DC is a great place to live, people just like to complain on the internet.

People that are out and about, living their happy lives are too busy to spend much time on Reddit. Take what you see with a big grain of salt. Everyone’s experience is different living here.

People post more when they’re upset about something than when they’re happy about something, IMO.

DC is the best place I've ever lived. Moved here about 12 years ago, did one year in Arlington in between, and have been in Montgomery County MD (right by a metro stop, and still work in downtown DC) for the last 2ish years. There is crime, traffic, and general craziness just like any other city, but for me the pros definitely outweigh the cons.

No, this sub disproportionately complains about dogs, crime, and driving way more than anyone I have met in-person in DC.

This sub is 50% people who don’t live here, 25% hating dogs, 20% crime and 5% good content

DC is a wonderful city, and you should ignore most of the negativity in this subreddit except the part about how a lot of the cheap apartments on Craigslist are scams. Always see an apt in person before paying any application fees.

No, the banter and focus you observe on reddit is not a proper reflection for this area (or really any area for that matter). To put it in perspective, of my friends in DC, less than 10% of them are on reddit and thus their viewpoints are not reflected here.

Every city sub is like this. People love to go online to vent or complain. Do not get your first impressions about DC, or any other city, from its subreddit.

That said, a lot of the negativity you see here comes from a real place. There are problems in DC: it's not all yuppies and monuments and brunch.

I would only go so far as to describe city subreddits as “less ridiculous than nextdoor.” lots of good info, but you have to take it with a grain of salt, especially when there’s brigading on hot button political stuff from people who don’t even live there.

if you don’t know anyone who has lived here, i would say put a call out for friends of friends etc. actually talking to locals really helped me in the decision to move and getting oriented once i was new here. if you can visit, going to neighborhood coffee shops etc. and checking out the general vibe is helpful. personally, the thing i miss the most is the “weird”/subculture stuff that was much more prevalent in tucson, where i’m from. baltimore tends to be more my speed. (check out the visionary art museum!!) of course…don’t base your opinions of baltimore on -that- sub lol.

Moved here knowing where I was going. I am not disappointed. It’s a big city with the usual problems of big cities. It has major plusses. Moderate climate with 4 seasons. Fantastic cultural opportunities. International and diverse. Major sports. World class entertainment venues. Lovely green spaces. Iconic buildings and sculptures. Serviced by 3 major airports. I love it here as I approach a full decade. I have no plans to leave.

I like living in DC and have only witnessed a very small smattering of the bad things people complain about all the time here.

Sometimes I feel like since DC attracts a lot of high strung, high achieving types, you see a lot of more people from that crowd posting about every single little thing that they see wrong with the city.

It's a city. No city is perfect. DC is better than most other cities in terms of quality of life and livability. The mass transit is decent. Of course can things be better and can we do better? Yes. But that's utopia. There will be compromises.

If you don't like it here, you can always go to a place that suits you better. I'd imagine most people on this subreddit are well-educated and are in skilled professions, so to do that isn't much of a stretch for many here.

No, not even close. This sub has definitely taken a downturn since the pandemic started, but the city is still wonderful.

It's reddit, there's a bias towards grumpy people who share their thoughts behind a screen and not in person. Take that for what you will.

This subreddit is 100% accurate reflection of life in DC and the people. This is also true of the internet at large. ;)

As many people have mentioned, we do maybe like to complain on the internet!

But also, we're complaining because we know DC can do better (and should do better).

Don't forget that if people have given up, they rarely bother to complain!

Assuming you are considering moving to DC, the city, and not the surrounding area.

Many posts criticizing or expressing dissatisfaction with DC contain at least a grain of truth. Try to strip away any tone to consider what is valued or being said and see if it still resonates.

If you planning a move and throwing a dart at the map, and just show up in DC, there is a 50% chance you will be disappointed.

Your DC experience depends on your values, interests, finances, intentions, and demographics.

