White Oak

Driving along New Hampshire Avenue, the main thoroughfare of the DC suburban community White Oak, you get the impression of everything this relaxed residential community has to offer. Independently owned businesses, churches, schools and restaurants line the road, and inlets into residential developments with spacious yards and cul de sacs branch off every couple hundred feet.

The historic single-family homes of White Oak comprise the majority of housing options in the area. There’s not a lot of contemporary construction, according to Dave Savercool, a Realtor with Long and Foster. This lends itself to the affordability homeowners enjoy compared to more expensive prices in the city. “You can purchase single-family homes with nice yards and off-street parking at prices that are sometimes, in other places, town house prices.”

Savercool notes the wide range of housing styles and prices in the area. “It’s really a conglomeration. There’s something for everyone, is how I would describe it.” Smaller ranch-style houses start at the lower end, around $400,000, whereas bigger houses can sell for as much as $1 million. Styles range from split levels to Colonials to modern Craftsmans. The average list price for a single-family home sits around $570,000. Alternatively, there are options for town houses and condo living as well. A modern three-bedroom town house situated in a manicured complex with shady trees can list at $545,000. Condos with reserved parking and updated, open-concept floorplans can start at $180,000 for a one-bedroom space.

The convenience of getting from White Oak to DC makes it an attractive draw for homebuyers who need to work in the city but want more space to live. Savercool says it’s an easy commute via the Metro or the Intercounty Connector. The campuses of the Food and Drug Administration and a U.S. Army Research Laboratory, also large employers in the area, both sit at the southeastern end of White Oak and are easy commutes as well.

Buyers who come to White Oak stay in White Oak. “It seems to be a family-oriented place,” Savercool says. “Lots of young families buy here, the neighborhood is well established, and people are friendly.” Savercool himself has been a resident of the larger area for 30 years and raised his own children here.

Students in White Oak benefit from the lower-than-average class sizes in its schools, according to Niche. Children at Jackson Road Elementary see a student-to-teacher ratio of 11-1, well below the national average of 17-1. Niche gives it a rating of B. White Oak Middle School, which sees an average class size of 12-1 and is rated B-minus by Niche, offers a choice of creative electives to inspire students’ interests in areas such as digital music or coding. High schoolers at Springbrook High, which has a 15-1 ratio, have the chance to participate in the Academy of Information Technology program that leads to a NAFTrack Certificate, which gives special consideration for certified students as future job applicants. The school receives an A-minus rating from Niche.

The expansive 95-acre Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park serves as a main hub of activity in White Oak. The partially wooded park with dedicated green space and athletic fields offers the opportunity for whatever type of recreation you’re looking for. Feed the ducks at the small fountain pond, watch children play on the playgrounds, participate in a pick-up soccer game or tennis match, exercise your heart on the HeartSmart trail, or get in some daily laps at the indoor or outdoor pool on campus.

Or, if the park doesn’t suit your recreation plans, you can always find something to do at the White Oak Community Recreation Center. The spacious building on April Lane off Route 29 hosts dance classes, a climbing wall, pool tables and social activities. Outside, a skate park, basketball court and multiuse fields provide more space for fun.

Don’t drive through White Oak without stopping by Fryer’s Roadside, a popular Montgomery County restaurant that serves up house made fried chicken, Money Muscle BBQ, fish sandwiches and fries that The Washington Post called “perfect.” For anyone with a sweet tooth, the joint also serves tasty soft serve, classic milkshakes and sundaes.

Between its quality education, active recreation and choice of housing styles, residents live a well-rounded life in White Oak.