Washington, Washington DC

Washington, D.C. has a population of a little less than 600,000, which swells to more than 1,000,000 each day during the workweek -- and several million people reside in the city's suburbs. The city has a reputation for attracting aspiring politicians, but there is much more depth to D.C.'s pupulation. According to data from 2006, the ciy's racial composition is approximately 55 percent Black, 35 percent White, and 3 percent Asian, with Native Americans, Alaskans, Pacific Islanders and Alaskans making up the rest of the population. Due to the many embassies located in D.C., the city has a very strong population of international folk. A distinct quality of D.C.'s population is that it has a very large population of people from Ethiopia, and this is represented through the many Ethiopian restuarants throughout the D.C. area. A number of D.C. residents are employed by the federal government, but there are probably just as many people working for nonprofit organizations and trade associations. The city swells each summer as thousands of college interns come to D.C. to work on the Hill or at large employers like National Geographic.

You could probably go out to eat and then have drinks at a different place each night of the year in D.C. Due in part to the many distinct neighborhoods in the city, each one has a different feel and social scene. Some of the most popular neighborhoods for hanging out are Georgetown, Dupont Circle, U St. NW, Adams Morgan, Gallery Place and the fast-growing Atlas District in Northeast D.C.

Georgetown has an overall sophisticated feel, as bars and restaurants mingle with high-end clothing stores and boutiques. The crowd that goes out here has a reputation for being wealthy and preppy, but you can find some more laid back spots. Dupont Circle has larger clubs and bars, and is a great place to go out to eat and meet new people. U St. NW has more of a bohemian feel, with dive bars, late night eats and music venues. Adams Morgan is a favorite for college students and out-of-towners who enjoy the neighborhoods many bustling bars. Gallery Place has a lot of large bars, and is close to the Verizon Center, making it ideal for before and after sporting events. The Atlas District is a newly developed neighborhood in Northeast that has unique bars, including a burlesque parlor and the Rock and Roll Hotel.

Many people grumble about the high costs of living in D.C., but it is worth it if you want to be close to work, everyday ameneties and night life. D.C. is an extremely convenient city and it has a lot to offer -- so the quality of life is quite high. There are rental deals to be found, but unfortunately, you might have to dig around a bit for these deals.

It's no secret that traffic is terrible in the D.C. area. The city usually ranks in the top five for worst traffic in the country. If you're moving from the suburbs or from a rural area, it may shock you that in D.C., it will sometimes take a half hour to drive five miles. That's why it's great that Washington, D.C. has such a great subway system, with complimenting bus service. You can pretty much get anywhere you need by using Metrorail or Metrobus. The subway system is easy to use, and out-of-towners always enjoy the screens in each station that announce when the next train will arrive. If you plan carefully and live near ample public transportation, you won't need a car in D.C., which could save you a lot of money not only in gas but in parking garage fees.

After living in D.C. a few months, you'll get the hang of its intense traffic. When you finally begin to understand Rock Creek Parkway, your life will become a whole lot easier. Especially if you remember to stay off Wisconsin Ave., Connecticut Ave. and 16th St NW during rush hour!

As with most cities, the cost of living varies between neighborhoods and deals are available if you are willing to do your homework.

If you would like the wealthy, bustling vibe of living in Georgetown but can't afford it, Glover Park is a good option. The houses and apartments in Glover Park are older, and you would be able to find a one bedroom for around $1,000 or less. Many people in Glover Park get together and share a house, so you might be living for $800 a month or less. The one downside of living in Glover Park is that it is not near a Metro, so everyone has a car and parking is tough. If you leave your parking spot past 8 pm, don't expect it to be there 30 seconds after you've gone.

If you want to live near the action of Dupont Circle, but are discouraged by the prices, you should look further North on Connecticut Ave., near places like Kalorama. The same goes for Woodley Park and Cleveland Park -- the cheaper options for those would be Forest Hills (Van Ness) or North Cleveland Park. Tenleytown and Friendship Heights are a bit more removed from the central action of the city, but they are still sought because they are clean and safe neighborhoods, and both have a Metro stop.

If you're interested in the bustling nightlight of Shaw's U St. NW, you should consider living just North of it on 16th St. NW, near Meridian Hill Park. There are a dozen or so apartment buildings here that are older, but less expensive than living directly on U St.

Capitol Hill is a great choice for young people, and there are pockets -- especially in the Northeast part -- that are extremely affordable. The neighborhood near Eastern Market is also safe, nice and has its own Metro -- and its close to the many bars and restaurants that line Pennsylvania Ave. SE.

Washington D.C. has many parks, museums and monuments and there are also many live theaters and sports events. D.C. is one of the few cities in the U.S. to have professional teams in football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer. The biggest park in D.C. is Rock Creek Park, which is a popular spot for runners, dog walkers and people just hanging out. Some of the most popular museums in D.C. are free, including the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Air and Space Museum. Some museums in D.C. do charge an entrance fee, and these are mostly the novelty places like the Spy Museum, the Newseum and the Crime and Punishment Museum. D.C. also has a rich arts scene, with the National Opera, the Washington Ballet and many, many plays taking place at the Kennedy Center. Music lovers will also enjoy D.C. for its many popular venues like the Verizon Center and Constitution Hall that draw the most popular national acts. The 9:30 Club and the Black Cat also draw national acts, but are also a favorite for those who love lesser known bands.

