Thank you for watching my video on Why Washington Is America's most expesnive "city". If you would like to see a video on America's most undervalued city please let me know here.
I am always super reluctant to take a job in DC. DC proper is too cost prohibitively, but then if I had to commute on the beltway roundtrip 5 days a week I would probably blow my brains out.
The Beltway commute would be a dream. I knew people who commuted 1.5 to 3 hours EACH WAY, home-to-job, job-to-home in that area. It's totally normal. People leave for work at 5 AM and get home at 8 PM. It's part of the D.C. Northern Virginia Baltimore Maryland lifestyle. All your neighbors, if you knew them, have very vague jobs that they never talk about in any detail. All your friends are really just in your life to find better jobs than the one they currently have. All your female dates are trying to find out where you are in the government food chain (if you work directly i.e. "So, are you a GS-15?", contractor, or indirectly, like a supplier with a contract). That area would go cannibal if the government went away.
It's so odd...You posted this video three days ago but used cost of living data from 2011-2012. It's 2024! Perhaps use more recent data in your next project?
*I'm from Fairfax County and the entire DC area has horrendous traffic and cost of living. If you love sitting bumper to bumper for over an hour every day, handing over your entire paycheck to your landlord every month, and simultaneously being overcrowded and heavily atomized/lonely, then move to NOVA*
I will say, as someone who grew up in North Arlington, and went to high school at a wealthy private school in downtown DC, the city I knew (and wealthy nearby suburbs) *did* represent ultimate prosperity (4:34). The city's well-to-do live a picturesque, semi-small town, idyllic life. It's a pretty world, and possibly one of the most sheltered, utopian places to grow up. I sat on a bench by the riverfront with a friend a few months ago, and he said that all people deserve to have this world. And that perhaps one day it could be possible. Everyone does deserve that pretty world. It certainly would be nice if they had access to it. Once you learn the statistics about how some wards have incredibly high six-figure median incomes, and others have median incomes near to the national poverty rate, it becomes a bit chilling and uncanny how these two worlds can exist side by side in such a small region. I've visited some of the less well-off wards and it's quite saddening. I haven't a clue how to solve it, but it eminently needs to be.
I think that across a lot of US citys you see a country that is carved up between rich and poor areas and sadly along racial lines, much more so than many other first world or developed countries. The rich have to be willing to give a little and make others more of a priority in order for things to change and those that hold the power, don't want anything that will threaten their position.
Why do you leave out Fairfax County from your DMV definition? Its much closer to the city and much more developed than Loudoun. There are over 1 million people in Fairfax county alone.
Lived in the DMV for over 30 years, it became America's leading economic powerhouse due to the IT revolution. Almost no one, or very few, saw it coming! Most of us who have lived here for decades only wish we had bought property in Arlington, VA, which, like many other DMV areas, did, YES, go through a slump! Yes, remember?
@@dubreil07loudon county(1st place)is the most richest county in the USA, Fairfax county (2nd place), and Arlington county (3rd place). The top 3 counties are literally in Virginia, and anything like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and etc. are headquartered here
I live in DC and love it! Cost of living is high but it is nowhere near as high as it is in NYC, SF, or even Boston; that data is 12 years old. It's also cheaper than living in the suburbs where I have also lived because other costs are much lower (transportation, etc). Going out to eat though, that's a different story. You can't find $1 pizza slices in DC like you can in NY.
DC is high in cost for the people with money who don’t live in the hoods & projects in DC because it’s a way to keep the wealthy people feeling safe because majority the the real people from DC (the originals who come from the real DC not Georgetown & the boujee part of DC) live in poverty or in low cost neighborhoods where people like you wouldn’t dare live so if you don’t want to live in the high cost area of DC just move to the hood where it’s a lot cheaper & a lot unsafer which is why you pay the high prices so you can feel safe in your gentrified neighborhood which was gentrified to make room for people like you to feel safe. Duh!
Please do Honolulu, Hawaii next. No other US cities can be compared to the cost of living, real estate market, and traffic of Honolulu. Traffic congestion is horrible, especially because there is no expansion of highways due to lack of land, etc, as Hawaii is the only US state being an island.
@@WrldExplorer you are absolutely right! there is a lot of work thag needs to be done. We will have to change old and outdated zoning laws that prevent us from building mixed use housing. But yeah sadly for now it is very difficult for the average person
I biked to work everyday- got in my exercise and to work with little to no stress. And I preferred a smaller house. My house in Silver Spring is worth about $500K, and can walk to the metro.
East County MoCo is definitely the sweet spot. More urbanized than other suburbs, very diverse, cheaper than other areas, good schools and easy access to transit and the city. You can’t beat it imo
@@masonhaggerty186 1680 sq feet solid brick built in 1955. That’s probably about the same size as my parents original 1960s ranch in Miami, which is now listed at $532K.
On the up side, DMV wealth is more widely spread across a large upper middle class than most cities with more billionaires. Also - you could have found a Beltway video when talking about the Beltway rather than Constitution Ave.
Yeah I describe it by saying that you'll see a ton of BMWs and Mercedes, but few Lamborghinis or Ferraris. When I visit Charlotte, where a ton of bankers live, it's flipped.
@@mikeomatic9905hmm that’s funny. I was down in Charlotte recently and saw many Mercedes and Beemers. Did not see any Lamborghinis or Ferraris though. Besides, looking at what kind of car someone drives is a crap way at gauging their overall financial situation.
Successful investing is hard work because it means disciplining your mind to do the opposite of human nature. Buying during a panic, selling during euphoria, and holding on when you are bored and just craving a little action. Investing is 5% intellect and 95% temperament.
