Where should I live in Washington DC area?

I am relocating to Alexandria, Virginia and I am trying to figure out where to live. I am a young 20's caucasian male and looking for an area that I would fit in, thus other young (mid 20's) professionals, majority caucasian.



I've been told to look at Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. Any suggestions is appreciated. Housing cost isn't too much of an issue for me. Rather convenience such as close location to metro, restaurants, shopping, some bars, etc.



Thanks.Where should I live in Washington DC area?
Quite a few people like Old Town Alexandria.



Arlington is also a good choice. It is just across the river from DC. It is mostly upscale, the ratio of single women to single men in Arlington is among the highest in the nation, and it has a decent Metro system for trips into DC.
If you mean your job is relocating to Alexandria, then I'd suggest you live in Alexandria. It's very nice. Look at Old Towne or Del Ray. You'll fit right in.



Everywhere you look around here their are young professionals running around. Lots of hot women too.



If you want to live in DC, try Capital Hill area, George Town, Foggy Bottom, Adams Morgan, Dupont, or around Union Station. China Town area is cool too. More condo living.Where should I live in Washington DC area?
Dupont Circle is great. Kind of the "gay" part of town, but very down to earth and trendy. Never a dull moment.
If your a 20 year old white guy definitely don't move to Southeast any thing imaginable could happen.I would move to N.W. its the safest as someone has already stated.It's also where the night life thing goes on.Have fun in the nations capital.
As you indicate that you are relocating to Alexandria, VA; I assume you mean to work. My suggestions are keep it simple and easy for yourself. Commuting times in the DC area add up quickly. If your job in Alexandria is focused around on of the METRO stations (Braddock, King Street, Van Dorn, or Huntington) then congrats and a DC locale won't be too bad. Otherwise, opt for something closer to your job site if you'll have to bus or drive. That being said...



The Del Ray section of Alexandria is nestled just north of Old Town and just west of Potomac Yards. It is centered on Mount Vernon Avenue from about East Braddock Road in the south to about East Raymond in the north. There are a number of small apartment complexs throughout the area at a reasonable price. Del Ray is convenient to the shopping at Potomac Yards, the night life of Old Town and to the METRO (Braddock Road Station). A number of restraunts, coffee houses and other shops have opened along Mount Vernon of late.



If you like high-rise living, I agree with one of the earlier posters that Crystal City is a good choice. Convenient to Pentagon City, the new shopping/restaurant district along Crystal Drive and just north of Potomac Yards.



Another option is the newly updated Shirlington (22206) area of Arlington and the Alexandria neighborhoods of Fairlington and Park Fairfax. Shirlington has recently seen a large amount of new development of apartments and condos. This goes hand in hand with a lot of new retail and entertainment options that have expanded into the area. Park Fairfax and Fairlington are brick condo units from the 40s that are privately owned; however, many are individually rented. Both communities are close to I-395, have good access to the Shirlington area and are convenient to buslines.



Best of luck.
Although the 20009 zip code (which encompasses much of Dupont, Adams Morgan and Logan Circle neighborhoods) does have a high percentage of same-sex led households in the country according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the demographics (below) show a neighborhood that is pretty much evenly split according to gender, and skewed toward a younger population base amongst its over 40,000 residents.



Adams Morgan is a much more culturally and ethnically diverse neighborhood (good Ethiopian restaurants and blues club like Madam's Organ), whereas Logan Circle and the 14th Street NW corridor (U Street - Cardozo) is moreso Dupont's eastbound march of gentrification (i.e., high-end condos, restaurants, clubs, etc.) with hipster overtones (like Studio Theater, Saint Ex, Velvet Lounge, 930 Club, art galleries and the Black Cat).



Also check out Columbia Heights, which has boomed after the Metro rail station opened there.



Overall, Arlington and Alexandria near any Metro station would prove good choices as well.
If you are gay, then fine. No problem, but there is no 'kind of' about it...Just to let you know... If you say you live in Dupont Circle, you are also saying you are 'gay.'



Adams Morgan is becoming the new gay section (for example, the residing restaurant, "Madam's Organ" says it all) of DC, whereas Dupont Circle is the established gay section of DC.



The city is divided into four quadrants... NW is the most affluent and safest.



SE is the least expensive, and has the highest crime area -ie. "murder" almost weekly. It is almost 100% African-American, and although most of the residents there are good people who have limited income, the area is totally unsafe day or night. There are tall poles which monitor the sound of gunshots, and these poles relay the info. to squadcars in the area.



Capitol Hill (near the Capitol) is where the affluent young politically minded live, and is affordable to an extent.



All of DC is close to metro, restaurants, shopping, bars, etc.



Take Connecticut Avenue (17th Street extended) toward Chevy Chase, and check out the day/nightlife there. That's a safe area (NW), and everything you could want is all along that corridor.
Yes Dupont circle is the gay area but it is close to everything and walking distance to adams morgan. Other good areas are georgetown, tenleytown/friendship heights, cleveland/woodley park, takoma, pentagon city, and ballston.
I've lived in Dupont Circle / Adam's Morgan for 15 years. It's a great neighborhood. There are a lot of gay people, but there are also A LOT of single females in their 20s.



It sound like you want to be close to the action.



Look at a map. Think of 18th and U as the center of the action and Connecticut and Q as the metro. In between the two can be a little expensive and very yuppie. Just north and east of 18th and U is a little cheaper and down to earth. Anything around that area is great. The bars run up north to Columbia road and east over to about 12th street (from the 18th and U point). Another popular place for 20-somethings is around 14th and S.
Wow, you must like being robed...
You can move to the White House. That's the people's house. It's free. Bush doesn't pay rent there I don't think.
The best and safe place to live is in Northern VA. Crystal City is a great place to live if you work in DC because the shopping is under ground, the metro is right there and takes you any place in DC, Southern MD, and Northern VA. There are great restaurants there and near by in Old Town Alexandria.

I would stay away from DuPont Circle and DC in general as a place to live.