stop at Union Station & connects to

the Yellow Line at Gallery Place to get to DCA (very handy)

Since Rockville is in Montgomery County, I would stick with "decent, safe" Montgomery County. Rush hour traffic is a bear in the DC suburbs, so 15-20 minutes from work will not take you very far.

Thanks CHIC and Rampo.

I live near Rockville. Most of Montgomery County is quite safe and fine. Rockville itself has metro and a lot of rental and condo housing near the metro station.

Other places to consider are near Bethesda metro -- many many many restaurants and bars, proximity to the Capital Crescent hike/bike trail, etc. Also near Grosvenor metro, Parkside condos have many rental units.

Bethesda is 3-4 stops from Rockville town center, Grosvenor 2-3 stops.

Further north, e.g. Gaithersburg/Shady Grove metro may be a bit cheaper but then you are commuting with the masses.

Don't even think about anything in PG county or Virginia -- commute is not worth it.

Ok great CarlTheWebmaster! Thanks.

Today's Washington Post has an article in the Weekend section about Rockville. It specifically is focused on the neighborhoods around the Rockville and Twinbrook metro stations.

The only time I spend in that area is to go to the Victorian Lyric Opera productions at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, so I can't offer any personal insights.

Thanks mhnadel.

I work in Rockville and live in Northwest DC. If her office is metro accessible, she can live near a Red Line metro station and it will be VERY doable. It's worth her time to check that corridor.

I dont think she wants to live too far. She wants to be within an easy drive.

I dont think she wants to live too far. She wants to be within an easy drive.

an easy drive in montgomery county is an oxymoron. surly less than 10 blocks, if she plans to drive, and no left turns.

most of mont cty is about as safe as it gets around here.

she will need big bucks to live here. anthough not as expensive as nyc, and the like , it is not peoria.

an easy drive in montgomery county is an oxymoron. surly less than 10 blocks, if she plans to drive, and no left turns.

most of mont cty is about as safe as it gets around here.

she will need big bucks to live here. anthough not as expensive as nyc, and the like , it is not peoria.

good point on the rents!! I noticed that too while i was randomly looking at apartments!!

I dont think she wants to live too far. She wants to be within an easy drive.

an easy drive in montgomery county is an oxymoron. surly less than 10 blocks, if she plans to drive, and no left turns.

most of mont cty is about as safe as it gets around here.

she will need big bucks to live here. although not as expensive as nyc, and the like , it is not peoria.

If she lives in Rockville, or North Bethesda, it will be an easy drive. There's also the Kentlands in Gaithersburg, or Fallsgrove and King Farm, both in Rockville. I would choose North Bethesda first, but those are good communities.

Thanks DeafFlyer.

We lived in Rockville (Twinbrook) for about a year. It's a pain to commute to DC from there, but if you're working up there, it should work. The area is plenty safe and there's hidden gems in terms of restaurants that you can find if you look. The only downside is that it's such a pain to get into DC, that you might find yourself only going into town on rare occasions, which kind of stinks.

Obviously, Bethesda, just south of Rockville, is a much cooler, hipper part of town. But it's also more expensive.

Good luck to the OP's cousin!

Thanks Uniter!

My wife tells me that the village of Kensington which is ajacent

to Bethesda has some charming residential areas that some of

her friends have found very convenient & more reasonable

Getting from Bethesda or the near communities to the District

is only difficult during peak commuter times otherwise it is

not bad at all and happens very frequently by many

And as I posted earlier the Red line makes access simple

OK thanks Chic. I am sending all suggestions to my cousin.

I work in Rockville and live in Northwest DC. If her office is metro accessible, she can live near a Red Line metro station and it will be VERY doable. It's worth her time to check that corridor.

... DC's personal income tax rate (10%) is at least 3, maybe 4% higher than MD's. While the commute might be "VERY doable", I think that every penny counts.

FYI, I've been a resident of DC, MD, & now, VA, but, as many have pointed out, the trial-by-commute is the deciding factor for picking a residence, IMHO.

Good luck to your cousin!

Depending on how far "into Rockville" she'll work, she can also consider living across the river in VA...

Thanks CUtiger78 and flugvergnugen

Depending on how far "into Rockville" she'll work, she can also consider living across the river in VA...


Might as well consider Baltimore

Kensington may have some cheaper rental houses than other parts of Montgomery county to the west (Bethesda and Rockville proper), along with Silver Spring, but you're really adding to the commute time.

