I was going to throw this out until I saw yours. It's probably going to be easier and cheaper and more convenient for both of you to live in Mt Vernon and commute via Penn station (walkable from anywhere in Mt Vernon) if your partner works on the Hill. Union station is a block from the hill, and the MARC train is a totally reasonable commute, I did it every day for years. There's no changing trains, its a relatively relaxing straight shot from Penn station to Capitol hill. Your cost of living will also be extremely low compared even to the suburbs.

Living in Mt Vernon you're also not sacrificing on neighborhood. It's FAR from the burbs, very dense and cultured.

There is no city part of DC that is convenient to the Hill AND an easy commute to Baltimore, but if you're REALLY set on DC I have lived in the Lincoln Park area of Capitol Hill and the jump onto 295 north out by the stadium can be a pretty painless drive. I still recommend the first option though.

I would so, so, so strongly recommend living in Hampden and bearing the triweekly train commute to Capitol Hill. If for no reason other than the people are *so* much nicer in Hampden than in Capitol Hill and you'll spend 1/3 the cost on housing, with just as good (or better!) proximity to food and other city perks. This is speaking as someone who's been living in and around Hampden for 5 years now, and has been commuting either to Suitland or the Nat'l Mall for the entirety of it! I grew up in the DC suburbs and Columbia and there are reasons that I continue to live where I do. The voice of experience is speaking!

The reasonable recommendation, since it's all up to you and your partner, is that you guys come spend an afternoon and evening in Baltimore and explore on your own. Especially in Hampden, since that's where you'll be working!

Woodlea has killer donuts too!

I’m not sure how to put in location on 311 without an issue being at a specific address, just down the way from y’all’s falls road yard there is a manhole cover sunk wayyyy down into the road. It’s really bad. It’s on Clipper between Whitehall mill and falls road if you’re headed towards the 3 way stop coming from WHM.

The cynic in me predicts that this housing will run into the same issues as the public housing projects that came before us.

One of you is going to have a brutal commute if you want to live in an urban setting. The most realistic option would be to live in Columbia and have equal-ish commutes (DC being a bit further but not by a lot).

Can y’all move to Baltimore right by Penn station and your partner take the train to work?

Both Laurel and Columbia car-centric stroad infested towns. Particularly Laurel.

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Uh, I'd say at least an hour maybe an 1 hour and 20 min. I've heard people say as high as 1 hr 45 minutes - but, there is also the MARC (still an hour but not driving)

Are you on a hybrid model in Baltimore?

True, maybe since a bunch of schools closed lots of employees had to call out.

My partner will be working in Capital Hill, I'lll be working in Hamden.

Pekara in Roland Park

How long does their commute take and at what time of day?

I know people who do Arlington to Baltimore but it is hybrid schedule - would depend how much you want to be drained after work

Depends on the time of day. Two hours in rush hour sounds right.

It's not super clear where in each city you'll be working. That will determine my advice :)

True! Any particular area within the inner DC suburbs you'd recommend with a commute to Baltimore? We're totally new to the area

The inner DC suburbs are just as vibrant as the city itself. Plus transit is A LOT better in the DC area than in Baltimore

He will be working in capital hill. What are Laurel and Columbia like? Are they more family oriented or there are also young people?

I lived on a really rough street in Truxton so my experience was really not great. Basically you don’t want to be near N Cap Street.

I loved walking around Bloomingdale.

What poor outcomes are you expecting from this plan?

Every time they yell nail harder

Thanks so much for this advice! Unfortunately, I think I'm losing the battle to live in Baltimore and commute to DC. My partner is pushing hard for us to live in DC and commute to Baltimore (and be much more poor lol)

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