So if you include Baltimore in the combined statistical area, DC ranks third most populated region after New York and Los Angeles, not bad for a place people still claim has small town vibes
@@washingtondc9290this is something you say because technically it is true. But if you realize the Chicago, la, and nyc metro areas are literally giant in size while the dc metro is actually quite compact in area, it isn’t unreasonable to include Baltimore in its metro area considering the amount of economic activity Baltimore gets due to its proximity to the city and the region as a whole. As someone who was raised in this area and have known it my whole life - Baltimore has a lot of connections to the dc metro area. I agree with you, it’s different, but it’s totally not insane to consider a part of the dc sphere of influence. Sort of like how it’d be insane to say nyc and Philly aren’t connected as a region when they totally are.
DMV resident - If I were to need to go to work, it would be a 2 hour bus-metro-metro-bus trip. If I drive, it *should* be 45 minute drive, but has never been less than an hour and is often 2-3. Also, rent is super problematic. I had to sacrifice size for location. I like living here, but I wish that the housing market wasnt shit. I will never be able to own property unless something changed
In that case taking the bus-metro route might be better.. because you get to not worry about traffic, accidents, gas, insurance. And you could use that time on recreation. But the best thing would be moving closer to work or changing to a nearby work
@@AtulKedia as of now, I am remote so I only need to make the commute 4-5 times a year. If I am forced to come back into the office on a routine basis, I would move to the other side of the region
Your point, that DC is divided between rich and poor, is spot on. Everything else though misses the mark either slightly or significantly. This video sounds more like someone who described a caricature of DC versus some of the real factors behind this wealth divide. Some other thoughts: - 4:08 this is such a weird map that you used a few times. Your graphics completely ignore Fairfax County which is the most populated jurisdiction in the DMV - 4:20 there is no "s" at the end of Silver Spring. - No mention of the tech industry in Northern Virginia which does business with both the public and private sector. - No mention of the many private companies headquartered in the DC area including Capital One, Amazon (HQ2), Nestle, Marriott, and many others. All have nothing to do with the feds and contribute significantly to the regions wealth - No one calls the Maryland suburbs Southwest Maryland - Your video ending is very odd, it sounds like you want to make another point but end with a random news clip. I could name more but you get the point. This feels like a video quickly put together to generate content using stock footage (using Constitution Ave when talking about the Beltway, was there no stock footage for the Beltway!?) rather than anything substantive.
Yeah this whole thing felt kind of... AI-made? I think I'm spoiled by more in-depth videos like Real Life Lore. After watching this I had to come to the comments to find fellow DCers who were as confused by this as I was.
4:02 Why is fairfax County left off this map when it has a bigger impact on dmv wealth than pg County? Tysons, mclean, Vienna, fairfax, reston, Herndon, great falls, etc all drive that hh income up.
I once got a job offer in DC and they offered me a stipend on top of the salary because of costs of living. It was tempting but I passed because I didn’t want that commute and I got a comparable offer closer to my home. But it caused me to wonder how expensive DC must be if the job offered me free money just for me to live.
@ the funny part is that many people commute into DC, usually by train, and they work there just because of the stipend. I’ve never seen it anywhere else.
I live around DC, and while yes, it’s pretty expensive, the standard of living is pretty high and jobs are plentiful. Government spending keeps the economy afloat and it is remarkably recession-proof due to this. It can be frustrating affording things, but at the same time, the career opportunities are by far the best in the area. Just don’t live in eastern DC LOL
There are a lot of places much more expensive than DC in the US. Take a look at Boston, SF, NYC, Boulder, Miami, etc., it's less expensive. Combine that with the fact that living in DC means you don't need a car, and you can actually pay less than the suburbs of the region. It's more affordable than many major cities in the US.
@@gamerjohn310 That's what I thought. Every list says. San Francisco has the highest rents. San Jose has higher home values dc is expensive though but not top
It isn’t cheaper. I live in Manhattan and just bought a townhouse in Georgetown. The same house in my Manhattan neighborhood would have been 3 times the price.
Er: I have NEVER heard the term "Southwestern Maryland." People might say: "DC-MD" Here, this is assumed to mean DC + Montgomery, PG, and maybe Howard County. There is Southern, MD, which I think of as Charles, Saint Mary's, and Calvert Counties.
That’s what I was thinking the video says “capable of fueling the prosperous beltway region that runs off of it” and then cuts to a map not including Fairfax county. Had me scratching my head lol.
LIved in Springfield in the Virginia suburbs from 1998 to 2000. It was great back then. After watching this video, I'm glad that I don't live there anymore.
I found the video confusing. Is the District of Columbia over priced? (Which it is.) Or is the greater Metro region covering three states over priced? I live near Virginia Beach and commute into DC when needed. I prefer Amtrak but I have other options. I'm far from wealthy, doing about the national average most years. The absence of Fairfax county VA from the map was equally confusing. With over 1 million people, it is home to numerous defense and other contractors that supply the US Government. It's GDP ($118 Billion) places it above states like Hawaii and West Virginia, and just blow Nebraska and Nevada.
The whole region is over priced, the city it's almost unlivable for normal people, but the outer portions are also extremely expensive in their own right.
@@SomethingDifferentFilmsHousing costs are high because pay is high. I bought here and paid off my home here well ahead of the amortization schedule because I get paid enough to live here.
There’s a lesser known story that no statistics can tell about the DC area’s high cost of living, that you’d have to live here to know. Every single time you step out of your place, whether it’s fun/casual/social/work- you will spend money. And more than in most places. I know it seems obvious, but this is something that is abundantly true and apparent here. Every time I speak to someone that moved here from LA, NYC, or SF, they ALWAYS say “damn it feels more expensive here,” and I’ll explain to them “it’s cause you spend money every time you leave your place.” It always just clicks to them the more we speak over time. I’m not saying that these other cities aren’t as expensive as DC, I’m just saying that DC finds a way to extract money out of you more effectively than other places. The only city I hear that’s worse by measure of this phenomenon is Boston.
