Washington DC is one of the most transient places to live in America. The city attracts people from all over the world including politicians, lawyers, lobbyists, and millions of tourists. For this reason, moving to Washington DC is not like any other military move. Here are a few things I wish I knew before my PCSing and relocating to Washington DC.
washington dc
Washington DC is also known as “the District” or the “District of Columbia”. The city is separated by 4 quadrants: NW, NE, SE, SW. A neighborhood’s quadrant is based on its location compared to the U.S. Capitol Building. This is important to know because there is a 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW (that’s the White House), but there is also a 1600 Pennsylvania Ave SE (that’s a McDonald’s).
The Northwest (NW) quadrant is home to museums, embassies, and the wealthiest neighborhoods. The Southwest (SW) quadrant has waterfront views with glitzy condo buildings near the Wharf and Nationals Park. The Northeast (NE) quadrant is largely residential with up-and-coming neighborhoods, such as NOMA. The NE and SE quadrants tend to have higher crime rates.
Washington DC is also a catch-all name for some neighborhoods in Maryland and Northern Virginia because they are all relatively close.
military bases
This is a list of the military bases in Washington DC:
Fort McNair: Located in Southwest DC, it is an Army Base. It is home to the National Defense University and the National War College.
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling: Located in Southeast DC, it is a joint base for the Naval Support Facility-Anacostia (NSF) and the Bolling Air Force Base (BAFB).
U.S. Coast Guard HQ: Located in Anacostia, it is headquartered on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in a facility formerly known as St. Elizabeth's hospital.
Marine Barracks: Located near Eastern Market, it is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps.
Washington Navy Yard: Located in the Navy Yard, it is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the U.S. Navy.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS): Located in Anacostia, NCIS investigates and defeats criminal, foreign, and terrorist intelligence threats to the U.S Navy and Marine Corps.
DC Neighborhoods
Pick the neighborhood that feels right for you. It will impact how much you will enjoy living in Washington DC.
Northwest DC (NW) has the most popular neighborhoods: Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan. Foggy Bottom is home to George Washington University and the Kennedy Center. Georgetown is one of the oldest and most upscale neighborhoods; it is also where you will find multi-million dollar homes. Dupont Circle is an affluent historic neighborhood known for its beautiful Victorian homes, walkability, cafes, and restaurants. Adams Morgan is vibrant and diverse.
Southwest DC (SW) has experienced a boom in the last 10 years. With the construction of The Wharf and its waterfront views, people love taking advantage of the parks, and easy access to the city’s baseball and soccer stadiums. With newly constructed apartment and condo buildings, Southwest DC is a perfect place to live for young professionals.
Northeast DC (NE) has the H Street Corridor, and NoMa; both are up-and-coming neighborhoods with affordable homes, condos, and fixer-uppers in transitioning areas. Southeast DC (SE) is home to Anacostia; a neighborhood that is rich in African American history. Although crime is still heavy in the area, Anacostia is enjoying a renaissance with an expanding community of small businesses and entrepreneurs.
DC Real Estate
If you are buying or renting a home, you will need a Military Realtor®.
Homes sell faster and for a higher price in DC proper. The real estate market is competitive because the housing inventory in Washington DC is limited compared to the supply in the suburbs surrounding the city, so buyers have less to choose from and more competition. With high-income households and a strong local economy, buyers are willing to pay premium prices to live in Washington DC.
The jump in fuel prices has been enough to spur an influx of professionals from the suburbs to DC, to save on the cost of commuting (i.e., gas prices, metro costs, parking costs, etc), in spite of higher housing costs. That trend continues and is a significant driver of the ongoing DC real estate boom.
DC bah rates
Washington DC’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates are among the highest in the United States. Your BAH will probably be higher than your last duty station, but your cost of living will be higher also. Remember, BAH rates change by location. For example, DC’s BAH rate is higher than Quantico’s BAH. Use the BAH Calculator to see estimated payments.
If residing off base, military members can use their BAH to rent or buy a home. The beauty of BAH is that you get to choose your housing. If you choose to live in DC proper, your BAH will reduce your housing cost but it will not cover 100% of the mortgage or rent payment due to high home prices. To save money, it is quite common to see a military member that is stationed at DC’s Fort McNair but lives in neighborhoods near Fort Belvoir in Virginia or even near Fort Meade NSA in Maryland.
