We get that looking backward doesn’t fit our go-go culture but it is impossible when you drive into DC not to have your breath taken away by the historical buildings constantly within your view. There is more history here, in one small city, than most of the rest combined. New York’s skyline is impressive, and San Francisco’s views are stunning but between the obvious historical buildings: the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument, and the less obvious: The Basilica, the National Cathedral, the National Portrait Gallery and the Library of Congress, there is nothing like it and it makes one proud to live here.

If you didn’t know, D.C. used to be a swamp. This means it is stupidly humid and when summer hits you will be unhappy. It gets cold in the winter by southern standards although there’s very little snow. D.C. is notoriously amateurish at dealing with the light dustings of powder that fall in January and schools will close for even an inch of snow.



The History

LookyLOO Review of D.C.

The lifestyle in D.C. can be deeply intertwined with the worklife. People seriously work hard here and they often mix work with socializing. Going out for a quick drink after a long day of grind is a pretty common night in D.C. for young (and older) professionals. 

Setting aside the work/play intertwining culture, there are a few really powerful lifestyle influences in D.C. The first is free access to the most amazing museum/cultural attractions on the planet. If you’re into museum/culture experiences D.C. is going to be your city. The second most powerful influence is the diversity of the population that may or may not affect your social circle, but which absolutely drives the multitudes of ethnic foods/restaurants available throughout the city. 

Overall the vibe of D.C. tends to just be how much there is to do, at ALL TIMES. Galleries, museums, tons of sports team, speeches (political/social/environmental etc.), cultural events, parties, restaurant openings, outdoor concerts, it seriously never feels like it ends in this city. That social energy combined with the sheer political energy, means it just feels like this is where the action is. 

To see what's happening throughout the year in D.C check out the [**calendar of events**](https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/dc-events). 

LIfestyle

Not terribly surprising, but the work culture in the city is dominated by the government. That can make the city feel incredibly transient, given some of the people coming in for government work may only last two years. However, there are also plenty of “lifers” who are lifetime government workers or who work in cottage industries of politics, like lobbying or research etc. So some of your neighbors may be around for good. 
One nice thing if you move here and work in the city is an excellent public transport system. Perhaps not on NYC’s level but still the Metro gets most people around so you don’t have to drive if you live here. The intensity of political/government work + the potential for that work to be temporary means there is frantic nature to the workstyle culture in D.C. People are not here to screw around. They work hard, they work for long hours, and they are smart and intense about delivering while they are here. If that intensity sounds exciting then D.C. might be your city. 


Worklife

**Here's a point of view of the Washington D.C. public schools from a local:**

"As a parent of two young kids, I can say that the school system has changed dramatically in the last decade and in the last few years. A few comments though -

It matters where you live and what school you’re zoned for. Every neighborhood is different and every school has pros and cons.

Pre-K 3 is legit. It’ll save you tons of money and is worth staying in DC. It’s considered one of the most progressive systems in the country.

the lottery is wild. Research it. But in the end, supply is way under the demand. Too many kids and not enough options. Make sure you list the school you’re allotted to.

don’t listen to the folks who say the system is terrible from 20 years ago or who don’t have kids. The system has issues like every public school system. But it’s improving annually and the continued investment by individual neighborhoods is starting to pay off.

with all that said, I will be leaving DC for the burbs when my kids get to middle school. I want better athletic and academic programs for them at that age. But up until then, their options are totally fine."

We've found excellent options for middle and high school levels but parents do have to work harder to get their kiddos into those schools or they shift to parochial/private at that stage. 
Some of the pearls in high school include:
-[**The School Without Walls High School**](swwhs.org) is the highest-rated school in D.C. with an [**"A+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/the-school-without-walls-high-school-washington-dc/?map). This is an interesting virtual option that incorporates global and local resources to deliver an excellent education. 
-[**BASIS Washington, D.C. Charter School**](enrollbasis.com/washington-dc) is a middle to high school option that also rates an [**"A+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/basis-washington-dc-public-charter-school-washington-dc/). BASIS is a great example of a school that keeps families in the D.C. system. It has limited seats but if you can get your kiddo in then most stay in the city. 