It's more accurate to focus on neighborhoods than entire counties and cities. There is no educational value in this video. It just claims cities like Alexandria and Silver Spring are "unaffordable" and "opulent" (a gross misuse of the term). You have to segment it by neighborhood, because there are affordable parts of these towns/counties. Otherwise, you get this really uninteresting and dull video which was probably produced in ChatGPT. It provides no useful or insightful information, and just relies on general claims which never strengthens the conclusion of the argument. A lazy video that provides no value.
I moved to Maryland back in 2002 from Ohio for a job offer. I have to admit, I like there’s is always something to do there. I lived in all 3 areas. I can say it is very expensive now. I just recently retired from that career 2022, and moved to Columbia, Md. that was my dream spot, right in the town center, across from the mall. Was like a piece of heaven on earth for me. Unfortunately, leaving the area going anywhere else was crazy as far as traffic. Rent prices going up, Even if you found a decent price to rent, it won’t be that way in one or two years, then you have to move again to find something cheaper. It’s too expensive to own a home. If you wanna enjoy some of the events down in DC, it feels exclusive, and you gotta pay for parking, which is really expensive because you won’t find any on the streets. Grocery shopping was really expensive, budget went up to $400 for 2 people, going out to eat is crazy expensive, that’s about $400 for 2 people, and gas is also about $65x3. Even though I have a good retirement, I still wasn’t happy with the price of not having some kind of lifestyle, travel, plus necessities. So May this year, I decided to Pack up, and sell everything, even my car, applied for a retirement visa in Colombia 🇨🇴, got approved for 3 years, and now enjoy the lifestyle I wanted in the second largest growing city here. Renting a Remodeled 3br/4br $850 $300 for groceries for 3 $300 dining for 2 Fuel(diesel) $70 per month. Good steak meals, with drinks for 2, $28 Gas, water, electricity $110. Phone and high speed internet $30 Weather: it’s called the city of eternal spring. I’d say spring/summer, no seasons here. IMAX movies $3 instead of $22 Due to the low cost of living, we can now travel more than if I was there in the states, not to mention other countries nearby to travel to in South America, and Latin America for less than $150, or free with points. I was paying over $3000 to live in Maryland, not anymore. Actual change my residency to Texas before leaving which saved me $327 on taxes per month. That’s groceries here. There is nowhere in the USA that I can live like I do now for what I’m paying. Even if you owned your home, you still have to pay, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees, and everything else still would be expensive just the same. Actually not owning a home, allow this to be possible. The salary required to own a home in the DC area is what you can purchase an apartment for here. The savings rate here is quicker. The possibilities, maybe save for a down payment on a place in Portugal instead. 🤔
@@hejiranycWhen was the last time you were here if you going to make that statement. Been here a few times before moving. I hope it’s not based on what the news told you, or what other people that don’t live here told you. The USA is know to be a dangerous country also, but being you live there, you would have a different say on that right? There are expats that’s been here for years. Some own investments properties, businesses, married to locals, and have families. Hope it’s not from weekend warriors that come for prostitution, and drugs, and back home the following week, if they don’t get scoped. Not every one is into risky things.They don’t have mass shootings here either. I mean as of January, DC had 2,907 reported violent crime. What’s the one saying I hear when people say, “Have a safe trip”?, no, you have a safe stay.
@ yes but what else do you have to give up for the purpose of living cheaply. You might have to give up a walkable community, you might have to give up varieties of fine dining. You might actually have to buy a car. Give up walking a few blocks to have drinks a a nice bar, festivals, events. If you plan on doing minimal of anything, then It might be a good idea. someone who’s a homebody, and like the local diner down the street or shop at the grocery store where everybody knows each other. They’re just are too many different levels of a lifestyle people want. Me I rather have the DC vibe but in another country where it’s a little bit less busy, and way less expensive, and I can do without a vehicle due to better public transportation.
I found this video ended very abruptly and there was definitely misleading information in here. I’m a resident of Ward 8 in DC and although it does sustain a lot of DC’s public housing sectors, it is rapidly changing. I did my geography undergrad research paper on the changes that SW DC experienced from WW2 until 2023 and found it’s gone through so much. and I can tell you just from living there, it’s rapidly changing. It’s very evident from Mayor B’s initiative to invest specifically into Ward 8. Also, I’m very confused why Fairfax and Prince William counties were often not highlighted. I love your channel, but I think this video didn’t quite hit the mark of your other content.
@00:55 Definition of DMV is a bit wrong. None of these videos from out of towners get it right, but this is close. Pretty much accurate if you just remove Jefferson County WV, and add the southern part of Howard County MD. This is very close though.
I been around the country but the DMV is easily top 5 best Cities/areas to live in, in the entire country. I’m born in Washington DC, lived in DC and PG County. I work in DC and walk about 5-10 miles in the DC every day. However, DC has a high murder rate and a lot of crime (that spreads heavy into PG County) that ranks in the highest (per capita) in the nation. As long you’re in the right places the DMV is very enjoyable it’s hard to find anywhere else in the country that’s like this area.
The DMV is not a city. The only city is Washington DC. Maryland & Virginia are the suburbs even tho PG has its pocket of rough neighborhoods with high crime rates. DC is a lit city to live in & unique. It’s a very live & fun city. This subject of the TH-cam channel we on is only talking about DC not the DMV.
@@TheyWanBeMe100 I’m born and raised here slim. I know that. 😂 He referenced “DMV” multiple times in this video. That’s why I said what I said. Calling DMV “citites/area.” Because the DMV includes DC.