DC has two faces. Professionally, this is a government and politics city. A lot of people move here with intention of furthering their career as part of a life plan they may have been born into. Small talk questions tend to be what do you do, who do you work for, where do you live, and do you own or rent? The posts asking where to watch political debates or congressional hearings are real. Personal real life interests can feel secondary. If you are arriving from the Midwest and you aren’t somehow interested in politics it can feel alienating.

Locally and residentially, if you are looking to move into DC the city, it has changed a lot and continues to change. If you hope to buy and eventually own a home, DC is far more expensive than say Columbus. If you research you may find taxes and cost of living are known to be comparatively higher, too.

In some condo buildings, HOA fees can cost as much as rent with little justification — it might be smarter to buy a home (if you can find one) and self-insure the maintenance/repairs that $1k+ monthly HOA fees supposedly offset.

Anecdotally: As someone who as lived in DC for thirty years, there has always been tension among the city’s demographics and it has heightened. In the last 8 yrs I’ve become keenly aware that the person I know myself to be is not how I present to others. I’ve randomly experienced being threatened, shoulder checked, shouted at, and harassed while minding my own business going to/from the grocery and running errands — in the name of justice. Neighbors have shared they are experiencing this, too.

The DC city government currently skews left, and increasingly seems more principled than practical. Claiming to champion “real Washingtonians” is a nostalgic dog whistle (of a different kind) that ignores the city’s current demographics and history in macro. It also heightens tensions.

The city has been a destination for large peaceful protests. But political analysts claim DC will increasingly draw a more kinetic crowd like Portland and other places. After living here 30 yrs, and watching things organize online, that forecast seems more probable than possible.

Culturally, the city is home to many colleges and museums which are great for broadening horizons. The restaurant scene can be trendy and expensive (like anywhere else). Local music venues like Anthem and 930 club attract well-known and up and coming acts. Rock Creek park is nice for watching the seasons change.

DC is also centrally located among the east coast’s “megalopolis” and international airports which creates opportunity to explore when you are ready for that.

TLDR; DC the city offers a lot of nice amenities. Culture is a toss up and favors youth seeking professional advancement. DC’s residential life can feel like a high maintenance dysfunctional friend. The cost of living, if you aren’t careful, can negate the advantages and set back your longer term financial goals — compared to living elsewhere.

I moved here 6 months ago. I really enjoy it. I came for a year of school, but will be staying afterward and for the foreseeable future.

(I’m originally from Columbus too and imo you won’t regret moving here)

I feel like a lot of transplant residents with complaints hadn’t lived in a dense urban setting before moving here, and are surprised by the proximity to wealth disparity, crime, etc. it’s not worse (and in some cases arguably better) than any other major metro area in the country (NY, LA, Chicago, the bay, etc.)

Reddit is not reality. The people in this subreddit are highly unrepresentative of DC residents as a whole.

I moved from the Columbus area to DC a little over a year ago, one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s more than expensive but the resources, the culture, the food, the people, the WALKABILITY, make it worth it. The more residential sides almost remind me of the outskirts of Cincinnati, but if there was an effective bus system and restaurants that were actually interesting. You have to find your people (if you don’t anywhere will suck), but there are enough social clubs, volunteering opportunities, and work happy hours to make that happen for you. Best of luck escaping Ohio’s gravity!

I love many things about DC, as much as I accept the negatives I've had to deal with (most of which have stemmed from not making enough money to live well in DC. Better now than before, but I'm still ignoring the reality that I can't buy property I'd want here unless I can significantly change salary or relationship status.) If you think you'll enjoy it and make enough money to have a fulfilling life here in the process, then absolutely come. If you think you'll love it but maybe can't stay long-term, it may still be worth renting here for a couple years, come try it for yourself! There's so many cultural activities, different groups of interesting people, good food options, and ways of living that make it a great place to live!

The majority of US Reddit users are white men between the ages of 18 and 29.

So it’s safe to say this subreddit is a decent reflection of how white men between the ages of 18 and 29 feel about DC.

The demographics of the city do not match up with the demographics of Reddit.

