DC: Where to live? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Where is the best place to live for folks who are gonna work in government in the NOMA area, since this thread suggests NOMA is sketch?

I don't think NOMA should be out of consideration entirely for sketchiness, but I do think it's bland and boring... Otherwise, anywhere near the red line would be fine. Need more criteria to suggest specific areas but can't go wrong with dupont if it's in your budget.

[Anonymous User]

Where is the best place to live for folks who are gonna work in government in the NOMA area, since this thread suggests NOMA is sketch?

I don't think NOMA should be out of consideration entirely for sketchiness, but I do think it's bland and boring... Otherwise, anywhere near the red line would be fine. Need more criteria to suggest specific areas but can't go wrong with dupont if it's in your budget.

NOMA has some great brand new apartments, lively places to go out, and is getting better. Just don’t live on North Capital, New York Ave, Florida Ave, or N street. If feeling safe on the streets while walking the dog etc is the top priority, you'd want to be near a redline stop between Farragut North up to Bethesda / Rockville. But really, if you are a social person and like to get out, NOMA and Mount Vernon Triangle are in the middle of all if the social areas in DC and would be an easy walk, bike, car, metro trip to both work and anything else you'd like to do.

[Anonymous User]

Where is the best place to live for folks who are gonna work in government in the NOMA area, since this thread suggests NOMA is sketch?

I don't think NOMA should be out of consideration entirely for sketchiness, but I do think it's bland and boring... Otherwise, anywhere near the red line would be fine. Need more criteria to suggest specific areas but can't go wrong with dupont if it's in your budget.

NOMA has some great brand new apartments, lively places to go out, and is getting better. Just don’t live on North Capital, New York Ave, Florida Ave, or N street. If feeling safe on the streets while walking the dog etc is the top priority, you'd want to be near a redline stop between Farragut North up to Bethesda / Rockville. But really, if you are a social person and like to get out, NOMA and Mount Vernon Triangle are in the middle of all if the social areas in DC and would be an easy walk, bike, car, metro trip to both work and anything else you'd like to do.

There is nothing in the NOMA area and you are severely downplaying its sketchiness. If you work in the NOMA area, living in Maryland is pretty cheap, it's an easy commute, and you can get some terrific deals.

[Anonymous User]

Where is the best place to live for folks who are gonna work in government in the NOMA area, since this thread suggests NOMA is sketch?

I don't think NOMA should be out of consideration entirely for sketchiness, but I do think it's bland and boring... Otherwise, anywhere near the red line would be fine. Need more criteria to suggest specific areas but can't go wrong with dupont if it's in your budget.

NOMA has some great brand new apartments, lively places to go out, and is getting better. Just don’t live on North Capital, New York Ave, Florida Ave, or N street. If feeling safe on the streets while walking the dog etc is the top priority, you'd want to be near a redline stop between Farragut North up to Bethesda / Rockville. But really, if you are a social person and like to get out, NOMA and Mount Vernon Triangle are in the middle of all if the social areas in DC and would be an easy walk, bike, car, metro trip to both work and anything else you'd like to do.

There is nothing in the NOMA area and you are severely downplaying its sketchiness. If you work in the NOMA area, living in Maryland is pretty cheap, it's an easy commute, and you can get some terrific deals.

Maryland up the redline (either way) is fine if you are a homebody, have kids. If you want to dip into the DC dating pool, grab after work drinks, play softball/kickball near the mall, go out on the town, etc., then don't go farther north than Woodley Park or Brookland on the redline.

NOMA is most sketchy on North Capitol, New York Ave, Florida, and N Street but tolerable in other areas.

[Anonymous User]

anyone have anecdotes about personal crime encounters in DC? If so, please list the location too

[Anonymous User]

anyone have anecdotes about personal crime encounters in DC? If so, please list the location too

Seems like a bad way to go about figuring out or broadcasting safer/less safe areas... I heard a car jacking go down outside my window a few blocks from dupont circle in what is a statistically very safe area. There are heat maps online that give a clearer picture than individual anecdotes will.

[Anonymous User]

anyone have anecdotes about personal crime encounters in DC? If so, please list the location too

Kind of the opposite of what you asked but I have always felt 100% safe living in Capitol Hill and would recommend it for people who have that as a priority. It’s one of the few places in DC where I think my girlfriend could walk around by herself at night with little to no risk at all.

[Anonymous User]

I live in Shaw and like it. I pay less than $3k a month for a nice 1 BD with a pool on the roof. The neighborhood honestly feels less safe than it did pre-covid but it's probably still safer than NoMa.

If you don't care about social scene and just want a nice space, there are a lot of nice new buildings in Southeast (Navy Yard, the Wharf, etc.) that would have updated spaces and good amenities. I don't spend much time there (so much new development makes it feel a little sterile to me) but it could be a reasonable option. I would not live in Columbia Heights. It's neither new, nor particularly safe (there are large public housing blocks near the metro and there are shootings near 13th/14th and Fairmont/Havardish all the time). Probably not what you're looking for.