I've lived in NOMA and love it - I think people on this sub tend to exaggerate the crime. I love how close it is to most places in the city, and it's very easy to get to Union Station, the Capitol & the National Mall. With all the new construction it has a very youthful vibe, 20s-30s. That being said, I don't really like the area near Harris Teeter. I feel that it lacks any real sense of community and has some sketchy characters; near Eckington/Bloomingdale feels more residential.

I think Dupont is a much nicer area in terms of shops, things to do and safety, and is also way more accessible to GW, especially if you plan to take public transit. It also has a beautiful farmers' market on Sunday. It is a lot more active than Noma in the sense that the embassies are there (so sometimes there are protests but they're usually very chill) along with the many restaurants & bars, which can be a pro and a con. But if I had to choose between the two I'd choose Dupont in a heartbeat.