This is a direct byproduct of the DMV's low density compared to other global capitals and it's car-dependent sprawl. If the DMV were developed with the same transit oriented development of a city like Copenhagen, the entire 6+ million residents in the region would fit within the Beltway. This is also what exacerbates housing prices, as NINBYs protect single family zoning immediately outside of the dense downtown cluster.
Living in this area all my, the area become really expensive after the election of George W Bush. During the Clinton administration, the money flowed and the cost of living was more sustainable.
So much was missing from this video. In the 80s, it wasn't uncommon to bump into a Congressman when picking up some ribs or bowling with SS personnel. Years before that when more DoD agencies were still in the city, everyone rode the bus or subway together and had lunch in the cafeteria. Congress controls DC with an iron fist. With the WHITE FLIGHT of the 70s, the beautification budget was cut terribly. My first time at the White House in '86, there were homeless encampments on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yes. When various agencies left downtown, the middle class disappeared. Blacks went to PG and HoCo; Whites went to Fairfax and Arlington. Only recently around 2005 did SE Asians move into the city followed by Whites. Thats when the property values skyrocketed. Homes that Blacks had owned since slavery were sold off to whites for a fraction of the markup prices. And don't think I didn't notice how you didn't mention the true dichotomy in this region. MANASSASS.
I live in DC and this is highly decieving and destructive. If you are willing to live without 2 cars, a big garage, a boat, a single family home and not use metro the. It is as affordable and a wonderful place to live. We have no debt, and live in the best neighborhood, Dupont Circle and Kalorama on 70,000 a a year. Dc taxpayers also support the houseless by creating homes for them in all neighborhoods so they can get mail and deal with their diseases an the legal system equitably. Compare this with Florida which is just now jailing the houseless. Yes, we put those things before a three car garage and big lawns to mow.
There are plenty of homeless throughout the city, so DC must not be doing a great job. Also, no shot that they are housing a lot of homeless people west of rock creek park.
I live in Loudoun Ciunty, which is awesome, and drive in to DC 3 days / wk, which is not great. It’s expensive here but it’s also really really nice. It does cost a bit though
DC Area most expensive housing? What kind of statistics are you getting? New York, Boston, and San Francisco are all way more expensive. A house in Palo Alto in San Francisco lands you similar incomes, similar crappy commutes, but can easily cost twice as much. New York has lower salaries, longer commutes, but similar housing prices (in the suburbs). Traffic is bad but it's not any worse than SF or NYC or Boston for that matter, and the public transit, I've found, is more comprehensive (except NYC).
Strange video the arguement feels disjointed, the creators clearly arent from the area and havent really taken the time to research. Too heavy reliance on ai?
This feed is so misleading, it does not make considerstions about sustainable life decisions and assumes that all Americans covet the same things. I talk to my freinds in Florida who think Dc is still dangerous but in reality it is far safer than Ron Desantis home town, Dunedin Florida, where my mom lives, wirh no black neigjbors. and that costs money too and we do not rely on open carry laws to achieve community safety.
One way to solve housing and traffic is to bulldoze and downsize parks inside the city. If the city's growing, we don't need "Bambi" to graze, we need smart roads and affordable homes. Rock Creek Park I'm looking at you..🧐
Thank you for watching my video on Why Washington Is America's most expesnive "city". If you would like to see a video on America's most undervalued city please let me know here.
Do New York City next
Quick Edit:
Your maps should definitely include Fairfax County, VA.
I am always super reluctant to take a job in DC. DC proper is too cost prohibitively, but then if I had to commute on the beltway roundtrip 5 days a week I would probably blow my brains out.
Can you not go to work at 6am? and go home at 2pm?
What about the metro? Unlike NYC’s subway, it’s very clean and safe. I hardly ever see even a roach.
Take the Metro.
Why not live near the metro? When I did internship It only took me half an hour, then again, live only a couple of stops away....
The Beltway commute would be a dream. I knew people who commuted 1.5 to 3 hours EACH WAY, home-to-job, job-to-home in that area. It's totally normal. People leave for work at 5 AM and get home at 8 PM. It's part of the D.C. Northern Virginia Baltimore Maryland lifestyle. All your neighbors, if you knew them, have very vague jobs that they never talk about in any detail. All your friends are really just in your life to find better jobs than the one they currently have. All your female dates are trying to find out where you are in the government food chain (if you work directly i.e. "So, are you a GS-15?", contractor, or indirectly, like a supplier with a contract).
That area would go cannibal if the government went away.
It's so odd...You posted this video three days ago but used cost of living data from 2011-2012. It's 2024! Perhaps use more recent data in your next project?
Bought a place in Arlington VA, partner likes the DMV. Good school, parks, always things to do. But hate the traffic and people are mean .
*I'm from Fairfax County and the entire DC area has horrendous traffic and cost of living. If you love sitting bumper to bumper for over an hour every day, handing over your entire paycheck to your landlord every month, and simultaneously being overcrowded and heavily atomized/lonely, then move to NOVA*
I can't wait to leave VA. Between the data centers/traffic/loneliness/Cost of living, VA is not what it was.
Cities are meant to be walkable, not drivable
atp just move to MD
Traffic isn't that bad lol
I love nova lol
BTW (at the 4:20 Mark); it's" Silver Spring".....not "Silver Springs".
Biggest local pet peeve
salty springs
I shop at the ALDIS in SILVER SPRINGS
I will say, as someone who grew up in North Arlington, and went to high school at a wealthy private school in downtown DC, the city I knew (and wealthy nearby suburbs) *did* represent ultimate prosperity (4:34). The city's well-to-do live a picturesque, semi-small town, idyllic life. It's a pretty world, and possibly one of the most sheltered, utopian places to grow up.
I sat on a bench by the riverfront with a friend a few months ago, and he said that all people deserve to have this world. And that perhaps one day it could be possible. Everyone does deserve that pretty world. It certainly would be nice if they had access to it.
