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The Best Neighborhoods in DC for Families
- Lorla Studio
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 2
After living in foreign capitals, as well as New York City and San Francisco, my family arrived back to the DC area ready to settle in and establish some roots. While the Washington DC area can feel intimidating to transplants trying to figure out where to find a home base, read on for the best DC neighborhoods for families based on a perspective informed by experiences living in Africa, as well as the urban jungles of New York and San Francisco.
Know Your Priorities
To find a permanent home in the best neighborhoods in the DC area, my family (spouse and two kids under 3 at the time) had a few priorities that were center of mind: proximity to daily essentials (groceries, coffee, green spaces), schooling options, commute times (major groan to DC realities), and easy access to various entertainment/social options. In real terms, this meant good coffee and groceries and parks within a .25-mile walk, and close proximity to mass transit to enable speedy travel to other parts of the DC metro area. Basically, we wanted to leave the cars at home all weekend long, and be able to walk around tree-lined streets to local parks and shops. The little wrinkle for us that may not apply to everyone was the desire to find a fixer upper to transform and rehabilitate back to its former glory.
Best Neighborhoods for Families in the DC Area
To narrow the search for finding the best family neighborhoods in DC, a simple option may be to identify the best public school systems and private school options. For public schools, few can beat the B-CC, Whitman, and WJ clusters of southern Montgomery County. Poolesville High School is also perennially ranked among the top in the country, and has the added benefit of a small-town feel in the shadow of a big city. On the Virginia side of the river, both Arlington and Fairfax Counties have strong school systems, with a healthy tax base– if less history and charm. In DC proper, there are also fantastic city-wide options, as well as a number of selective programs that are competitive with most major cities and provide for interests as diverse as engineering and the performing arts. For those looking at private school options, there are numerous parochial and private schools across the DC metro area that makes the process of weeding out neighborhoods based on schooling options to be of limited value.
Parks, Convenience, Culture
Washington DC is a paradise for families, since there are so many good educational options across the area. Maybe the next-best option to pick a neighborhood may be proximity to green spaces and parks. Unfortunately, this may be of limited utility, too, as DC is one of the most park-saturated cities in the country. Rock Creek Park is a favorite, to say nothing of the numerous other neighborhood parks dotted throughout the area and the National Mall and Waterfront as well! Convenience is critical, given the snarling traffic that can limit mobility across the city. The most convenient neighborhoods allow for walkability to daily essentials, but also dining and entertainment. For families, upper NW DC has both great old homes as well as a few new builds. Other great neighborhoods include the Palisades, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, as well as some beautiful old homes in Kensington and Garret Park. Other wonderful established neighborhoods with convenience and culture nearby include Somerset, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Potomac, Del Ray in Alexandria, Great Falls, Langley, and Shirlington in Arlington. All these areas have a local feel, with the benefit of easy options to get into downtown DC.
Park Setting within the City: Forest Hills
Forest Hills is one part of town that feels as though it’s in a park setting due to proximity to Rock Creek Park and Soapstone Valley Park, while steps away from the Connecticut Avenue corridor on bustling commercial life. The lots are large, with an interesting mix of architectural style throughout. Forest Hills in some ways is not atypical to what can be found in DC, in that there are numerous areas that have parks, convenience, and easy access to entertainment options at your fingertips. We helped a family with their full-house renovation in Forest Hills that called for a total reimagining of the home, with significant updates throughout. Where the basement was previously an afterthought, we brought new life by reprogramming the space to serve multiple functions: family hangout, game room, workout space, and a wet bar.
No Bad Options with Lorla Studio
Regardless of which of the best neighborhoods in DC you decide to settle in, Lorla Studio is poised to help you make the most of your time in Washington DC. As locals to the area and with decades of experience in the built environment, let us know how we can help you realize the home of your dreams.
How You Can Work With Us
At Lorla Studio, a modern interior design firm in Washington, D.C, our talented team of designers craft modern, livable and functional spaces throughout the district and beyond. Hire us for a seamless renovation process, and a modern, approachable design you are sure to love!
Check out the five questions to ask yourself before hiring an interior designer in Washington D.C. If you think we’d make a good team, contact us today!
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