Living right outside DC is best. It is slightly safer. If you choose a place near metro, it will be easy to move around. You won’t need a car.

I mean I’m not the biggest fan but that’s not DCs fault. I just learned too late that I’m not a big fan of cities in general. I will say the public transportation is one of the best I’ve ever experienced, even if it’s still far from perfect (that’s more a USA problem than a dc problem). I’ve found great people here and a lot of resources that you couldn’t find in a lot of other places. If you like cities I think you’ll like dc

In between the fun and helpful posts this sub sometimes feels like a weird hate-group of sorts. But the objects of hate are motorists, tourists, and people from nearby suburbs. Some of the people on here seem lonely and in need of friends. For example I have yet to see anyone away from this sub get angry over which name is used to refer to DCA, or talk about popping mirrors or puncturing tires on cars while on a bike ride.

TL/DR: No

I love DC and honestly i can't think of another city in the US I'd prefer to live in. DC has its problems and many of them are discussed here but i believe the benefits of the city vastly outweigh its issues. My and my wife's jobs went fully remote after COVID so we could live anywhere in the US but we choose to stay in DC because we love it here.

As someone that grew up in DC and still live in the same area of the city it’s good. Like any major city there is crime, income inequality and diversity more than other major cities. Many folks that move to the city don’t come with an open mind to try and experience new things or want to learn about the history or the people.

Like yelp, people come here to complain. If they don’t have something to complain about, they’re out enjoying their lives.

DC has its issues. I’m not interested in living anywhere else.

I love DC. It is not perfect and I complain on the internet about the ways it is not perfect. But I love it in its imperfection.

I’ve lived all over the country. This is my favorite city to live in by far and I would choose it over almost anywhere else in the country.

If you ignore the crime and terrible customer service, (which is just par the course for US cities), It’s the closest you’ll come to living in a European capital IMO.

I complain about DC regularly but it’s easily my favorite city to live in in the world — best balance of quality of life and culture. Check my post history to confirm. Move here if you are on the fence at all, it’s worth it.

I can’t think of a single city sub that is overly positive honestly

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I like to think of it like a Yelp review. People tend not to leave a review for an average experience, and usually not even for a great one. But have a negative experience at a restaurant, and you'd better believe that place is getting put on-blast for it. Which makes places look a little negative on-average as a result- people are prone to complaints more than praise in-general.

This is no different. The warts and flaws, everyone goes off about, but the good part sometimes get a little buried.

It has a lot of flaws as a city- housing is expensive, Metro is a disaster, tourist hordes can make it difficult to get around sometimes, etc... it's also got a lot of great things going for it.

Put another way, I moved here in the final days of 2006 and have never left. So it can't be TOO terrible. ;)

That's funny, I love living in DC and this subreddit was a big part of me making the decision to move here.

It's not for everyone and there are very specific things people like to complain about... If you're a straight single woman trying to get into a serious relationship, it sounds like it kinda sucks for that. If you don't like politics or are super conservative you might not love it. But if you're a nerd with an impractical degree and delusions of grandeur, you'll fit right in!

I'd treat this sub similar to Next Door in terms of what you see posted. People are gonna be much more likely to post about their complaints than things they are happy about. DC is a wonderful city and has great culture if you get out of Downtown. I love DC and don't plan to move anytime soon

Like every place on the planet— there are positives and negatives. I would not base my opinions on whether to move somewhere on peoples comments on Reddit— the grass is green where you water it

No

I love this town and so do my friendsand most of my neighbors. Most people who live in DC are not in this sub.

DC is delightful, I've lived here off and on over 25 years. One of the very lucky and few who can say they were actually born in the city (sorry Arlingtonians, love ya). But it's a city.

However, unlike other cities, know what you're getting into: the culture, general vibe, and why DC is DC. Sure, it's a political town, but it has a deep cultural heritage. Be respectful of the folk who have made DC such an amazing city and you'll be fine.

Every city sub is miserable.