Schools

For most cities we focus on what’s happening right now for this recommendation - great economy, or cheap housing, etc. Washington D.C. is different. It’s timeless and one of those places that if you can find a way to live here you should. There’s lots we could say about funky neighborhoods or how cool it is to be on the east coast near other great cities, but in the end the reason to move here is because it is our nation’s capital. You will constantly see and feel that importance if you choose to move here and that’s important. 


It’s D.C.

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**barefootwondergirl**
Living in D.C.
7mo ago
✭✭✭✭

Walkable, 4 distinct seasons, liberal, lots of arts and culture, good transit, good food, really smart people who come here to change the world (not talking about The Hill, talking about all the non profits headquartered here), and because of the height restriction you can always see the sky. Also more parks per capita than any other city, if I'm not mistaken. Most museums are free too.

NYC has better transit service (DC's does not run 24/7) but sidewalks are full of garbage and piss every morning. But it's a great city, no lie. So is San Diego. We don't have the Hudson or OB/PB but the Potomac and Anacostia make a nice waterfront. Close to Chesapeake Bay as well.
 
For more reviews of what living in D.C. is like from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/washington-dc/reviews)



Reviews of Washington D.C. from Locals

**The Best Thing About D.C.?** History

We get that looking backwards doesn’t fit our go-go culture but it is impossible when you drive into DC not to have your breath taken away by the historical buildings constantly within your view. There is more history here, in one small city, than most of the rest combined. New York’s skyline is impressive, and San Francisco’s views are stunning but between the obvious historical buildings: the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, and the less obvious: The Basilica, the National Cathedral, the National Portrait Gallery and the Library of Congress, there is nothing like it and it makes one proud to live here. 

**The Worst Thing About D.C.?** The Weather

If you didn’t know, D.C. used to be a swamp. Which means it is stupidly humid and when summer hits you will be unhappy. It gets cold in the winter by southern standards although there’s very little snow. D.C. is notoriously amateurish at dealing with the light dustings of powder that fall in January and schools will close for even an inch of snow. 

**How You Living?** In A Cool Neighborhood

D.C. has more cool neighborhoods than cities 10x its size. Adams Morgan (the melting pot) has an amazing mix of global eateries, Georgetown (cobblestoned enclave) has the high-end shopping boutiques, and the classic Georgian and Federal rowhouses.  Shaw is perhaps the hottest new cool neighborhood with beautiful old brick rowhouses, renovated lofts, and a super-cool mix of arthouse theaters, boutique retail, and the best new restaurants.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** It’s D.C.

For most cities we focus on what’s happening right now for this recommendation. Washington D.C. is different. It’s timeless and one of those places that if you can find a way to live here you should. There’s lots we could say about funky neighborhoods or how cool it is to be on the east coast near other great cities, but in the end the reason to move here is because it is our nation’s capital. You will constantly see and feel that importance if you choose to move here and that’s important. 


So Georgetown is the most obvious starting point for the collegiates to check out. Tons of nightlife, centrally located to activities, and even the Potomac River if you’re feeling like getting out on the river and doing some paddling. The downside? It’s freaking pricey. If you’re looking to be closer to George Washington U then check out Dupont Circle or West End. Both have tons of bars and restaurants, cheaper housing than Georgetown, and are less than a mile from GWU. The city has a lot of different neighborhoods that are less than or just over a mile from the big campuses but these are some of the biggies. 
- Georgetown
- Dupont Circle
- West End
- Foggy Bottom


