How come Bethesda is so family-oriented? (apartments, for rent, condo)

[Eugene80]

I've always had visions of Bethesda being relatively urban and almost an extension of DC. There are bars and lounges there on St. Elmo, high-rises, supposedly single people living in those studio apartments.

And yet, whenever I come to Bethesda, all I see is families -- mothers and fathers pushing strollers, young kids, school-age kids. A tremendous number of kids and families and SUVs, a very suburban feel, the exact opposite of DC.

So is there some disconnect here, how can Bethesda be so close to DC, supposedly (as the myth would have you believe) with all those bars and singles, and yet so completely different and family-oriented? Is Bethesda actually suburbia, or is it a dense cosmopolitan place? I'm trying to decide.

[e30is]

Bethesda was once a town like many towns before the Red Line stretched into the area. Most of downtown wasn't even close to what it was way back then because most of Bethesda was (and still is) suburbia.

[Eugene80]

But Bethesda is really expensive these days, how can so many families afford it? Is it affordable? I always thought it was trendy and pricey.

[Lubina]

how can so many families afford it?

Three scenarios:
1) They have the money. Some D.C. jobs pay serious $$$ Remember more lawyers per capita than anywhere, consultants, lobbyists other professionals etc. They get paid and can afford it.
2) They are renting or got some kind of deal. I know someone who bought their parent's old house there, bulldozed it and re-built, way cheaper than had they bought it from a non-related seller. I also knew someone who when their parents retired and left they moved into their parents' house. Instant zip code upgrade. Just like other areas there are owners and renters. When I was a 20 something, I knew other 20 somethings who didn't make much $ at all assistants, gophers, aides etc., but they rented either a room in a house, a townhouse or in a condo in Bethesda. Some years back when looking for a place to live I looked there I was surprised at how many houses and affordable rooms available for rent there were in neighborhoods with high six and million dollar homes, everything from owners renting out their bedrooms to one particular house where I was told the owner supposedly owned a dozen homes in Bethesda and rented most of them out to families or by the room.
3) They are mortgaged up to their eyeballs just to be able to say they live in Bethesda

[soug]

It's young rich families who still want that semi-urban vibe but are starting to have kids so value a little more space and privacy.

[goldenage1]

Doesn't Bethesda have the highest percentage of doctors in the country? At any rate, there are many young people with high incomes who would want to live in Bethesda.

[reiflame]

Originally Posted by soug

It's young rich families who still want that semi-urban vibe but are starting to have kids so value a little more space and privacy.

And the Montgomery County public schools so that they can remain mortgaged to their eyeballs and not have to pay for private school.

[adelphi_sky]

Don't forget, some of those people may come from other areas for the shopping or bars and restaurants. My wife and I frequent the area. So, I'm sure a certain percentage of those "families" you see may not be from the immediate Bethesda neighborhood. It's just like when you see a lot of black people shopping in Georgetown. I would argue a large portion of them don't live IN Georgetown.