Once you learn the statistics about how some wards have incredibly high six-figure median incomes, and others have median incomes
near to the national poverty rate, it becomes a bit chilling and uncanny how these two worlds can exist side by side in such a small region. I've visited some of the less well-off wards and it's quite saddening. I haven't a clue how to solve it, but it eminently needs to be.
Nobody deserves anything, you deserve what you work for and put yourself in a position for results to manifest.
capitalism
Not everyone. Only those who work for it.
I think that across a lot of US citys you see a country that is carved up between rich and poor areas and sadly along racial lines, much more so than many other first world or developed countries. The rich have to be willing to give a little and make others more of a priority in order for things to change and those that hold the power, don't want anything that will threaten their position.
@@neox9369 that's probably a selfish and self serving viewpoint.
Why do you leave out Fairfax County from your DMV definition? Its much closer to the city and much more developed than Loudoun. There are over 1 million people in Fairfax county alone.
I think it was a mistake
Lived in the DMV for over 30 years, it became America's leading economic powerhouse due to the IT revolution. Almost no one, or very few, saw it coming! Most of us who have lived here for decades only wish we had bought property in Arlington, VA, which, like many other DMV areas, did, YES, go through a slump! Yes, remember?
Americas leading powerhouse? No thats NYC
Bay Area is. 3 of the top 5 most valuable companies are based here
@@dubreil07loudon county(1st place)is the most richest county in the USA, Fairfax county (2nd place), and Arlington county (3rd place). The top 3 counties are literally in Virginia, and anything like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and etc. are headquartered here
I live in DC and love it! Cost of living is high but it is nowhere near as high as it is in NYC, SF, or even Boston; that data is 12 years old. It's also cheaper than living in the suburbs where I have also lived because other costs are much lower (transportation, etc). Going out to eat though, that's a different story. You can't find $1 pizza slices in DC like you can in NY.
DC is high in cost for the people with money who don’t live in the hoods & projects in DC because it’s a way to keep the wealthy people feeling safe because majority the the real people from DC (the originals who come from the real DC not Georgetown & the boujee part of DC) live in poverty or in low cost neighborhoods where people like you wouldn’t dare live so if you don’t want to live in the high cost area of DC just move to the hood where it’s a lot cheaper & a lot unsafer which is why you pay the high prices so you can feel safe in your gentrified neighborhood which was gentrified to make room for people like you to feel safe. Duh!
Nowhere near? Its top ten 😂
@@TheyWanBeMe100 I'm not even from DC but don't tell em to move there. They'll colonize that place too just like they did Old Town and South Arlington
Please do Honolulu, Hawaii next. No other US cities can be compared to the cost of living, real estate market, and traffic of Honolulu. Traffic congestion is horrible, especially because there is no expansion of highways due to lack of land, etc, as Hawaii is the only US state being an island.
Great video! The DC metro area is an amzing place, they just need to focus on affordable housing and improving public transit!
I’ve been hearing that term since I moved there in 2002, if anything it has gotten out of reach for average income. Affordable, forget it.
@@WrldExplorer you are absolutely right! there is a lot of work thag needs to be done. We will have to change old and outdated zoning laws that prevent us from building mixed use housing. But yeah sadly for now it is very difficult for the average person
Randy WMATA GM for mayor!
I biked to work everyday- got in my exercise and to work with little to no stress. And I preferred a smaller house. My house in Silver Spring is worth about $500K, and can walk to the metro.
East County MoCo is definitely the sweet spot. More urbanized than other suburbs, very diverse, cheaper than other areas, good schools and easy access to transit and the city. You can’t beat it imo
A small house for 500k? That just sounds absurd in of itself.
@@masonhaggerty186 1680 sq feet solid brick built in 1955. That’s probably about the same size as my parents original 1960s ranch in Miami, which is now listed at $532K.
Thank you for including Howard amongst the District’s outstanding schools of higher learning. HBCU love.
On the up side, DMV wealth is more widely spread across a large upper middle class than most cities with more billionaires.
Also - you could have found a Beltway video when talking about the Beltway rather than Constitution Ave.
Yeah I describe it by saying that you'll see a ton of BMWs and Mercedes, but few Lamborghinis or Ferraris. When I visit Charlotte, where a ton of bankers live, it's flipped.
@@mikeomatic9905hmm that’s funny. I was down in Charlotte recently and saw many Mercedes and Beemers. Did not see any Lamborghinis or Ferraris though. Besides, looking at what kind of car someone drives is a crap way at gauging their overall financial situation.
This is about Washington DC only not the DMV. So why you bring up DMV
@@TheyWanBeMe100 The video talks about the whole region several times. Plus, the same applies to the city itself
@@TheyWanBeMe100 DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia)
Successful investing is hard work because it means disciplining your mind to do the opposite of human nature. Buying during a panic, selling during euphoria, and holding on when you are bored and just craving a little action. Investing is 5% intellect and 95% temperament.
Assets that can make one successful in life
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You are right
But I don't know why people remain poor due to ignorance
So if you include Baltimore in the combined statistical area, DC ranks third most populated region after New York and Los Angeles, not bad for a place people still claim has small town vibes
If you include Baltimore in the DC statistical area, you are lying to people because those are different cities 50 miles apart.
if DC has small town vibes then so do brownstone neighborhoods in Brooklyn
DC and Baltimore are two totally different Metro areas,
@@daveharrison84Lol right
@@washingtondc9290this is something you say because technically it is true. But if you realize the Chicago, la, and nyc metro areas are literally giant in size while the dc metro is actually quite compact in area, it isn’t unreasonable to include Baltimore in its metro area considering the amount of economic activity Baltimore gets due to its proximity to the city and the region as a whole. As someone who was raised in this area and have known it my whole life - Baltimore has a lot of connections to the dc metro area. I agree with you, it’s different, but it’s totally not insane to consider a part of the dc sphere of influence. Sort of like how it’d be insane to say nyc and Philly aren’t connected as a region when they totally are.
