1. You Should Care That D.C. Isn’t A State
D.C. has been fighting for statehood for a long time but it goes relatively undiscussed. Until John Oliver mentioned it recently on his show, most people probably wouldn’t have even known. Make sure to understand the local politics if you do decide to move here because they matter.
2. You’ll Get The Feeling That You’re Burning Cash On A Daily Basis
If you’re moving here from somewhere like Manhattan or San Francisco, the price tag won’t be a shock at all. But D.C. is the eighth most expensive city to live in the country, so make sure you can chew what you’re biting off. It goes fast.
3. Housing Might Hurt Your Wallet for Living in Washington D.C.
In order to live in the good neighborhoods, you’re really going to pay. Just look at it this way: The national average for the cost of a home is $181,000. In D.C., the average cost of a
D.C. home is $443,000. No, that’s not a typo.
4. Living In D.C. Is Kind Of Like Living Inside A Microwave
Space is limited and there are lots of people. If you get claustrophobic, this is not the city for you.
5. If You’re A Suit In D.C., You’re Getting Paid
It might be expensive to live here, but landing a job in D.C. can also mean scoring a serious paycheck. The average household income sits around $64,000 annually, which is over 21 percent higher than the national average.
So, if you can score a good job here, you can probably afford the cost of living.
6. The District Is Split Into Quadrants
Consider the Capitol the center. Each corner is charted off in quadrants: North West is postcard D.C. that everyone thinks of, North East is mostly Capitol Hill, South West is waterfront, South East is the areas labeled with higher crime but will totally surprise you.
7. Neighborhood Snobs Are Everywhere
Not to cater to generalizations here, but it’s just true. There are a lot of people in D.C. who are very particular about their neighborhoods and think the others are below them. Not everyone is like this, though, so just ignore the ones who are.
8. You’ll Always Be Lost
Even when you’re using GPS, you’ll be lost all the time. This is why knowing what quadrant you’re in is immensely helpful in navigating because if you’re at 900 K Street SE but you need to be at 900 K Street NW, you’re in for quite the turnaround.
9. You Won’t Need A Car Anymore to Live in Washington D.C.
A car does still come in handy sometimes. However, you’ll find that you need one a lot less often than you don’t and keeping a car and dealing with and paying for parking usually ends up being much more financially inefficient than using the Metro and your own two feet.
10. Expect To Hate Life When Sitting In D.C. Traffic
If you haven’t decided whether or not you want to give up your car, I challenge you to drive around Capitol Hill at 5 p.m. That won’t just make the decision for you, it will make you never want to sit in another car ever again. Bonus points if you’re behind a motorcade.
11. The Metro Is A Better Option Than Driving In Most Areas
The Metro and bus system are a pretty decent way to get around the city. Don’t expect it to be like NYC, but it’s pretty good. Just make sure you keep track of the bus routes and know what time the last train or bus leaves.
12. Understanding Walking And Escalator Etiquette
It’s simple, really. Walk the way you drive. And while you’re on the escalator, stand to the right and walk to the left.
13. This Isn’t The War Zone The Media Would Have You Think, But Keep Your Street Smarts
Gentrification is a big issue and has changed a lot of D.C. There’s still crime, but you shouldn’t be afraid to explore the city. You’ll find some of the best places to eat and friendliest people when you leave the cushy neighborhoods. Bring your street smarts with you, but that goes for any major city.
14. Any Way You Cut It, There Is No Escaping Politics
If you’re one of those people who hates talking politics, you’re in for a lot of painful conversations. Even if you don’t work in politics, you can’t escape them here. Seriously, you can be a clown who entertains kids’ birthday parties and you’ll inevitably get cornered.
15. Get Used To Not Being The Smartest Or Most Successful Person In The Room Anymore
It’s a strange phenomenon. You can go around places in other cities and find at least a few spots where you really fit in. It’s not really like that in D.C., though.
Almost everywhere you go, there will be someone that feels a million times more important than you. Unless your name is Obama, get used to intimidation and learn how to get over it.
16. D.C. Style Is The Mullet Of The U.S.
Business in the front, party in the back. Go to dinner and what will you see? Suits and business clothes. Go to happy hour and what will you see? More suits and business clothes. Even on the non-business days, it’s still pretty crisp here. Going to brunch looks like you just stepped into a page of the J.Crew catalog.
17. Politicians And Journalists Are Your New Celebrities
You’ll become aware of who every D.C. stationed journalist and senator is and you’ll point them out whenever you see them. And the White House Correspondents Dinner is like The Oscars.
18. The District Is Positioned Perfectly
When you hear someone say DMV in D.C., they’re probably not talking about the hell everyone else knows as driving centers. It stands for D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
D.C. is nestled in the DMV area with easy access to Virginia metro areas and beaches. Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City are only a few short hours away, too.
19. You’ll Miss The Brunt Of The Northeast Snow…Usually
Most of the snowstorms that you see clobber the Northeast every winter tend to only brush past D.C. Prepare for forecasts to either tell you that you’re going to get a dusting of the storm and then get hit with 20 inches or vice versa. Overall, though, the snow isn’t bad, averaging 14 inches or so for the whole winter.
20. You Won’t Know If You’re Swimming Or Just Crossing The Street In The Summer
Humidity blankets D.C. in the summertime. The temperatures hover anywhere from the mid 80s to the high 90s depending on heat wave luck. But it’s the humidity that really does you in.
The spring is amazing, though, and you should believe the hype about the cherry blossoms.
21. Yes, The Museums Are Amazing And They Really Are Free
The museums here are some of the finest in the world and, as all educational facilities should be, they’re free to everyone, visitors and locals alike.
Here’s the weird part, though. After the novelty wears off in the first year, you’ll probably never ago again unless your out-of-state friends come to visit. Oh, that’s right, D.C. isn’t a state. See number one and get on that!