Adams Morgan is known for its vibrant nightlife that includes some of D.C.'s most popular bars and restaurants. To live here is to be in the center of the action. Though Adams Morgan rivals neighborhoods like Dupont Circle and Georgetown in its popularity, the vibe here is completely different from those areas. The center of Adams Morgan is 18th St NW, where the brightly colored buildings and storefronts lend an air of constant activity to the bustling neighborhood. Yet Adams Morgan is also considered the heart of D.C.'s Hispanic community, and this can be seen in many of the signage, which is in Spanish as well as English.

Shaw, which was home to Duke Ellington, is considered by many to be the heart of the city's African-American history. Shaw's U St. is home to the ever-popular Ben's Chili Bowl, as well as an extremely diverse nightlife scene that includes everything from fine dining to dive bars and pool halls. U St. an extremely sought-after place to hang out, and the lucky ones get to live there. The neighborhood was somewhat neglected after the riots of 1968, with businesses closing and residents moving. The addition of the U St/Cardozo Metro stop and the Shaw-Howard University Metro stop helped the area to experience a revilatization, and it is now a top destination for locals. Though crime is still common in the outskirts of the neighborhood, many hipsters, young professionals and families are happy to call it home.

The epicenter of D.C.'s Gay community, Dupont Circle is a uniquely eccentric and charming neighborood. The well known traffic rotary (or circle or roundabout depending on where you're from) connects Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut Avenues from a beautiful little park complete with a large fountain in the center. Dupont Circle is also where you'll find Embassy Row, a beautiful part of Massachusetts Avenue that is lined with gorgeous mansions and historic, estate homes. For those who cannot afford a palatial residence on Embassy Row can be sure to find a smaller living space in one of the many rowhouses or high rise buildings. Many recent college graduates who may be interning on the Hill, young professionals and families also call Dupont Circle home.

Although not as hip as it once was, historic Georgetown is still a popular neighboorhood in the DC area. Though apartment complexes are few and far beween and exist primarily at the edge of Georgetown or in areas that try to consider themselves Georgetown, the social options, the shopping, and the convenience and walkability of the neighborhood make it worthwhile to search high and low (literally - there are lots of English basements!) for a place to live in Georgetown. Living in Georgetown, you'll have wealthy neighbors; great shopping at boutiques, high end stores, and home furnishings establishments; and a few of the best restaurants in the District.

Washington, D.C. residents are serviced by a number of grocery store chains that are scattered throughout the city, including Safeway (which is probably the most prolific), Giant, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. There are also a large number of gyms in D.C., including chains like Washington Sports Club, Bally's and Gold's Gym, but also smaller, local chains like the growing Results and Sport & Health. Most neighborhoods are within a short walk or drive to a gym. The common bank branches in D.C. are Chevy Chase, Bank of America and Wachovia, but there are a few Sun Trust and PNC branches as well.

The largest employer in Washington, D.C. is the federal government, and accounts for about 27 percent of jobs in the city. Related businesses such as lobbying firms, law firms and government contractors also account for much of D.C.'s employment. There are thousands of nonprofit organizations in the D.C. area, including trade and membership organizations. Another large area of employment includes education and research, as D.C. is home to a number of colleges and hospitals. The unemployment rate is very low in D.C., when compared to other metro regions in the U.S.

The D.C. public school system has been on the decline for several decades, but the hiring of a new superintendent has residents hopeful. There are about 170 public schools and learning centers in D.C., with a total enrollment of about 48,000. An overhaul of the D.C. public school system is planned, as the city's schools have been criticized for low performance levels. In response to the problems with D.C.'s public schools, the city has a flourishing network of charter schools, which are independently operated and government funded. There are currently 56 charter schools operating in D.C., and enrollment for these alternative options increases each year. In addition, D.C. has a number of very prestigious private schools.

Real Estate in Washington, D.C. is notoriously expensive, and is pricier than larger East Coast cities like Philadelphia. You would be hard pressed to find a single family home in neighborhoods like Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Woodley Park or Cleveland Park for less than $1 million. A one bedroom condo in these neighborhoods would run close to $400,000 and a two bedroom would be about $550,000. Typically, if you are living in Northwest D.C., near a Metro station, Real Estate will be more expensive. The further you are willing to travel from the Northwest core, the lower the prices will be. This situation was the catalyst for D.C.'s gentrification, which is controversial, but has helped revive many neighborhoods that were in disrepair. For instance, neighborhoods like Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights were considered undesirable during th mid-1990s, but are now among the most popular places to buy Real Estate. You can still find houses for under $1 million in these areas, but that will undoubtedly change as the areas become more developed. Neighborhoods like Bloomingdale and Eckington are still very up and coming, and residents who have recently invested here are helping to make these desirable as well.

Washington, D.C. typically experiences all four seasons in a distinct manner. The summers are hot and humid and the winters can get considerably cold. Spring is usually pretty short, and fall can get extremely windy here. The average low temperature in winter is about 30 degrees, and in summer it is usually 80 degrees or higher. It doesn't snow too much in the winter, but there is a huge storm every few years. People who move to D.C. from places on the West Coast often need some time to adjust to the city's humidity.