DMV resident - If I were to need to go to work, it would be a 2 hour bus-metro-metro-bus trip. If I drive, it *should* be 45 minute drive, but has never been less than an hour and is often 2-3.
Also, rent is super problematic. I had to sacrifice size for location. I like living here, but I wish that the housing market wasnt shit. I will never be able to own property unless something changed
In that case taking the bus-metro route might be better.. because you get to not worry about traffic, accidents, gas, insurance. And you could use that time on recreation.
But the best thing would be moving closer to work or changing to a nearby work
@@AtulKedia as of now, I am remote so I only need to make the commute 4-5 times a year.
If I am forced to come back into the office on a routine basis, I would move to the other side of the region
Only gotta go less than 1 minute into this video to see that the author doesn’t know much about this area.
Your point, that DC is divided between rich and poor, is spot on. Everything else though misses the mark either slightly or significantly. This video sounds more like someone who described a caricature of DC versus some of the real factors behind this wealth divide. Some other thoughts:
- 4:08 this is such a weird map that you used a few times. Your graphics completely ignore Fairfax County which is the most populated jurisdiction in the DMV
- 4:20 there is no "s" at the end of Silver Spring.
- No mention of the tech industry in Northern Virginia which does business with both the public and private sector.
- No mention of the many private companies headquartered in the DC area including Capital One, Amazon (HQ2), Nestle, Marriott, and many others. All have nothing to do with the feds and contribute significantly to the regions wealth
- No one calls the Maryland suburbs Southwest Maryland
- Your video ending is very odd, it sounds like you want to make another point but end with a random news clip.
I could name more but you get the point. This feels like a video quickly put together to generate content using stock footage (using Constitution Ave when talking about the Beltway, was there no stock footage for the Beltway!?) rather than anything substantive.
Agree…this video, and the narrative, was a crummy job overall.
Yeah this whole thing felt kind of... AI-made? I think I'm spoiled by more in-depth videos like Real Life Lore. After watching this I had to come to the comments to find fellow DCers who were as confused by this as I was.
Spot on.
This comment is characteristic of the DC area. People are smart as hell and have elite cognitive capabilities.
@@mikeomatic9905 even RLL is garbage
Jeff Bezos owning at least 3 properties in the area doesn't help with the housing crisis any 🙄
4:02 Why is fairfax County left off this map when it has a bigger impact on dmv wealth than pg County? Tysons, mclean, Vienna, fairfax, reston, Herndon, great falls, etc all drive that hh income up.
I once got a job offer in DC and they offered me a stipend on top of the salary because of costs of living. It was tempting but I passed because I didn’t want that commute and I got a comparable offer closer to my home. But it caused me to wonder how expensive DC must be if the job offered me free money just for me to live.
The stipend was a red flag. I will keep that in mind.
@ the funny part is that many people commute into DC, usually by train, and they work there just because of the stipend. I’ve never seen it anywhere else.
I live around DC, and while yes, it’s pretty expensive, the standard of living is pretty high and jobs are plentiful. Government spending keeps the economy afloat and it is remarkably recession-proof due to this. It can be frustrating affording things, but at the same time, the career opportunities are by far the best in the area. Just don’t live in eastern DC LOL
It's Silver Spring, not Silver Springs!
There are a lot of places much more expensive than DC in the US. Take a look at Boston, SF, NYC, Boulder, Miami, etc., it's less expensive. Combine that with the fact that living in DC means you don't need a car, and you can actually pay less than the suburbs of the region. It's more affordable than many major cities in the US.
“Boulder”
When did D.C. get more expensive than San Francisco, San Jose, Manhattan and Boston?
Awhile ago
@@oscardaone I haven't found a list that ranks DC number one. Either in highest rents or highest home costs.
it isn't . I like in SF and if I was single , I would probably move to DC for a cheaper cost of living lol
@@gamerjohn310 That's what I thought. Every list says. San Francisco has the highest rents. San Jose has higher home values dc is expensive though but not top
It isn’t cheaper. I live in Manhattan and just bought a townhouse in Georgetown. The same house in my Manhattan neighborhood would have been 3 times the price.
As soon as I can afford to do so, assuming telework continues, I’m leaving this expensive noisy area. Need peace and quiet for less $$$$.
Er:
I have NEVER heard the term "Southwestern Maryland."
People might say:
"DC-MD"
Here, this is assumed to mean DC + Montgomery, PG, and maybe Howard County.
There is Southern, MD, which I think of as Charles, Saint Mary's, and Calvert Counties.
FYI, it’s Silver Sring 😊
I thought it was Silver Spring...
0:33 I think you got Fairfax County and Loudoun County mixed up.
I will have to look at that, I use Map Tiler to design and animate maps, it's the same mapping software that you will find in GPS and weather apps.
No, all of the counties on the map are labeled correctly.
@@Verdant02 Yes but Fairfax county isn’t labeled and the beltway goes through Fairfax county. It does not go through Loudoun county
That’s what I was thinking the video says “capable of fueling the prosperous beltway region that runs off of it” and then cuts to a map not including Fairfax county. Had me scratching my head lol.
LIved in Springfield in the Virginia suburbs from 1998 to 2000. It was great back then. After watching this video, I'm glad that I don't live there anymore.
I found the video confusing. Is the District of Columbia over priced? (Which it is.) Or is the greater Metro region covering three states over priced? I live near Virginia Beach and commute into DC when needed. I prefer Amtrak but I have other options. I'm far from wealthy, doing about the national average most years.