I just moved here at the start of the December and I love it. Incredible place, diverse, historical, fun, beautiful, warm (compared to Boston!) etc. It’s great.

I live in DC, and participate in a few DC related message boards. Given the political nature of Washington DC, sadly DC-related message boards are often the target of people who don't even live here, who want to attack and denigrate and demonize, who want to make DC seem like a complete cesspool of crime, out-of-control Karens imposing unhinged wokeness or whatever else. And then there are the suburbanites, who project hate on DC because of the commute they've chosen for themselves. They constantly start threads to complain about bike lanes and other things.

We've lived in DC for almost 15 years, and enjoy it here. It's very walkable, there is a lot of green space and tons of great activities and amenities. I have a DC-area bucket list that has hundreds and hundreds of places to go and things to do which gives us fuel for every open weekend. Is DC perfect? No. Sure, there's crime - but none of us has ever been the victim of crime in the 15 years we've lived here, and I rarely hear of any of our friends and neighbors becoming victims of crime either. Yeah, there are some homeless people. Many of the DCPS schools are notoriously bad, but we got lucky and got into a good charter, and our kid got into a great university with plenty of scholarship money. Housing can be expensive. Many restaurants are overpriced for what they provide. There's always going to be things like that to complain about, but those aren't by any stretch unique to DC, you'll find the same situation in NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, or other big cities as well.

speaking as someone who still spends time in both places, DC is a better place than Columbus OH full stop. You see me in the Columbus sub shitting on Ohio all the time.

Here's an example... A women with a baby in a baby carriage are walking thru a cross walk. A wheel on the carriage breaks:

In NYC: people just help carry the baby carriage across.

In DC: people ask if you need help, then help carry the carriage across... if they have time.

In LA: people start up a nice conversation if you need help, provide suggestions, then continue on their way (while you move the carriage).

Currently live in LA, still have prop in Glover Park. Miss walking to everything, people like community IN DC; but LA, 100x more diverse, friendly strangers, more stuff to do. Both take 45min to get to say Dupont circle or Santa Monica.

Sums it up.

I was born in DC in 1951. Moved to VA beach in 1959. Years later returned to work. Having lived in Europe many years, I loved the diverse culture. DC is a small space. But Annapolis and Eastern Shore are close. Mountains along Blue Ridge Parkway are close. Day to day you cope with living in a Federal city. President motorcades that block traffic. The bike paths are poorly engineered. My son was cut off in a bike path and fractured both elbows. You will need to live in an apartment unless you've got a million to spend on a home. Busses and taxis and Uber/Lyft are great but expensive. But a car is kind of useless. Any other questions?

I feel most ppl on this subReddit are younger and probably not native to the city. Just an observation.

>a majority of the posts I see here have been negative

Yeah as a recent transplant that is how it seems, like every other post is someone getting carjacked by literal children or assaulted on the metro. It doesn't paint DC in the best light.

Former Ohioan here, who also moved to DC after grad school - I love it here, for many reason, but mostly just the city itself. I love going for long walks with my dog, checking out different restaurants and going to museums. It’s a big city, yet drivable, it’s busy but not overwhelmingly so, theres always something interesting going on on the weekend. I find it’s a nice balance. And the weather is more mild than Ohio!

I live in No Virginia and have traveled a decent amount into DC

I would recommend, if possible, to see if you spend a few days or a week or 2 with some friends or even rent an airbnb in DC to get a feel for the city.

There can be lots of cool stuff if you really enjoy the urban vibe, but be cautioned the cost of living when looking at rent, food, going out, parking, et cetera is pre d*** high

I went to OSU and have a couple very good friends in Columbus still. The biggest downsides to here seem to be housing - $300k gets you a serviceable SFH in much of Columbus and a 1-bedroom condo here, and community - it's just something you have to actively work at here in a way you don't have to in Ohio. The crime feels higher than Columbus, but I think that's mostly because in DC you're likely out in public more, whereas CBus most people (understandably) just drive everywhere...I have to say though, I know MANY other Ohioans who are here, and I can think of maybe three people from the DMV who ended up in OH. Take that as you will