College Students

Georgetown

D.C. neighborhoods have gone through more changes than perhaps any city in the country outside of Brooklyn. Gentrification, the good and the bad of that trend, have brought wealthy young professionals into neighborhoods long dominated by working class communities of color. Adams Morgan is kind of the poster child for this type of change and it remains one of the cities most jumping neighborhoods. The main commercial corridor is 18th Street, which is lined with restaurants, bars and music venues. The weekend nightlife here is not kidding around. There are also tons of classic rowhouses and apartment buildings for those who don’t need a ton of room but want the emphasis on good walkscore social opportunities. 
The newest “Adams Morgans” to receive the growth experience are the U Street Corridor or Columbia Heights. As with Adams Morgan they have lively social scenes and plenty of new and classic housing for the youngsters. 
- Adams Morgan
- U Street Corridor
- Columbia Heights
- Petworth (https://www.popville.com/)

Young Professionals

Adams Morgan

Dupont Circle is the historical LGBTQ+ neighborhood in D.C. It still has a good mix of bars, restaurants, and other businesses supporting the community on 17th Street. It is also the meeting point each June for Capital Pride, an annual GLBT pride festival that bills itself as the nation’s fourth-largest event of its kind. More recently though Logan Circle has emerged as the most popular neighborhood with some of the city's best LGBTQ+ bars and nightlife. 

LGBTQ+

Dupont Circle

Glover Park is one of the fastest growing family neighborhoods in the city. It’s a short walk to Georgetown for city experiences but also has great homes, a booming food scene, tons of baseball/softballs fields, incredible community support systems and perhaps most importantly, the highest rated elementary school in the city (Stoddert Elementary). The Palisades is another great option. It’s extremely quiet filled with single-family homes with tons of community activities, and has some of the top ranked elementary, middle and high schools in the city. 
- Glover Park
- The Palisades
- Friendship Heights


Young Families

Glover Park

There is no neighborhood in D.C. more “famous” than Georgetown. It’s beautiful, expensive and has some of the best elementary and secondary schools in the city, many of which have academic ties to Georgetown University and George Washington University. The row houses aren’t big by suburban standards but if you can cough up the coin, Georgetown offers an amazing experience for the kiddos. Other neighborhoods, like Chevy Chase and Spring Valley are more quiet than Georgetown and give you a more suburban vibe in the city. 
- Georgetown
- Chevy Chase (the neighborhood in D.C. not the suburb in Maryland)
- Spring Valley


Established Families

Chevy Chase

Washington DC

**GenericReditAccount**
Living in DC
Edited 7mo ago
✭✭✭


Georgetown
$110k is more than enough to live in pretty much any neighborhood here. With that said, $2k/month isn’t going to give you many options for 1 bedrooms, so def adjust your expectations on that variable.

DC is very walkable, has a great restaurant scene, and has a diverse and intelligent population. We’re a fit community w a lot of runners, bikers, and gyms.

Crime is certainly getting worse than it has been in the past decade, but social media makes a bad situation into a nightmare.

**bageloclock**
Living in DC
Edited 7mo ago
✭✭✭

Takoma
For what it's worth, I (26F) don't live in the most central area but I'm still a 10-minute walk from the red line and several big bus lines. I pay $2400 for a 2b/2b. I think looking just in the hottest areas with new high rises (NoMA, Mt. Vernon Triangle, Navy Yard), it will be tough to find 1 bedrooms, but I think you can still get a lot of great options across the city for one person at $2000 (some studios, for example, have a den or living room space so it feels more like a one bed). The big thing, especially since you mentioned possibly exploring NYC, is that on that budget you can absolutely have your own space. NYC rents are absolutely astronomical for way less square footage, privacy, and amenities, even if the city is great.

I also echo what other commenters have mentioned re: crime not being as bad as is represented on TV/social media. I am a part-time graduate student who often has to walk, bus, and train home late at night and I've never had issues in the city. I carry pepper spray, but more as a precaution.