The absence of Fairfax county VA from the map was equally confusing. With over 1 million people, it is home to numerous defense and other contractors that supply the US Government. It's GDP ($118 Billion) places it above states like Hawaii and West Virginia, and just blow Nebraska and Nevada.
Yeah, something like 1/8th of all Virginians live in Fairfax. It swings election results when it finally reports in.
The whole region is over priced, the city it's almost unlivable for normal people, but the outer portions are also extremely expensive in their own right.
@@SomethingDifferentFilmsHousing costs are high because pay is high. I bought here and paid off my home here well ahead of the amortization schedule because I get paid enough to live here.
There’s a lesser known story that no statistics can tell about the DC area’s high cost of living, that you’d have to live here to know.
Every single time you step out of your place, whether it’s fun/casual/social/work- you will spend money. And more than in most places. I know it seems obvious, but this is something that is abundantly true and apparent here.
Every time I speak to someone that moved here from LA, NYC, or SF, they ALWAYS say “damn it feels more expensive here,” and I’ll explain to them “it’s cause you spend money every time you leave your place.” It always just clicks to them the more we speak over time.
I’m not saying that these other cities aren’t as expensive as DC, I’m just saying that DC finds a way to extract money out of you more effectively than other places. The only city I hear that’s worse by measure of this phenomenon is Boston.
It's more accurate to focus on neighborhoods than entire counties and cities. There is no educational value in this video. It just claims cities like Alexandria and Silver Spring are "unaffordable" and "opulent" (a gross misuse of the term). You have to segment it by neighborhood, because there are affordable parts of these towns/counties. Otherwise, you get this really uninteresting and dull video which was probably produced in ChatGPT. It provides no useful or insightful information, and just relies on general claims which never strengthens the conclusion of the argument. A lazy video that provides no value.
I moved to Maryland back in 2002 from Ohio for a job offer. I have to admit, I like there’s is always something to do there. I lived in all 3 areas. I can say it is very expensive now. I just recently retired from that career 2022, and moved to Columbia, Md. that was my dream spot, right in the town center, across from the mall. Was like a piece of heaven on earth for me. Unfortunately, leaving the area going anywhere else was crazy as far as traffic. Rent prices going up, Even if you found a decent price to rent, it won’t be that way in one or two years, then you have to move again to find something cheaper. It’s too expensive to own a home. If you wanna enjoy some of the events down in DC, it feels exclusive, and you gotta pay for parking, which is really expensive because you won’t find any on the streets. Grocery shopping was really expensive, budget went up to $400 for 2 people, going out to eat is crazy expensive, that’s about $400 for 2 people, and gas is also about $65x3. Even though I have a good retirement, I still wasn’t happy with the price of not having some kind of lifestyle, travel, plus necessities.
So May this year, I decided to Pack up, and sell everything, even my car, applied for a retirement visa in Colombia 🇨🇴, got approved for 3 years, and now enjoy the lifestyle I wanted in the second largest growing city here. Renting a Remodeled 3br/4br $850
$300 for groceries for 3
$300 dining for 2
Fuel(diesel) $70 per month.
Good steak meals, with drinks for 2, $28
Gas, water, electricity $110.
Phone and high speed internet $30
Weather: it’s called the city of eternal spring. I’d say spring/summer, no seasons here.
IMAX movies $3 instead of $22
Due to the low cost of living, we can now travel more than if I was there in the states, not to mention other countries nearby to travel to in South America, and Latin America for less than $150, or free with points.
I was paying over $3000 to live in Maryland, not anymore. Actual change my residency to Texas before leaving which saved me $327 on taxes per month. That’s groceries here. There is nowhere in the USA that I can live like I do now for what I’m paying. Even if you owned your home, you still have to pay, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees, and everything else still would be expensive just the same. Actually not owning a home, allow this to be possible. The salary required to own a home in the DC area is what you can purchase an apartment for here. The savings rate here is quicker. The possibilities, maybe save for a down payment on a place in Portugal instead. 🤔
Great if you value the dollar more than your safety.
@@hejiranycWhen was the last time you were here if you going to make that statement. Been here a few times before moving. I hope it’s not based on what the news told you, or what other people that don’t live here told you. The USA is know to be a dangerous country also, but being you live there, you would have a different say on that right? There are expats that’s been here for years. Some own investments properties, businesses, married to locals, and have families. Hope it’s not from weekend warriors that come for prostitution, and drugs, and back home the following week, if they don’t get scoped. Not every one is into risky things.They don’t have mass shootings here either.
I mean as of January, DC had 2,907 reported violent crime.
What’s the one saying I hear when people say, “Have a safe trip”?, no, you have a safe stay.
The trick to living well, but cheaply, in the US is to find a poor area that is still pretty safe. Those still exist.
@ yes but what else do you have to give up for the purpose of living cheaply. You might have to give up a walkable community, you might have to give up varieties of fine dining. You might actually have to buy a car. Give up walking a few blocks to have drinks a a nice bar, festivals, events. If you plan on doing minimal of anything, then It might be a good idea. someone who’s a homebody, and like the local diner down the street or shop at the grocery store where everybody knows each other. They’re just are too many different levels of a lifestyle people want. Me I rather have the DC vibe but in another country where it’s a little bit less busy, and way less expensive, and I can do without a vehicle due to better public transportation.
I found this video ended very abruptly and there was definitely misleading information in here.
I’m a resident of Ward 8 in DC and although it does sustain a lot of DC’s public housing sectors, it is rapidly changing. I did my geography undergrad research paper on the changes that SW DC experienced from WW2 until 2023 and found it’s gone through so much. and I can tell you just from living there, it’s rapidly changing. It’s very evident from Mayor B’s initiative to invest specifically into Ward 8.
Also, I’m very confused why Fairfax and Prince William counties were often not highlighted.