I love it here! Moved here in 2011 and still haven’t seen everything. This area is like having 3 states (I know DC is not one lol) at your fingertips at once and it’s awesome. Also close to PA, Jersey. North Carolina….and a four hour drive (or bus) to NYC. I grew up in upstate NY and while I’ve been to NYC many times, I still think it’s nice I can hop a ride and be there. There’s something for everyone here. I will say it’s super competitive here work and education wise and expensive, but you make what you want of your experience. 🙂

I’d live in the suburbs. After the pandemic, the crime has been out of control. I lived in DC for seven years, and the crime sent me over the river into Virginia.

Honestly if you would consider not moving somewhere because of Reddit, DC might not be the place for you this city chews people up. It’s called Hollywood for ugly people for a reason

DC before the pandemic was a bustling, vibrant, beautiful city. Now it’s nothing like it was before 2020. And the voters this year killed the restaurant industry. Come July good servers and bartenders all will be going to work in Northern Virginia.

There is a gap between local relative comparisons and global comparisons.

Although people are right that the internet likes to complain, there are other things going on here as well.

Ask the question: is DC a great place to live, you will get a resounding yes. There is a fair amount of selection bias in that answer of course but it is real. This answer is founded in a global comparison of places to live. Am I better off in the DC environment than Baltimore, Chicago, LA, etc. ?

Meanwhile the bitching about DC you see is actually a comment of local comparison or trend in time: are things getting worse or better locally. I think you are seeing evidence that things are getting worse in the city. The trends of cities nationally having problems is very much a pandemic related issue with many factors. DC isn't perhaps doing that much worse than others so again comparatively people will still want DC, but at the same time they are identifying a trend to the negative.

DC is a large city, I wouldn't think any consensus would be meaningful. A lot of people are crochety, adoring, frustrated, and contented with the city. Also in my experience no city is going to be a good match for all people.

I really like the city, but that opinion doesn't generate a ton of discussion. People that enjoy the city are largely out enjoying the city, not on this sub

I have lived all over the country—south, Midwest, pacific NW, NYC, etc—and DC is the best. The lack of skyscrapers, being at the center of American politics, the Smithsonians, and the people are what make it special.

DC is great. Lots to offer! I feel totally safe here (except while biking).

Reddit is a cesspool. But damn, is it entertaining. I gotta spend less time on reddit.

Nah, DC is awesome place to live especially young adults (moved here after grad school). It was a bit of sticker shock to me (from mid-west) but the public transportation, the amount of stuff going on, the great food, and everything. Yeah, definitely worth the price.

Been here 20 years and lived in many places before- DC hands down has become a great place to live. It’s got everything you want - great food scene, walkable, public transportation, amazing museums, good music venues across the city and access to lots of biking/hiking opportunities. wine country isn’t far (not Napa or Sonoma but won’t kill you either). And NYC is a train ride away!

From my experience. For born and raised like myself, this is home and we love our city.

Transplants, it’s not what they expected which is okay. But it’s not like dc is the perfect city.

Still the capital of the USA which comes with many fun things for a city.

DC resident now and have spent a lot of time in Columbus (grew up in Ohio and my brother went to OSU and lived there for a while after). In my opinion if you like Columbus you’ll love DC. Vibes wise I’d say they definitely have similarities. Adams Morgan is N. High Street. Navy Yard is Short North. Probably like the Columbus subreddit crime gets amplified especially when it is in “nicer” areas. I have two small children and feel like the benefits of living here far outweigh any concerns about crime or the “negatives” that are often prevalent in the subreddit.

Local sub Reddit starter pack:

• "the traffic is getting bad"
• "did anyone else hear an explosion?"
• "the thing I like isn't as good as it was before"
• "I'm thinking about moving/visiting/renting/buying"
• "the crime/politicians/taxes/neighbors are out of control"
• "where can I go to be a little slutty?"

Moving to the DC, the city, or including the surrounding areas (Northern VA)?

