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Sarah Reyes
best-worst
Best kept secrets of Dunn Loring, VA
Not sure if this has been asked before, but Thoughts? I'd say it's better for families than young singles.
9 upvotes
14 Replies
Chloe Cook
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I have mixed feelings honestly. Compared to New York it's excellent.
38 upvotes
Philip C.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Fairview) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The cultural scene is genuinely better than expected and I've found it's not perfect but it works for me. My neighborhood (Fairview) is growing and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Chicago, be prepared for the culture shock. pet-friendliness is completely different here. And Chain restaurants dominate.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
37 upvotes
Gianna Rivera
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Portland about 7 years ago. The main reasons were family and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is tough.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
I'm a real estate agent who relocated here from Portland about 7 years ago. The main reasons were family and school.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good internet infrastructure
- Affordable housing options
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Road conditions need improvement
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are affordable, gas is tough.
Socially, it was the best decision I ever made. No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Michael L.
My experience has been mostly positive. I have mixed feelings honestly. The only thing I'd watch out for is cost of living. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
30 upvotes
Chloe Wright
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 2 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 2 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The East side vs the Westside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
dallas_kennedy
As someone who grew up here, it's improved dramatically in recent years. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much developing but now it's challenging.
27 upvotes
Kennedy James
interesting, hadn't considered that
17 upvotes
Gabriella Hughes
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Uptown for 2 years. Moved from San Diego for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Can feel isolated. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in Uptown for 2 years. Moved from San Diego for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. construction is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is hit or miss - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Uptown schools are underrated. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Urban sprawl is real. Can feel isolated. And outdoor recreation can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
14 upvotes
Roman Nguyen
Moved here from Boston about 4 years ago. it exceeded my expectations. Still getting used to nightlife but Feel free to reach out with questions..
8 upvotes
Luke
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 14 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into running, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 14 years and it's not perfect but it works for me. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into running, this place is underrated.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Midtown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
5 upvotes
Ruby Sanders
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 14 years here, that's my honest assessment.
5 upvotes
Joseph
I'm a electrician and I've found I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community is better than expected and there's always something going on.
3 upvotes
Madeline Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 32, moved here 12 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Midtown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a software engineer, 32, moved here 12 years ago from San Diego. I've lived in Midtown and Eastside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Strong job market in several industries
3. Active local events and festivals
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Homeless population growing downtown
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Midtown: Great for families. average vibes, walkable.
- Eastside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Diego, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $60K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
3 upvotes
William Martinez
+1
1 upvotes