DC Metro to Winchester (Reston, Chantilly: to rent, find a job, university)

[capulet]

I am going to move from Southern California to NOVA and am looking for a place where a single, early 30's male would enjoy. My job would be in Winchester but I really want to live in the DC Metro area (I prefer city life). So far I have been looking at Leesburg, Reston, Herndon and Chantilly. I am also looking to finish my Masters degree and I am thinking that Chantilly may be my best bet. I like what I see in the posts about Reston but I do not want to have to pay tolls everyday on top of gas. Can someone give me their opinion about what would be the best option? Also is traffic as bad going away from the city in the morning?

[g3org3]

There's not much going on in Chantilly. It's perfectly fine, safe, very residential, lots of strip malls, close to Dulles Airport, but there's no downtown to speak of. Leesburg has a historic downtown area with shops and restaurants. But, out of the four, I'd have to vote for Reston, with its Town Center, as being the best match for an early 30s single that prefers city life. On the bright side, no matter which you choose, you should (I'm not familiar with the traffic right in Winchester) face a steady steam of cars in the mornings and evenings as you head in the opposite direction from most everyone else.

[billscamaros]

i'd concur with reston over chantilly. maybe even herndon. the downside is that reston to winchester has to be a 40 mile one-way commute. and try as you might to consistently use rt 7, eventually you'll start to use the greenway (toll $3 + each way).

many people that i know work in NOVA for the higher salary, and live in winchester for the cheaper housing. you'll make less salary in winchester and live in the high rent district (NOVA). perhaps you've worked that all out?

maybe think about leesburg.

[JfromReston]

Google Maps says Reston to Winchester is 55 miles and will take 1 hour and 9 minutes via the Greenway.

Tolls are a fact of life if you live in Reston.

[tamitrail]

I would not commute that far if I were working in Winchester. That would be insane as well as difficult during the winter with snow and ice. Winchester is a cheap place to live..I would live there and save money and time on your commute and go into the city for your social life.

I'm sure there are plenty of single people your age in Frederick County.

[capulet]

Originally Posted by billscamaros

i'd concur with reston over chantilly. maybe even herndon. the downside is that reston to winchester has to be a 40 mile one-way commute. and try as you might to consistently use rt 7, eventually you'll start to use the greenway (toll $3 + each way).

many people that i know work in NOVA for the higher salary, and live in winchester for the cheaper housing. you'll make less salary in winchester and live in the high rent district (NOVA). perhaps you've worked that all out?

maybe think about leesburg.

In terms of saving money, I have thought about that but I have worked it out where I can enjoy the Metro area. I looked very hard at the options and thought Chantilly would be better due to better flowing traffic through Interstate 66. Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston and Herndon are all viable options but I am not sure how well traffic moves on Route 7, and I am not sure if I can justify spending $7 on the tollway. From what I remember from my first visit, there were quite a few police officers clocking motorists at times and only two lanes which doesn't help traffic should there be an accident.

[Flamingo13]

Honestly, if I were you, I'd try to find a job somewhere closer in than Winchester - that really would not be a good commute from area of the metro areas. Throw in an accident, a couple raindrops, and don't even think about if there is snow/ice.

[knopfler]

Have you considered living in the old town section of Winchester? Just a thought - it might be suitably urban enough to get by. As for the Masters degree, it's worth checking out Shenandoah University which is in Winchesteer. SU - "Yes, YOU Can".

[tamitrail]

Originally Posted by knopfler

Have you considered living in the old town section of Winchester? Just a thought - it might be suitably urban enough to get by. As for the Masters degree, it's worth checking out Shenandoah University which is in Winchesteer. SU - "Yes, YOU Can".

I agree.

[billscamaros]

Originally Posted by capulet

In terms of saving money, I have thought about that but I have worked it out where I can enjoy the Metro area. I looked very hard at the options and thought Chantilly would be better due to better flowing traffic through Interstate 66. Leesburg, Ashburn, Reston and Herndon are all viable options but I am not sure how well traffic moves on Route 7, and I am not sure if I can justify spending $7 on the tollway. From what I remember from my first visit, there were quite a few police officers clocking motorists at times and only two lanes which doesn't help traffic should there be an accident.

i live in charles town, wv and commute into the reston area daily. i drive rt 7 in the mornings and then the greenway in the evenings. i can honestly say that traffic moves along very well. no matter how you look at it ... rt 7, the greenway, rt 66 (the long way to winchester) ..... it's simply alot of miles to commute. one plan could be to rent in chantilly and tough it out for the year. you are correct in that you'll be going against traffic from chantilly to winchester, so congestion shouldn't be a major problem. personally, i'd pick reston over chantilly. but, my wife would move to chantilly in a heartbeat. they are all good places to live .... just hate to see you get tired from the commute. will your coworkers be local to winchester, or do they commute from NOVA? as was mentioned, you could always live in chantilly and eventually shift jobs to NOVA also. not a lack of jobs there.