The DC metropolitan area is quite big if you include some of the counties in Maryland and Virginia

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It’s not always my favorite but, if you have to live anywhere in the US, DC is one of the better places to live.

I fell in love with DC so hard I moved from another country to live here

Well I moved here after college “just for a few years to get experience to get on my resume and move back home (rust belt city) as soon as I can” That was in 2006, I’m still here but I have been to a lot of going away happy hours

It’s a great city! Move here.

If you are leaving graduate school it is a great city to be in for work. Especially in comparison to Midwestern cities. However, people tend to be more direct in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. So it may come off as negative in certain respects sometimes.

However, it is a great city to live in, at least in my opinion.

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People just like to complain—I grew up in Columbus and live/work in DC now. It's a city with all the problems of most major cities but it's a great place to live. Do some research into what neighborhoods would best fit your lifestyle and would be close to workplaces and whatnot, you'll be fine.

Went to college here, moved away for a long time, missed it every other day, finally got back. DC, like any other city, it is what you make it. DC works for some people, doesn't work for others. Figure out what you want from a city, if DC provides it, and take it from there. Oh and its a big city so it has all the negatives of a big city: big rats, problematic public transit, sometimes crappy weather, expensive real estate, mean people, deadly incidents. It also has cherry blossoms along a river in the spring, eagles, herons, parks, many FREE museums with WORLD CLASS exhibits, fun and funny people, a great Metro, findable decent apts. I mean, people complain about Paris and somewhere there is site where people are doing exactly that...you ll have to come here, spend some time off the beaten track and see if it works for you.

DC is my favorite city. I went to undergrad here and was thrilled to come back after grad school. No regrets

I lived in DC for over a decade after similarly graduating from grad school (though it was also in the District) before moving to the burbs during the summer 2022. DC is a great city that I highly recommend living in and of which I also miss living in.

While living in DC, I complained as much as anyone about the Metro and occasionally about the council and crime rate. But that didn’t diminish my love of living in DC (except for having no representation in Congress). So, I’d recommend it in a heartbeat. If it weren’t for the impossibly high house prices, I would have stayed. That said, living fifteen minutes from Baltimore has its perks; though it makes my morning commute to DC a pain in the ass. As much as I hated the metro at times, reading on the metro is far superior to being stuck in traffic.

As for this sub, it’s mostly a reflection of the mood. But I’d wager a lot of the crime posts (especially those that rip on statehood) are posted by outsiders.

It should be one data point but getting out and seeing the city is the best way to get reality. I’m currently living in DC and Miami and I can tell you that people on this sub are way less disgruntle expect during the winter.

I have lived in DC off and on for the past 50 or so years. I hope to be out of DC this spring, and I'll never come back. The crime is crazy here. I was recently robbed at knifepoint in broad daylight at my front door. There is plenty to complain about here. Gun violence is off the charts. Others terrorize drivers and walkers alike with dirt bikes, and the police have been told not to pursue them. And it's written off to DC culture. The culture of DC stinks.

I’ve lived here about 5 years and really love it. I’ve been having a period of rediscovery in the last few months and it’s been delightful. You get all the metropolitan perks with a small city feel

No city subreddit is an accurate description of the city. Its just an accurate description of the redditors in the city.

I have lived in DC since 2010, bought my house in 2013. I used to love DC and now I want to move to where people are kinder. I have seen people become meaner and more selfish. The crime has really increased in my neighborhood. For years, I would hear gunshots every few months. Now, and I am not exaggerating, there are nearby about every 2 weeks. A few months ago at 6pm a child was shot a few hundred ft from my house. One time I dropped to the floor bec the shots were so close and I didn’t know where they were coming from. I volunteer monthly and help out my neighbors and do other things to try to spread the love in DC. Would I recommend someone moving to DC now, no. It doesn’t feel like the city I used to know.

Moved here 8 years ago and I couldn't see myself living anywhere else. DC is fantastic!

I love it here!!