I have to echo the idea that Northern VA, while perhaps ok for some, would be a terrible terrible terrible mistake for someone working in Rockville. You will rue the day and hate life, and spend hours upon hours in your car burning gas and sitting in traffic.

Also, the point about DC taxes is a good one. MD (and particularly Montgomery County) taxes are pretty high as well, but lower than DC.

Many many housing options in Rockville and North Bethesda or Bethesda -- I would have to pretty strongly recommend against the other choices if a quick commute to a Rockville job is the main criterion. Not sure of the prices, but the King farm development certainly looks very new and nice as I bike through it.

Many many housing options in Rockville and North Bethesda or Bethesda -- I would have to pretty strongly recommend against the other choices if a quick commute to a Rockville job is the main criterion. Not sure of the prices, but the King farm development certainly looks very new and nice as I bike through it.

Thanks!

If she lives in Rockville, or North Bethesda, it will be an easy drive. There's also the Kentlands in Gaithersburg, or Fallsgrove and King Farm, both in Rockville. I would choose North Bethesda first, but those are good communities.


I always have to laugh when I hear North Bethesda. It used to be just plain old Rockville. Odd nobody ever says South Bethesda. I wonder why :D.

Bobette

I always have to laugh when I hear North Bethesda. It used to be just plain old Rockville. Odd nobody ever says South Bethesda. I wonder why :D.Bobette

Because it's called Chevy Chase (or Somerset)

I once sugested that a friend that lives South of Bradley Blvd

& West of Connecticut was in Bethesda & she went balistic

Wow location location location

(kinda like "The SRQ Guy" lives in Bradenton)

Because it's called Chevy Chase (or Somerset)

I once sugested that a friend that lives South of Bradley Blvd

& West of Connecticut was in Bethesda & she went balistic

Wow location location location

Right. It's really funny.

Better yet - the folks who live in Gaithersburg and try to pass it off as North Potomac.

Better yet - the folks who live in Gaithersburg and try to pass it off as North Potomac.


You have to pack a lunch for the trip to Gaitherburg

I think the term "tract mansion" was born in Potomac

(but they do have a Strosniders)

I thought I should point out to the OP's cousin that there was an article in last Sunday's Post about living in Rockville ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081203685.html?hpid=features1&hpv=local

Thanks Uniter!
She has not yet made a decision. Hopefully soon!

I always have to laugh when I hear North Bethesda. It used to be just plain old Rockville. Odd nobody ever says South Bethesda. I wonder why :D.

Bobette

It's not silly. The city limits of Rockville end somewhere. The area beyond there is a unincorporated section of Montgomery County. The people there came up with North Bethesda. The post office that serves the area, though, is the Rockville Post Office. This causes a great deal of confusion as the mailing adress says ,"Rockville" even though it isn't actually Rockville. By the way, why is it okay to call another unincorporated area of Montgomery County "Bethesda" but it's not okay to call the area next door "North Bethesda"?

Same situation with the following areas:

Gaithersburg / North Potomac
Silver Spring / Aspen Hill or Wheaton or Colesvillle etc... (huge area)
Alexandria / the "Alexandria" section of Fairfax County
and more...

It's not silly. The city limits of Rockville end somewhere. The area beyond there is a unincorporated section of Montgomery County. The people there came up with North Bethesda. The post office that serves the area, though, is the Rockville Post Office. This causes a great deal of confusion as the mailing adress says ,"Rockville" even though it isn't actually Rockville. By the way, why is it okay to call another unincorporated area of Montgomery County "Bethesda" but it's not okay to call the area next door "North Bethesda"?

You're getting far to serious for F/T

This is all in good fun

You're getting far to serious for F/T

This is all in good fun

I had fun posting that. Doesn't that count?

It's not silly. The city limits of Rockville end somewhere. The area beyond there is a unincorporated section of Montgomery County. The people there came up with North Bethesda. The post office that serves the area, though, is the Rockville Post Office. This causes a great deal of confusion as the mailing adress says ,"Rockville" even though it isn't actually Rockville. By the way, why is it okay to call another unincorporated area of Montgomery County "Bethesda" but it's not okay to call the area next door "North Bethesda"?

So, why didn't they call it South Rockville since the PO is Rockville? :confused:

CHIC SILBER, "tract mansion" is the perfect term for those houses in the Potomac area.