I love your channel, but I think this video didn’t quite hit the mark of your other content.
Two types of people live in D.C. Those are can afford to live there, and those who cannot afford to live elsewhere.
@00:55 Definition of DMV is a bit wrong. None of these videos from out of towners get it right, but this is close. Pretty much accurate if you just remove Jefferson County WV, and add the southern part of Howard County MD. This is very close though.
Yeah our mayor keeps making the rich folks happy. While the rest of us are still broke. Like sheesh! She ain’t people’s favorite right now.
I been around the country but the DMV is easily top 5 best Cities/areas to live in, in the entire country.
I’m born in Washington DC, lived in DC and PG County. I work in DC and walk about 5-10 miles in the DC every day.
However, DC has a high murder rate and a lot of crime (that spreads heavy into PG County) that ranks in the highest (per capita) in the nation.
As long you’re in the right places the DMV is very enjoyable it’s hard to find anywhere else in the country that’s like this area.
The DMV is not a city. The only city is Washington DC. Maryland & Virginia are the suburbs even tho PG has its pocket of rough neighborhoods with high crime rates. DC is a lit city to live in & unique. It’s a very live & fun city. This subject of the TH-cam channel we on is only talking about DC not the DMV.
@@TheyWanBeMe100 I’m born and raised here slim. I know that. 😂
He referenced “DMV” multiple times in this video. That’s why I said what I said. Calling DMV “citites/area.” Because the DMV includes DC.
Bro forgot the Washington Capitals in the major sports teams 💔
This is a direct byproduct of the DMV's low density compared to other global capitals and it's car-dependent sprawl. If the DMV were developed with the same transit oriented development of a city like Copenhagen, the entire 6+ million residents in the region would fit within the Beltway. This is also what exacerbates housing prices, as NINBYs protect single family zoning immediately outside of the dense downtown cluster.
Also with 680 thousand cameras!!!
Living in this area all my, the area become really expensive after the election of George W Bush. During the Clinton administration, the money flowed and the cost of living was more sustainable.
So much was missing from this video. In the 80s, it wasn't uncommon to bump into a Congressman when picking up some ribs or bowling with SS personnel. Years before that when more DoD agencies were still in the city, everyone rode the bus or subway together and had lunch in the cafeteria. Congress controls DC with an iron fist. With the WHITE FLIGHT of the 70s, the beautification budget was cut terribly. My first time at the White House in '86, there were homeless encampments on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yes. When various agencies left downtown, the middle class disappeared. Blacks went to PG and HoCo; Whites went to Fairfax and Arlington. Only recently around 2005 did SE Asians move into the city followed by Whites. Thats when the property values skyrocketed. Homes that Blacks had owned since slavery were sold off to whites for a fraction of the markup prices. And don't think I didn't notice how you didn't mention the true dichotomy in this region. MANASSASS.
About 12 years ago I would say I bumped into Newt Gingrich while I was walking into the National Shrine…..
please do miami next 😂
DMV is pay to play. Always has been, always will be.
if DC cant fix DC do you think it can fix the rest of the country?
I live in DC and this is highly decieving and destructive. If you are willing to live without 2 cars, a big garage, a boat, a single family home and not use metro the. It is as affordable and a wonderful place to live. We have no debt, and live in the best neighborhood, Dupont Circle and Kalorama on 70,000 a a year. Dc taxpayers also support the houseless by creating homes for them in all neighborhoods so they can get mail and deal with their diseases an the legal system equitably. Compare this with Florida which is just now jailing the houseless. Yes, we put those things before a three car garage and big lawns to mow.
Homeless "people" are the biggest problem in DC and the reason I left; blind generosity has destroyed our capital.
There are plenty of homeless throughout the city, so DC must not be doing a great job. Also, no shot that they are housing a lot of homeless people west of rock creek park.
@@basedmemerhomeless people are in EVERY city of the world, no matter where. By the way the DMV has a pretty low homeless per capita rate.
I live in Loudoun Ciunty, which is awesome, and drive in to DC 3 days / wk, which is not great. It’s expensive here but it’s also really really nice. It does cost a bit though
I think Arlington and Alexandria area should reunify with D.C.
Might as well. They just as expensive and urban as DC proper…..
DC Area most expensive housing? What kind of statistics are you getting? New York, Boston, and San Francisco are all way more expensive. A house in Palo Alto in San Francisco lands you similar incomes, similar crappy commutes, but can easily cost twice as much. New York has lower salaries, longer commutes, but similar housing prices (in the suburbs). Traffic is bad but it's not any worse than SF or NYC or Boston for that matter, and the public transit, I've found, is more comprehensive (except NYC).
Strange video the arguement feels disjointed, the creators clearly arent from the area and havent really taken the time to research. Too heavy reliance on ai?
DC was normal before all the outs came round.
The who came around ?
You left most of Northern Virginia off the maps. Clearly, you have not been to the DC area...and likely not to USA.
4:20 Silver Spring 😊
I think you need to do a little more research on your use of DMV. Hard to take the vid seriously when you start with that.
This feed is so misleading, it does not make considerstions about sustainable life decisions and assumes that all Americans covet the same things. I talk to my freinds in Florida who think Dc is still dangerous but in reality it is far safer than Ron Desantis home town, Dunedin Florida, where my mom lives, wirh no black neigjbors. and that costs money too and we do not rely on open carry laws to achieve community safety.
One way to solve housing and traffic is to bulldoze and downsize parks inside the city. If the city's growing, we don't need "Bambi" to graze, we need smart roads and affordable homes. Rock Creek Park I'm looking at you..🧐
nova gang
You’re using data from 2011 what a horrible video.
🦧💩💩💩💩🏚📈💸💸💸🧻
Cost of living and thuggerous youth 🥷🏽