Please don’t use Reddit as a measure, it hardly captures the general sentiment…across any given topic

DC is awesome. Dangerous in pockets, but that's every city. This place is amazing.

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yuppies in dc will forever be stuck in The Colbert Report mode circa 2005.

DC is swell, if I have my way I will never leave the DMV again.

Hi OP, I just moved here from Columbus so happy to answer any specific questions about the differences between the two!

For me, personally, I’ve always wanted to live here and I love it so far. I’m a bit of a history buff so I’m really enjoying that part of it :)

DC is truly a great place to live. As others have mentioned several times, the social life, access to mass transit, job opportunities, an established but growing haute restaurant scene, museums, etc. And like any other major city, DC also has its problems to include crime and an incredibly high cost of living. Although safety should be at the top of your list when scouting any new area, I would instead focus on the financials.

This subreddit is awful; I moved to DC 11 years ago for work. I left that job over 7 years ago and stayed because of how much I enjoy it here. Don't get me wrong it has issues, but it's what you make of it. Get out and explore, meet new people, and be sure to eat at some of the unique restaurants around. Get out of the city too! DC is in such an advantageous spot; you can go to the beach, go camping, rock climbing, brewery/winery/ distillery hopping, there's so much history in the city and out of it. All this to say sure there's shitty parts just like any city, but it's not hard to find the lovely parts. I hope you guys give it a shot and enjoy it as much as I do!

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No. A very large majority of people who post here are not native Washingtonians. That doesn’t mean their opinions are not valid, but they do not represent the true sentiment of locals.

I’m from NYC and I say the same about the NYC sub.

This subreddit does not accurately depict living in DC, I’ve lived here for 5 years and it’s the best place I’ve lived yet. Lots of things to do, conveniently located, very green, good layout. I echo all the previous comments that people like to complain here about all the negative things and rarely share the many positive ones

Been trying to also figure that out as well

this sub represents the whiny transplants who just moved here and can't handle the realities of coexistence, and the grumpy natives who also can't handle the realities of coexistence.

Moved here 5 months ago and love it - and the metro isn’t nearly as bad as Reddit would make you think - but the bus system is as great as many posts have highlighted!!

OP hasn't heard of Popville 🤭

Most people in the sub are transients that are here temporarily (sub 5 years) but that is a reflection of the city because most people here aren't from here and most likely won't stay here

No

It does. I have lived here for a long time, I work for the dc gov. I love this city, it’s the best in the world IMO, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have complaints.

I've lived here for 15 years and I like it here. I never plan to leave.

No

Just a Marylander who works and commutes to DC with the occasional weekend trip to a museum or restaurant.

This subreddit does not represent the true sentiment of DC.

There are many great people throughout the city.

Love it here!

People are really pessimistic here but don’t let it sway you. It also made me nervous before moving here but I absolutely love DC and don’t regret the move at all.

DC is an awesome city, and you would be hard pressed not to love it. The DC subbreddit is full of entitled complainers, trolls and gatekeepers and doesn't represent DC at all. I have a feeling there is an effort to shit on DC by outsiders, but that's just a feeling I get from reading posts here.

Been here since 2006. Besides maybe Salt Lake City, UT or Santa Cruz, CA, I can't think of a place (in the US) I'd rather be.

That said, violence - especially gun violence - is soaring in DC and everywhere else (in the US). So if you want to avoid violence and crime then leave the US or go somewhere suburban or very rural.

DC native here… I love my city and it is honestly very different from a lot of other US cities. Yea it has negatives but it also has a lot of positives… they just aren’t reflected well in this subreddit.

You have to come to DC with a good base, plenty of money and a good job. If you don't it's going to be hard to thrive in the city.

"Dear bitchy online echo chamber: are you guys a reasonable sample of how people think and act around here?"

DC is a fantastic city but it has problems that seem intractable and are a common thing for Washingtonians to rally around (complaining about them, not solving them).

I think that the nature of DC leads the sub to be populated by a larger than normal percentage of 1) conservatives who want to dunk on "the swamp" and 2) government workers/contractors who would rather not live in the DMV but have to because this is the only place they can work in their current job.