Bobette

I had fun posting that. Doesn't that count?

Sure it counts but not ALL of us got the humor

So, why didn't they call it South Rockville since the PO is Rockville? :confused:

They can call it whatever they want to. South Rockville wasn't what they chose.

Sure it counts but not ALL of us got the humor

It wasn't humor but it was fun for me anyways. ;)

They can call it whatever they want to. South Rockville wasn't what they chose.

Well, that's kind of my point. They chose to call it North Bethesda because it sounds "ritzier" than South Rockville. But, it is what it is and who cares? :). It just would be nice if a GPS would recognize North Bethesda. Good thing I know where I'm going.

Bobette

Good thing I know where I'm going.Bobette


Do any of us REALLY know where we're going

I gave up long ago

Wherever I end up at the end of each day

is clearly where I was going

Depends a lot on where she is working in Rockville. The new City Center is really very well done--lots of good restaurants, shops, bars (if that's her scene). And plenty of rental apartments within walking distance.

Where she will want to live depends a lot on what she is looking for. Kensington is cheaper. Downtown Bethesda is filled with both good restaurants and pricey apartments/condos. (That's Bethesda, not North Bethesda.) North Bethesda (aka part of Rockville) is near White Flint Mall and Rockville Pike but is in walking distance of nowhere and is marked by terrible traffic. So if she is working in "North Bethesda," she can have a 15-20 minute commute by living about 5 blocks from where she works. :D

You can find housing at various price levels in Montgomery County. Lots depend upon how much she wants to spend and what amenities, if any, she wants in her neighborhood.

hi. I live in Rockville (North Bethesda) and have been here 10 years. I live in a one BR condo about 1/2 mile from the Grosvenor Metro on the Red Line. I love it there. It is very safe, quiet and well maintained plus its a short metro ride (20 minutes) to the heart of downtown DC. They are building a North Bethesda town square of sorts which should be ready by next Spring.

the City of Rockville is about 5 miles north of where i live and they have built a town square there with nice restaurants, shops, county gov't buildings and rental properties.

Rockville metro is on the red line as well and is about 3 stops up from Grosvenor.

parts of Rockville and Gaithersburg are sketchy, as any area outside a city are, so she should take her time and learn the different areas.

BTW, to comment on the Rockville vs N. Bethesda debate, when i take classes through the town of Rockville, i have to pay the non resident price b/c although i have a Rockville zip code and Rockville in my address, i am not considered a town resident b/c i live in 20852 - or N. Bethesda. It is strange.

Welcome to FT Elizabeth20852!

Thanks for this very useful post. We hope you will stay and enjoy FT as much as we all do!

The update is that it looks like my cousin is going to stay in some sort of a gated-apartment community real close to her work place. Other than ease of getting to work, this place apparently gives short-term leases. So, she can check out the area and move elsewhere based on her thoughts.
I dont know the exact zipcode or township, etc....sorry.
But it is in Rockville as such.

Will update if I find out more details.

Thanks all for the help.

Welcome to FT, Elizabeth20852. Great first post.

Bobette

Welcome to FT!

They are building a North Bethesda town square of sorts which should be ready by next Spring.

Where, exactly?

Welcome to FT!



Where, exactly?


Using White Flint metro as hub of sorts. Lots of construction happening there now on all of the remaining space that used to be that golf driving range, etc. County planners include all of the new and not that old condo buildings in that definition, the new Harris Teeter, etc.

Using White Flint metro as hub of sorts. Lots of construction happening there now on all of the remaining space that used to be that golf driving range, etc. County planners include all of the new and not that old condo buildings in that definition, the new Harris Teeter, etc.

Actually, it is directly across Rockville Pike From White Flint Mall. In between Nicholson and Security Lanes - next to Chili's.

They are building a Whole Foods, office space, some rental units and other stores and restaurants. As far as I know, the Whole Foods is the only name made public. You can see the construction and the very tall glass office building (almost sky scraper considering the area).

Actually, it is directly across Rockville Pike From White Flint Mall. In between Nicholson and Security Lanes.

You & Geoff are talking about 2 different sites about a mile apart

on opposite sides of the Pike

You & Geoff are talking about 2 different sites about a mile apart

on opposite sides of the Pike

Not nearly a mile apart, but it is a big area..........and it's that entire area that Montgomery County has designated for this increased, denser development.