DC Traffic
DC traffic is among the worst in the nation, and it is getting worse. The city experiences heavy traffic because we have commuters who live in Virginia or Maryland and drive to DC to work. Despite the city’s small size, it can take upwards of an hour or more to get across during rush hour. Rush hour lasts from 6:00 a.m to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The traffic pattern goes toward DC in the morning and reverses to Virginia and Maryland at the end of the workday. Even with the rise of telework, traffic has not gotten any better. Bottom line is that there are too many people trying to get into, out of, and around Washington DC. Traffic and commute times should be considered when choosing a place to live.
DC Metro
Although Metro has 91 stations in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia, it does not connect all parts of the region. Metrobus provides connections to areas that Metro doesn’t service, but it is slow. Metro has six color-coded lines: Red, Orange, Silver, Blue, Green, and Yellow. If you live near a Metro station, it will be great because it’s so convenient.
If you are planning to park at a Metro station, there are 44 stations with parking facilities. In Washington DC, the Metro stations with parking are Anacostia, Deanwood, Fort Totten, Minnesota Ave, and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood.
Overnight parking is offered at four Metro stations: Greenbelt, Huntington, Franconia-Springfield, and Wiehle-Reston East. Parking is free on weekends. Each passenger needs a SmarTrip® farecard to pay Metro fares and Metro parking. Fares are based on when and how far you ride.
DC Parking
Parking in the city is at a premium. Military personnel moving to Washington DC are often not aware of the parking restrictions at major military installations. For example, if you are going to work at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, there are restrictions on who is allowed to park at work. Talk to your sponsor in advance about parking at your assignment.
When it comes to residential parking, Washington DC is split into eight parking zones, and only DC residents with a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) may park on most streets in those zones. When registering your car at the DC DMV, you will have the option to pay a small fee for a parking permit for the zone that you live in. Drivers who do not live in these zones can park for only two hours before they are subject to ticketing.
DC Snow
Washington DC has the worst snow drivers. Although we do not get much snow, DC shuts down when there is even the slightest hint of snow. On snow days, everyone goes into panic mode. It starts with weather forecasters predicting a few inches of snow. Then, within minutes, panic ensues. People blitz their local grocery store, stocking up on bread and bottles of water. Schools preemptively announce closures. The federal government calls for a two-hour delay, and major highways turn into bumper-car lines.
Anyone who commutes by car knows that navigating the area’s congested roadways is difficult, even on a clear day. Add in some snow and transplants to the region who aren’t used to driving in it, and things can get crazy.
DC public Schools
Unfortunately, the DC Public School System (DCPS) is not up to the standards of other major cities in the U.S. As a result, many families move to Maryland or Northern Virginia to find better public schools for their children.
If you are PCSing to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fort McNair, Marine Barracks, or the Washington Navy Yard and you are planning to live near your installation, your children will attend a DC public school. You can determine your in-boundary school here. The good news is that if you want your child to attend a school outside of your in-boundary school, you can apply via the school lottery system. Use the DCPS’s website to research school profiles and school-based programs. Many public elementary schools have bilingual programs where children study and learn in English and Spanish. Washington DC educates nearly 100,000 students in its public schools and invests $12,419 per student annually.
If money is not an issue, there are 72 private schools in the District. President Obama sent his daughters to the prestigious Sidwell Friends School. The school also educated Chelsea Clinton and Richard Nixon's daughters.
dc job market
Politics is one of the main careers in Washington DC. If you are a Veteran or Service member interested in pursuing a career in politics, policy, international affairs, or government, contact HillVets. They are a non-profit organization that provides fellowship and leadership training for veterans in the Nation’s Capital.
The military and the federal government are the largest sources of employment, including the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Capitol Police, to name a few. Military experience makes veterans attractive candidates because many of the positions require security clearances. Also, the military is the primary customer for many contracting companies.
Working in Washington DC, in some ways, is like a bridge between military and civilian life. Many veterans find DC to be a comfortable environment. If sticking to government-related work, it's common for veterans to find themselves working in the same circles they did during their military careers and/or working within their military occupational specialty. Whether your goal is to find an active clearance job or switch career paths, DC is a supportive community for veterans and their families.
Pros & Cons of Living in DC
Pros:
Salaries are high
Cultural diversity
Free museums and cultural attractions
DC is very walkable and bike-friendly.
Most elementary schools in DC are bilingual.
Very young, international, professional, and educated crowd.
High ceiling for career growth in government, health, and technology sectors.
DC is one of the most beautiful cities in America with amazing architecture and history.
The economy is robust and insulated due to the impact of the federal government on the local economy.
Cons:
The cost of living is high
High crime rate
Demanding work environment
Poor public schools (k-12)
Overcrowding tourists
High crime rates in the NE and SE quadrants.
Read More: Living in Northern Virginia