If you’re moving to D.C. or you already live in the nation’s capital, but you’d like a change of pace, you might be considering one of the great suburbs. D.C. has some fantastic suburbs that provide easy access to the city, often combined with a lower cost of living.
The following are some of the best Washington D.C. suburbs for young professionals.
1. Fairfax, VA
There are a lot of types of homes that are available in Fairfax that appeal to young professionals. For example, you can find Fairfax, VA townhomes and condos if you’re not ready for a single-family home.
There’s a lot of charm in this city that’s more than 200 years old, and the streets are tree-lined and scenic.
If you’re looking for a place to stay for the long term, Fairfax also has top-rated schools, so families enjoy it as well. Your distance from D.C. is about 34 minutes.
Fairfax is suburban, but there are urban touches too. There are plenty of parks, shops, and restaurants, and it’s often rated as one of the best places for residents in Northern Virginia. The downtown is walkable, and the historic courthouse you’ll find anchoring the community was constructed a year before D.C. was even founded.
2. Alexandria, VA
Alexandria is on the western bank of the Potomac River, and it’s just about seven miles south of downtown D.C. There is a big population of young professionals who live in Alexandria, and many work for the U.S. military, government, or private companies that do contract work with the federal government.
A lot of the historic buildings are preserved in Alexandria, and while there are big city amenities, it has a small-town feel.
The historic center of Alexandria is known as Old Town, and there are restaurants, shops, and theaters. The cobblestone streets are beautiful, and you have easy access to D.C. using the metro if you don’t want to deal with traffic.
The history of Alexandria goes back to 1669, making it one of the nation’s oldest settlements.
3. Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring is a bit more affordable than somewhere like Alexandria, but it still has a lot to offer young professionals.
Silver Spring has a crime rate that’s below the national average, and it’s evolved a lot thanks to the downtown area. Residents in downtown Silver Spring were just under 7,000 in 2000, and now, more than 12,000 people live downtown. This is because of a combination of public and private investment into the Silver Spring downtown in 2000.
Silver Spring is also very close to D.C., and there is a combination of new developments and older homes.
4. Potomac, MD
Potomac is a lot more serene and quiet than D.C. and even many of the other suburbs nearby. Potomac is significantly more residential than it is commercial, and many of the homes are on large lots, so there’s a lot of distance between neighbors. Potomac is about 33 minutes from D.C.
If you’re looking for nightlife, Potomac might not be right for you. If you want outdoor activities and natural beauty, then it could be a good suburb to consider.
5. Chevy Chase, MD
Chevy Chase is a neighborhood in D.C., which you may be familiar with, but it’s also a town in Maryland.
Chevy Chase is relaxed and has leafy, tree-lined streets. It’s in Montgomery County, and it actually includes the Chevy Chase neighborhood in D.C.
Chevy Chase is near Friendship Heights, which is a shopping district just over two miles from Connecticut Avenue.
You can quickly access research centers, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center, if you live in Chevy Chase.
6. Bethesda, MD
Finally, Bethesda is known for great amenities, including shopping, dining, and outdoor activities. Bethesda is in Montgomery County, and it’s unincorporated. It’s the best-educated city in the country, and almost 80% of the residents of this community have at least a bachelor’s degree. It was also ranked as one of the healthiest places for women in America by Self Magazine.
It’s the site of the National Institutes of Health campus and Walter Reed National Military Research Center.
While it does have a lot to offer young professionals, Bethesda is also one of the most expensive places to live in the country, but the median household income is also around 45% higher than the average in the U.S.
If you want to rent for a while, the average in Bethesda is around $2,400 for just over 900 square feet, according to RentCafe, which is similar to Washington, D.C.
We hope you found this blog post on The Best D.C. Suburbs for Young Professionals useful. Be sure to check out our post on A Complete Moving Guide To Denver for Young Professional for more great tips!
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