where to live?? (Annandale, McLean, Manassas: living, zip codes, pricing)

[Jerseydiva]

My fiance and I currently live in Columbia, MD. I commute to Gaithersburg. He is looking at taking a job in Manassas. Is there a place to live midway between Manassas and Gaithersburg? Or should I start looking for a new job too??

I have a 1 hour commute now...but don't think I could make a longer one.

[pcity]

Looks like the halfway point is around Dunn Loring or Vienna. It's 20 miles to each so you could live there and both have a commute under an hour. You'd both be commuting against the flow of traffic, but I'm sure you'll hit a bit of traffic anywhere in this area.

[knopfler]

Originally Posted by Jerseydiva

My fiance and I currently live in Columbia, MD. I commute to Gaithersburg. He is looking at taking a job in Manassas. Is there a place to live midway between Manassas and Gaithersburg? Or should I start looking for a new job too??

I have a 1 hour commute now...but don't think I could make a longer one.

I'd look where you can hop onto the Beltway easily. The commute for your fiance will be easy as it's against rush hour - he'll just hop on I-495, take that in whatever direction to I-66, and I-66 should be clear all the way to Manassas in the mornings, and the reverse should be generally true in the evenings.

It'd be nice to recommend Dunn Loring/Great Falls/McLean/Vienna to you, as that's the most convenient, but it's also the most expensive general location in Northern Virginia. Think Potomac/Chevy Chase/Bethesda pricing, and you're in the right ballpark. Instead, if spending that much money on living quarters either isn't your thing or isn't an option, go south a couple exits on I-495 and look in Annandale and Fairfax, zip codes 22003 and 22031. That, especially when you're looking close to I-495, will put you in Gaithersburg within an hour, barring the unforeseen.

Welcome to Northern Virginia!