Welcome to our city!

1. Yes, for November - March it can get pretty cold and windy here. ie Christmas week it was only 6 degrees F, yesterday it was snowing etc. So you will need sweaters and layers. But you may just want to buy a big coat when you get here.

2. Very accessible, I've lived here 8 years without a car. However, if you are able to live more in the middle of the city you can save a lot of money just walking instead of taking the train, bus, and Uber. DC is quite small, much smaller than most people that don't live here realize.

3. If you can afford it, live near the center of the city in NW (some neighborhoods are Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Shaw, Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, U Street). The neighborhoods all have different character and businesses. For instance Dupont is more quiet, U Street is more for going out etc. You can walk to everything if you live in one of these central neighborhoods. My personal opinion (and where I'm moving to soon) is that the neighborhood between Dupont and Adams Morgan is one of the quietest and safest in the city, but is also the most walkable. This could be a good place to serve as your home base as you apartment hunt and get the lay of the land.

4. You're probably going to see a lot in this sub and on the news about violent crime in DC. It is true that DC is a major US city and it is good to have some level of street smarts to live here (there are muggings, car break ins, issues with drugs and homelessness etc.), however most gun crime is related to gang activity and is targeted. A lot of people live in the suburbs of Virginia and commute in to the city to work because it is more affordable and safer, but I would highly recommend living in the city itself if you can. It's a wonderful city with lots of things to do, always events and museums and great restaurants. Many parts have a small neighborhood feel. If you are coming to a new country and don't know many people it is easy to get involved with groups etc. if you live here. Less so in the suburbs.