Most people I know who live here like it, but that's also obviously a biased group.

no this is reddit, it represents reddit's sentiment towards DC

This is a very self-selective group! And people who have gripes are way more likely to post. Here’s a randomly sampled scientific poll we did last year of DC residents: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/02/17/dc-poll-bowser-white-election/

DC is a transient city, so most of the posts made in this sub are usually from transplants anyway.

No this sub is a terrible representation of DC

I find dc to be better than most US cities. It has problems, but has great culture, food, transit, and job market.

Milder climate with four seasons too.

Not even remotely close.

No. There is a very specific range of people who post here actively, and they are generally a very vocal minority.

I love this city, and I’ve been homeless the last few months, which imo has led me to apreciate it even more. DC is awesome, it will always have a place in my heart. Moe, Bob, Young, Shawty, I’m practically a native at this point /s

But fr tho I love it here and wouldn’t trade my time and experience here for anything

People go out of their way to complain more than they would to say complimentary things. On top of that, any place looses its charm, becomes boring, presents issues once you live there and face the realities of life. It’s the classic grass is greener idiom.

DC is a great city. 6th largest city but 2nd largest public transportation. Free museums, nature everywhere, global culture due to it being the capital of the country. Lots of benefits of being here, but like many cities, has challenges, both unique to DC, and shared with all cities.

The DC I see people often complain about on this sub is not the one I know (and have known for 20+ years). There's stuff I'm less than enthusiastic about but crime, and all the other things that seem to surface all the time here are not it. It's a wonderful place to live, and it's a city with all the normal things that come with that. I challenge any of them to prove to me that DC is worse than it was in 2010, let alone 2000.

DC is terrible you should definitely believe all you hear in Reddit and not come. 🤣

White people who didn’t grow up in or near a big city are the ones who complain the most here. You’ll be fine if you move to D.C.

I love DC. Was there two years, and now in northern virginia. Like others have said, some people just like to complain on the internet.

No, absolutely not. Most of the people on this reddit are probably DC transients. And I say this as someone who has lived here for 20 years and isn't native but is less transient than most of the people on this reddit.

I've lived in several large cities and all of them are full of complaining. I've been here 5 months now and love it so far!

Definitely not. It’s actually shocking how many commonly held opinions on this sub are unheard of among the people I know here.

DC is great. It has same problems as all cities.

this is true. Overall, people are not happy in dc, its a city full of stress and angst. I am from NJ everybody takls to each other ,greets people in stores, people are not as fearful....Here there is alot of fear and stress, and it across all class levels, poor , rich, students...People are stressed out...the city is like a weight on the soul

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I lived in austin tx and florida, but never felt like this there. I love austin because people are like smiling all the time, NJ too. maybe not smiling but they care about each other, in DC people just dont get involved, they are detached and introspective, and really dont care about each other

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tht being said. i am still here because the quality of life and things to do, and gree space. I have had to put effort into my social life, i have a good group of friends who i met at church and sports groups so indivudals tend to be good people but the culture is stressful and unhappy not good for creative types

No way, this is reddit lol

DC is a great city. I miss it everyday.

I love it here. All places have their pros and cons but for me the pros outweigh the cons.

Lord no. The majority of people who post here are like a shut-in aunt who watches Fox News all day and thinks the world is collapsing. It’s a great place to live

I'd say up until the pandemic this was a more cheerful sub. Now Nextdoor-esque comments reach the top of news posts where they used to be downvoted to hell.

Something I learned from my own grad school experience: if something is free, there will be an abundance of supply. It's easy to apply this to people complaining on the internet.

DC has so many great things to offer, and there are a lot of folks who put a lot of time into highlighting all the amazing things this city can offer.

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Nah, I love living in DC, its a great city. I suspect a lot of the most negative people here are either from the suburbs or like georgetown.

Basically....no

I moved here recently, my main issue with the city is that its petty crime ridden