Potomac/Rockville or McLean/Falls Church?

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Fallout Zone

$800k does not get you a new build, but it can get you a nicely updated older house in the McLean/Marshall districts. And both districts are benefiting greatly from the continued growth of Tyson's, so there is no concern there.

FCPS is expanding the capacity at Madison HS, and more apartments are getting built in Tysons, so there's some potential that over time Marshall's boundaries will shrink and it will effectively become "Tysons HS." There's been some suggestion that FCPS might try to balance the demographics by moving some of Tysons to Langley, which is under-enrolled, but who knows?

[mikeyo321]

Originally Posted by Niubee43V3R

Currently in HoCo, but wife's commute was to Friendship Height just shy of two years after we bought current TH and has been complaining. We have only one kid attending K this fall (may want to have more kids). My commute is to Calverton area so far my commute has been OK along 95 south (about 35 min, but evening rush has been worse), but I do get to WFH 1-2 days a week. Wife's industry has more opportunities in DC downtown or Tyson's.

We have limited budget (only ~800k), plus the commute concern and schools. We figured only three pockets that might work, otherwise, the commute may beat the purpose of move.

Best commute: 20895 (Kensington, south part, can use BCC or Walter Johnson); then 20854 (Potomac/Rockville), then McLean/Falls Church (just across the bridge, exit 45 ish on 495, could get off before the jam at Tysons and 66).

School wise, we've heard very polarizing opinions, some said the "W" schools in MCPS are the best, some saying FCPS are, plus the better public univs. down the road. On the other hand, since we live/work in MD, so we naturally hear a lot more about MoCo schools and local politics, and to be honest, not a fan of all those feel-good stuff especially in MCPS system (lowering standard just to paper fill the performance gap, overcrowding schools etc). We knew very little about Fairfax and their schools other than the names and US news ranking (actually FCPS high schools rank all behind the W schools in MCPS), and have a very muddy impression that there were less complaints or less such feel-good practices locally. And we do like to potential of NoVa as a whole,(possible Amazon HQ, Tysons biz circle, close to IAD and DC heart) especially considering that if my wife need to change a job, it would most likely in DC or Tysons. We just had a bad feeling about the direction MoCo is going generally (sanctuary city debate once in a while, increasing tax rate etc) and worried about the longevity of the current value (both in property and other amenities, such as public schools). Could not afford private for two kids all the way through high school, so only public schools for current consideration.

We understand that same budget can give us only 50s old house in McLean/Falls Church, but could possibly get 15-20 yrs younger houses in Potomac. Plus my commute would be no improving or slightly worse from McLean compared to Kensington or Potomac. Want to know if the sacrifice (of commute and house itself) is worth it in the long run. Don't want to shed out all those money and in 10-15 years, education quality goes to the drain along with the property value.

Just want to seek some genuine inputs/experiences. Thanks a lot.

Sounds like you're looking for a reason to go to NOVA, which since I have a Northern Virginia bias over suburban Maryland, I whole-heartedly agree with.


Northern Virginia has more jobs, more consistent schools, higher valued real estate, lower crime and taxes and the politics, local and national, are progressive but sensibly moderate. It's filled with Type A achiever sorts who basically want to keep their head down and advance professionally and want their kids to advance academically. You likely won't get to know your neighbors well, but on the plus side, you likely won't get to know your neighbors well.

Maryland's a bit more diverse, economically and socially, as well as racially and ethnically. It's probably a large part of the reason Montgomery County has a larger variety of better restaurants. However, the traffic's chronically terrible from all the Marylanders who have to cross the American Legion bridge to go to work because of the lack of businesses in Maryland and quite honestly, most of Montgomery County just looks tired and old with its aging housing and strip malls and bland, 1970s era underleased office parks. Montgomery County's constantly pretending it's on equal economic and educational footing to Northern Virginia when in reality it's long since been surpassed.

Still, it sounds like you're currently scoping a nice area within Montgomery County. You'll be fine in either place. You probably will be happier in McLean or Falls Church to Kensington or Bethesda or even Potomac, though. I know I'd be.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by mikeyo321

Sounds like you're looking for a reason to go to NOVA, which since I have a Northern Virginia bias over suburban Maryland, I whole-heartedly agree with.


Northern Virginia has more jobs, more consistent schools, higher valued real estate, lower crime and taxes and the politics, local and national, are progressive but sensibly moderate. It's filled with Type A achiever sorts who basically want to keep their head down and advance professionally and want their kids to advance academically. You likely won't get to know your neighbors well, but on the plus side, you likely won't get to know your neighbors well.

Maryland's a bit more diverse, economically and socially, as well as racially and ethnically. It's probably a large part of the reason Montgomery County has a larger variety of better restaurants. However, the traffic's chronically terrible from all the Marylanders who have to cross the American Legion bridge to go to work because of the lack of businesses in Maryland and quite honestly, most of Montgomery County just looks tired and old with its aging housing and strip malls and bland, 1970s era underleased office parks. Montgomery County's constantly pretending it's on equal economic and educational footing to Northern Virginia when in reality it's long since been surpassed.

Still, it sounds like you're currently scoping a nice area within Montgomery County. You'll be fine in either place. You probably will be happier in McLean or Falls Church to Kensington or Bethesda or even Potomac, though. I know I'd be.

There are also a huge number of Virginian's crossing the bridge to work in Maryland everyday. That's why traffic ob the bridge is bad in BOTH directions. If the OP follows your advice, that is what he will be doing. Nothing wrong with that, though, if that's what they want.