Wednesday, February 26, 2014

IS THIS REALLY THE RICHEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN BETHESDA? (PHOTO)

The second-richest neighborhood in America is in Bethesda, according to Stephen Higley, a professor emeritus of urban social geography at the University of Montevallo. But which one? This should be easy to guess, right?

Burning Tree? Spring Hill? Westmoreland Hills? Congressional Country Club? Kenwood?

Nope.

Bradley Manor-Longwood is the richest neighborhood in Bethesda this year, on Higley's conversation-starting Higley Elite 100 list. It is second only to The Golden Triangle in Greenwich, Connecticut. Bradley Manor-Longwood's median income is $599,440, and is 80% white, according to Higley's data. Located right where the Beltway meets I-270, the neighborhood's home values have clearly not been impacted by its proximity to interstate highways.

The criteria Higley uses includes studying contiguous blocks that house residents earning a mean income over $200,000. His data comes from the American Community Survey of 2006-2010.

Higley found that more urban neighborhoods are joining his list, as redevelopment, gentrification and demolition of existing housing has forced out low and middle-income residents.

Image via Google Maps

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a probably false rumour in the neighborhood that that the beltway has sound walls there because friends of former governor Glendenning live in there.

Anonymous said...

I find it kind of hard to believe. We live about a mile away (on the other side of River Rd) and most of the houses in our neighborhood are much bigger and twice as expensive.

Anonymous said...

This sort of thing probably changes drastically from year to year depending on capital gains. The people in the "better" neighborhood may also be better at hiding their money from the IRS. The fact remains that inside the beltway to the west of Fernwood house prices and lot sizes are much bigger than most of the rest of the area, which is where I live.

missdailynews said...

The size of one's house is only loosely related to one's wealth. Take for example Warren Buffet who lives in a modest home. Many of my wealthy friends live below their means in deceptively smaller homes.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I grew up in that neighborhood. Great group of families and lots of friends I am still in touch with.