**NYC VS. DC - Pros and Cons**
**hobbsAnShaw**
Living in DC
Edited 7mo ago
✭✭✭


I grew up across the river from NYC, and have been in DC and DC-ish for 20+ years, I’d say NYC.

The sheer number of people you’ll meet in NYC is a selling point for me. The arts and culture are in great abundance, but most have costs. The food, good lord the food! NYC is the winner between all 3, not even a debate. Not sure if it matters to you, but the dating scene is plentiful. Now the downsides: The people can be a bit overwhelming, and there’s no silence, ever. The city never sleeps, so if you need real silence to sleep, NYC will make that difficult. The costs of housing is bonkers, most people your age have 2-3 roommates.

Now DC: The variety of people you’ll meet is amazing. People from all over the world, all walks of life. Just a wonderful patina. We have a few really amazing places to eat, but they are all $$$$. The mid range places are plentiful, but they don’t compare to the local Italian joint anywhere you’ll find in NYC which will be fantastic. Most of our museums are free, the history you have here is amazing, and for those that are history-in-the-making nerds like me, you can literally go to Congress and watch history happen, all of the major debates of the day aren’t in a far off place, but something you can go see in person at anytime. The cost of living is high, not NYC high, but high. The public transport is there, but no where near the level of NYC, and it’s more $. The dating scene for straight women is harder because there are so many single straight highly driven women in DC, I can’t speak to the LGBTQ+ scene. Also, things happen later in love in DC: people don’t get married until later, don’t own homes until later (if ever given the conditions today) people are often working full time, and going to school for another degree or grad school or law school, so there’s that. Also this is a very transient area, people come to town for 2-4-6 years and then go elsewhere (often back to where they came) so long term friendships are complicated. Given all that, DC is where I’ve stayed even though I could move to NYC and not change my QOL much if at all.

**What do you like about living in DC?**
**thehappyherbivore**
Edited 3y ago
✭✭✭✭

DC / Eckington
I’m originally from 

I’m originally from California, but I lived in Philly for 7 years before moving to DC. I’ve been in DC for 2.5 years now and just bought a condo, so planning on staying for the long haul.

I love all the culture that DC has to offer. There are so many museums, theaters, and other points of interest here. It’s awesome to walk to the National Mall in the evening, grab some food from a food truck, and just sit and enjoy all the scenery. Not to say Philly doesn’t have any of this, because of course it does, but not on the same scale as DC.

The job market here is profoundly better. I struggled to find good jobs in Philly. My salary in Philly topped out at $52k. I’ve more than doubled my salary since moving, and yes, the COL is higher here, but not 2x as expensive. For comparison, rent in Philly was $2,000 vs $2,400 here for very similar apartment buildings. My husband also got a huge pay bump when we moved here (though not quite as drastic as mine), so overall we are in a much more comfortable place financially even though it’s a little more expensive. Also, the pure number of job opportunities here is staggering compared to Philly, at least in my field.

I also prefer the diversity of DC. There are people here from all over the country and world. I like that I meet tons of other people from California, for example. I feel like less of an outsider here because so few of the people I work with and have become friends with are from here. Philly has a really intense local culture that I never grew to enjoy.

In Philly’s favor, the restaurant scene there is a lot better. DC has decent restaurants, but Philly was a foodie heaven. One of my favorite things about going back to Philly is going to as many restaurants as possible.

Do I ever miss Philly? Oh, yeah! I miss walking around University City when all the students return and it’s buzzing with excitement. I miss the cobblestone streets of Old City and walking through Elfreth’s Alley to get home. I miss the friends I made there, Reading Terminal Market, the German Christmas Village in December, Penn’s Landing in the summer, and the proximity to NYC. I miss how well I knew my way around by the end of 7 years. But it’s just a short train ride away, and I go back and visit often enough (well, I did pre-pandemic) to get my fix.

TBH, I think both are great places to live and which to live in just depends on what you value most

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Where Urban Edginess Meets Southern Charm

Looklyloo Score: 92