Although Washington D.C. is known as the nation’s capital of politics, there is so much more to the nation’s capital than what happens on the Hill or inside the White House.
There are students, families, singles looking for true love, young urbanites, military personnel, and longtime residents who have seen the city go through decades of change called D.C. house. What do you need to know before you make your move? A lot more than you might think. Washington, DC, is a complicated city. In this guide, you will learn about everything about living in Washington, DC.
A quick look at Washington, D.C.
The District is subject to the comings and goings of politicians, lobbyists, and military personnel, so the data changes constantly. Below is some information on the current state of the District of Columbia.
- There are 709,951 people (worldpopulationreview.com) in the world.
- The cost of living is 56.1% higher than the national average.
- The median price of a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,825 (Renthop.com).
- The average salary is $76,000 (Payscale.com).
Facts about living in Washington D.C.
There is a distinct culture in Washington D.C. You will want to fit in as a local right away and avoid being mistaken for a tourist during your first few weeks.
Washington DC is distinct.
It is not uncommon for Washington, D.C. residents to call everything inside the city’s borders the District. The reason for this is that when people talk about Washington, DC, they may also mean areas that overlap with two adjacent states.
Washington, DC is a region.
Registering your car does not involve the DMV in the Washington metro area. DMV is the acronym for Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and D.J.s frequently talk about events.
Don’t waste your time worrying about street grids.
There are four quadrants in Washington, D.C. Although it is inside the Beltway (I-495), it is divided into four sections. Washington, D.C. is centered on the Capital building. Several factors can confuse street addresses, so pay attention to the S.E., NE, S.W., and N.W.! You should note that the quadrants are not all the same size, so your address may change more rapidly than you expected.
Political activity is not the only thing happening here.
Washington, D.C. is best known for its politics, but there are other industries in the city and metro area. The Hilton Worldwide headquarters is just outside the District of Columbia in Virginia. There are numerous technology and healthcare companies in and around the District. If you don’t work in politics and would like to live here, you need to dig a little. You can find jobs outside of politics here.
It lies below the Mason-Dixon Line.
Technically, Washington, D.C. is in the South, but you would never guess that from how this city’s politics are run. Compared to the Maryland side of town, the Virginia side is considerably more “southern.” These two sides meld together as different political parties gain power and regain power from year to year. The availability of sweet tea is sporadic; you have to know where to look.
Transients are very common there.
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Washington, D.C., is full of politicians, consultants, embassies, lobbyists, and military personnel constantly moving around the country and the world. When the president of one political party leaves and the opposing party moves in, the housing and rental markets may shift. Military members are reassigned, and consultants move from one place to another. Since it’s a transient city, it’s easy to meet new people since everyone is unique!
Not every school is terrible.
D.C. gets a bad reputation for schools, as do many other cities. In other words, if you don’t want to spend money on private school, but you want your kids to get an excellent education, you should move to the suburbs. Suburban schools can be ideal, but some neighborhoods have excellent elementary schools and middle schools, such as Cathedral Heights, Kent, Wesley Heights, Chevy Chase DC, and Grover Park.
Democrats and Republicans work together off the Hill.
This is true. The fact that Republicans and Democrats don’t always agree across the aisle doesn’t mean they’re not friends. Both parties can’t be avoided. It’s not a BIG city! There is a significant change in the Oval Office, and there is bound to be some feather-ruffling.
Even downtown can be affordable.
The cost of living in Washington, D.C., is high. There will always be places that are more expensive than others; however, there are places, even downtown, that can be affordable. If you’d rather live in the city than the suburbs, you don’t have to. The key is to find the right agent who can help you find the home you are looking for. Petworth, 16th Street Heights, and even Anacostia are hot spots to check out right now.
The traffic is awful.
The traffic is awful. Good news for commuters! There is excellent public transportation. Try to avoid driving during rush hour by taking an alternative mode of transportation, such as walking, biking, riding the MARC train, metro, or taking anything other than a car. Even during off-hours, traffic can be backed up without reason. Deal with congestion if you don’t want to get stuck. Take public transportation!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Washington, DC, is it worth living there?
Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the United States, DC is considered one of the best places to live in the nation. Despite its density as a big city, Washington, DC is better livable than many big cities, such as New York City. One reason is that you can see a lot more sky.
- In Washington, DC, how much money do you need to live comfortably?
In a recent article on WTOP, an average D.C. resident was told that to afford to live comfortably, and they would need $85,000 per year. Unfortunately, that is only enough to support oneself. The average person would need to earn $85,000 per year to live comfortably in D.C., according to an article published on WTOP.
