As a student at the NIH, you are faced with a host of options for housing. Some are close (Bethesda, Rockville) and some are far (Alexandria).

If you're unfamiliar with the area, some maps can be found at the bottom of this page.

Montgomery County

Bethesda

The city just south of the NIH campus. Bethesda is fairly pricey, but there are deals if you look around. Battery Lane Apartments had cheap units that were fairly large on the inside, but as of 2000 they had very 'iffy' hallways. General Montgomery County tip: Laws require some apartment buildings in Montgomery County to offer "low income housing". This isn't as bad as it sounds... The buildings must set aside a certain percentage of their units to people making less than ~$29,000/year (which most students should qualify for). They don't look any different than the normal units. So it pays to ask. There is more information on low income housing options on the GSC's Housing listings and resources page web. One bedroom apartments in Bethesda range from $900-$1200. Many people who live near the NIH rent bedrooms out in their homes, which can generally be had for around $400-$500.

Rockville

Tuckerman Ln., which is located just three miles north of the NIH campus in Bethesda, is also located just 4 miles south and 6 miles east from White Flint and Montgomery Malls, respectively. In addition, this location is close to many local shops for every thing from dry cleaning to dining, and is only 0.5 miles from the Grosvenor Metro stop. There is easy freeway access, as this location is near the intersection of 495 and the 270. This location is, also, only two Metro stops way from the famed dining quarter of Bethesda, which boasts more than a hundred restaurants in eight blocks. If outdoor activities is your bag, check out Rock Creek Park, located just 1.5 miles to the east, or take a day trip for hiking or cycling along the famed C & O canal, located just 20 miles west in Great Falls MD. If your into walking, running or even roller-bladeing, try the scenic splendor of the Capitol Crescent trail which starts in Bethesda and ends at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Georgetown. The general Montgomery County Tip described in the Bethesda section is applicable. Rents range from $800-$1000 for a one bedroom apartment, $1300 and up for 2 bedrooms.

Washington, DC

The District of Columbia is only 2 metro stops south of the NIH. If you like city living, it's the place for you.

A useful description of the living situation in Washington, DC:

When people graduate from college, they move to Dupont Circle. Every stop up the Red Line (towards Medical Center) takes the median age up about 5 years. So, by the time you reach Bethesda, you have the house with the picket fence and 2.5 children.

Dupont Circle:

Dupont Circle is a great place to live if you want to be close to bars, restaurants and museums, and don't mind a 35 minute commute to the NIH via the redline metro. All the great things in the city are metro accessible or walkable, and if you don't have a car it's even better because parking is difficult. Also the center of DC's gay scene. Rents tend to be a little high, but it's worth it if you want to experience city living. Studios start around $900, while one bedrooms start around $1100. Many people utilize group houses, where rooms can be had for $500-$700.

Adams Morgan

The center of nightlife in the DC area. It's been compared to the Greenwich Village of Washington, DC. Tons of clubs, bars, record stores and neat ethnic restaurants. Can be kind of sketchy at night in certain areas and pretty far from the metro stations. Parking is insane past 9PM. The Woodley Park / Adams Morgan stop on the red line is a good 20 minute walk, but there is a shuttle that runs every 20 minutes or so. Rents tend to be lower than Dupont.

Woodley / Cleveland Park

Situated near the National Zoo, these neighborhoods are fairly mellow, with a median age of around 32. Many apartment building are around. Each neighborhood has a metro stop, as well as a "main strip" with cute shops and restaurants. Rents are steep - $1300-$2000 for one bedroom apartments. Commute time to the NIH is about 25 minutes.

Van Ness

The Van Ness area is just north of Cleveland Park and is a relatively expensive and conservative neighborhood. There are several shops and restaurants along Connecticut and Wisconsin Avenues, most of which cater to the well off residents of the area. Rents typically range from $1000 to $1500 per month, but the area is very safe by DC standards. Grocery, pharmacy and other essentials are usually no more than a few blocks away. A much more diverse collection of businesses can be found in nearby Clevlend Park, Woodley Park and Dupont Circle, all easily reached on the red metro line, which also links directly to the NIH. Commute time to the NIH is about 20 minutes.

Towards Baltimore...

Charm city is about 45 minutes from the NIH at 2 in the morning when nobody is driving. Some people do commute, but rush hour tends to turn it into a 90-120 minute drive. However, if you are a student in a joint program with Johns Hopkins University and will be spending a fair amount of time in Baltimore for classes or TAing, you should consider living in Baltimore, despite the long commute. The non-rush hour drive is about 60 minutes. The MARC train is also an option - it drops you off in Union Station in Washington. The trip takes about 45 minutes from Baltimore's Penn Station. The 20 minute metro ride to the NIH completes your commute. Rent and the cost of buying a house or condo in Baltimore is significantly cheaper than in the Bethesda/Washington DC area. In apartment buildings managed by corporations near the Hopkins Homewood campus, studios and efficiencies go for ~$400-600 and a one bedroom tends to be ~$600-700. Apartments in row houses or in buildings not managed by corporations tend to be less. Group houses are an even better deal, sometimes as inexpensive as $200-300. For more information about housing and life in Baltimore, check out the GRO Online Guide.

Columbia

Does your husband/wife/partner/significant other work in Baltimore? Some students live in Columbia, MD. If you're looking for a vibrant nightlife, or the hustle and bustle of a city center, Columbia is not for you. Nestled halfway between Baltimore and Washington DC (slightly closer to Baltimore), this town of under 100,000 residents is situated west of I-95. The large Columbia Mall is centrally located, next to Merriweather Post Pavillon which hosts outdoor concerts during the warmer months. Each one of Columbia's 9 villages is host to specialty shops, restaurants, drugstores, and a chain supermarket. Columbia has 5,300 acres of permanent open space, including a number of lakes and ponds, and more than 83 miles of pathways for walking, biking and jogging. Commute time to the NIH : 35-90 minutes depending on traffic.

Maps of Region