Been here since 93. The town’s culture does change with administrations.

The Clinton years were a party. DC had a warehouse club scene that has since disappeared. The city itself lacked amenities (e.g., if you needed home products you traveled to the suburbs to do shopping). Crime was high. Depending on your comfort level, if you were on Capitol Hill you didn’t explore much further than third street SE. Not sure how any of that might have been the result of the admin, though.

The Bush Jr years were… something. After the traumatic anxiety inducing 9/11 (and that’s an understatement) the tone turned “top down my way or the highway.” The city’s transformation continued apace. You might think people would find a way to blow off steam, but the former warehouse clubs disappeared to make room for Nationals Park, shuttering a big portion of nightlife and scattering queer culture across the city.

The Obama years felt promising and idealistic, attracted a youth culture and restaurant scene that had been missing. Also attracted Silicon Valley. The “NY-ification” of DC.

The Trump years reminded residents this town is the political center of the country. And a real battleground in a moment’s notice. A weird anxiety set in not for obvious reasons. More like due to the neglect that came with first contact with an admin that seemed uninterested in stepping into the role. A notable departure from prior admins: Whenever the presidential motorcade appeared in traffic it wasn’t managed like previous admins. No police clearing the way and managing pedestrian traffic. It just appeared, blasting horns and trying to blow through the streets. Not hyperbole: random uncivil crappiness was everywhere on the street. From both sides of the spectrum.

Currently: a weird idealistic culture has set in. Especially in the workplace. Best described as “everyone wants to save the world, nobody wants to do the dishes.” Net result: seems like everything is viewed through the lens of what’s in it for me and less gets done.

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.