While Washington, DC has a lot to offer its residents, it's not for everyone. Housing can be pricey and parking can be ever so frustrating. Fortunately for those who prefer not to live in DC itself, this city is surrounded by some of the best suburbs in the nation. In 2014, for example, six counties in the immediate DC metro area made Forbes list of the top ten richest counties in America. Another plus? The school systems in the DC suburbs are also some of the finest in the nation. Of course, with so many great Washington DC suburbs to check out, you'll probably need a little help narrowing down your choices. So check out these six excellent suburbs -- there's a good chance that one of these neighborhoods has just what you're looking for.
Greenbelt, Maryland recently topped Movoto's list of top ten most affordable Washington, DC suburbs. But it's not just affordable house prices that make this suburb a great place to buy your first home (although that, of course, is always a big plus). Greenbelt is also one of the most unique suburbs in the nation. It proudly proclaims that it was the "first community in the U.S. to be built as a federal venture in housing." And everything -- from its streets to its schools and shopping centers -- was planned from the beginning as a complete community. Because of this planning, Greenbelt is a very pedestrian-friendly community, with homes being grouped together into "superblocks" and walkways designed in such a manner that pedestrians who want to stroll to the town center never have to cross a major street.
Greenbelt is also an excellent choice for commuters. Two major highways, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and the Capital Beltway, intersect in this suburb. And Greenbelt also boasts its own metro station.
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Arlington lies right across the Potomac River from DC, just a short three-mile drive across the Arlington Memorial Bridge. However, many commuters choose to use the Metro system to get into DC because of the notoriously bad traffic and difficult-to-find parking in the nation's capital. Fortunately, there are numerous stations in Arlington, including ones at Arlington Cemetery, Ballston-MU, Clarendon, Court House, Crystal City, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Virginia Square-GMU and at Ronald Reagan Washington National. And because Arlington is so close to DC, some commuters even ride their bikes to work. Don't own a bike? No worries. There are more than 80 Capital Bikeshare stations scattered throughout the community. Of course, Arlington has a lot more to offer its residents than just a short commute. For example, its Clarendon area is well known for its lively nightlife scene.
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Fairfax County Public Schools, which is the largest school system in Virginia, boasts a number of very highly regarded schools. In fact, many of its schools have consistently made U.S. News and World Report's rankings of the best high schools in Virginia. Two of these schools, Langley High School, which was ranked number two in 2015, and McLean High School, which was ranked number four, are located in the city of McLean. This upscale suburb, which lies approximately 11 miles west of DC, has been home to many famous, wealthy and powerful people over the years, including members of Congress; Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; and Robert F. Kennedy.
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Perhaps, you've finally been given that big promotion. Or, maybe, you've closed that huge deal. Whatever the reason, it's time to move to beautiful Potomac, Maryland. This suburb is known for its huge mansions on massive lots as well as for its famous and wealthy residents. Your neighbors might, for example, be NFL Washington Redskins team owner Daniel Snyder or NBA Washington Wizards hoopster John Wall. In 2016, this quiet neighborhood came under the harsh -- and, more than likely, unwanted -- glare of the public spotlight when the Bravo network chose this suburb as the backdrop for its latest reality television show, "The Real Housewives of Potomac."
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Alexandria is the popular choice for city lovers, who don't want to live in DC but want all of the amenities of living in a vibrant urban area. Its historic Old Town neighborhood, for instance, is home to many excellent restaurants, bars and shops. Plus, Alexandria, which is located right across the Potomac River from DC, is just a quick metro ride or eight-mile drive away from the nation's capital. Alexandria is also a very walkable city and some of its residents have been known to ditch their cars for good, preferring to use the Metro system, bikes, Ubers and their feet to get around.
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Established in 1758, the historic town of Leesburg lies at the intersection of suburbia and horse country. So it can offer residents a lot of the amenities of suburban living, such as grocery stores, an outlet mall and easy access to a major toll road as well as farms and pastoral settings. Leesburg, which is located approximately 40 miles from DC, is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation but it has, fortunately, been able to maintain some of its rural charm. Cattle and horse farms, for example, still line portions of Route 15. And there are also numerous wineries located in and around Leesburg.
