Looking for a reasonable commute from NoVA to Gaithersburg (McLean: crime, employment)

[PennySzymanski]

Hello, My husband and I are looking to move to an area in Northern Virginia that would be a reasonable commuting distance to his job in Gaithersburg, MD. Can anyone suggest a town that would fit this description?
Thanks very much!!

[michgc]

I used to live in Falls Church - off Route 7 near Marshall High School, and I commuted to Rockville (Exit 6 off 270 - Research Blvd.). It wasn't a bad commute at all - 30-40 minutes max in the morning. Up to an hour in the evening, but usually less. I now live in Vienna, and it's a bit farther than that Falls Church commute was only because I was so close to the beltway. It's about 35-45 in the morning. Up to 1 hour 15 minutes in the evening (usually about 55 minutes). I don't work currently, so things may have changed since I last commuted there.

[claremarie]

There aren't really any "towns" in northern Virginia. If you absolutely, positively have to live in northern Virginia even though your husband will be working in Gaithersburg, you will want to be as close as possible to the American Legion Bridge, and as far as possible from the Tyson's Corner area. Once you get across the bridge, it's just a few miles on 495 to 270, where it's pretty smooth sailing up to Gaithersburg, against traffic. If you have to travel through Tyson's, or on the Dulles Toll Road or I-66 to the Beltway, the commute will obviously be much longer. McLean close to the GW Parkway would be ideal, but it is a very expensive community.
The best choice would be to live in Maryland, quite honestly.

[PennySzymanski]

Thank you for your responses, I really appreciate it. I really like Virginia (especially Fairfax) and my husband and I have looked briefly at Gaithersburg to live and quite honestly, I was not impressed.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by PennySzymanski

Thank you for your responses, I really appreciate it. I really like Virginia (especially Fairfax) and my husband and I have looked briefly at Gaithersburg to live and quite honestly, I was not impressed.

Yeah I have to agree that the traffic in Tysons will really get you. I like Fairfax too but I'm sure if you look a little harder you can find the Maryland equivalent. Maybe just a little further out in say Montgomery Village, Damascus, Clarksburg or Olney if Gaithersburg isn't too your liking.

From Vienna only 40 minutes is pretty good. From Fairfax it could be an hour at least.

[dkf747]

If you like Fairfax then try Rockville, especially on the west side of 270.

[PennySzymanski]

Originally Posted by dkf747

If you like Fairfax then try Rockville, especially on the west side of 270.

Thank you! I really appreciate hearing about comparable areas in Maryland to Virginia. I am just so darn partial to Virginia, but I do like the thought of living in the Fairfax or Vienna equivalent in Maryland.

[claremarie]

Rockville would definitely make a lot more sense. There are lots of nice neighborhoods there in different price ranges.

[michgc]

I lived in Maryland for 10 years and I have lived in Virginia for nearly 10 years. I've lived in College Park, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, and Chevy Chase. In Northern Virginia, I've lived in Falls Church and Vienna. So feel free to ask any questions. Personally, I like Virginia more than Maryland, too. And I have no former ties to Virginia. The people just seem more down to earth to me here.

While I really enjoyed living in Bethesda, it is uber-expensive. Certain parts of Rockville are fine, but I don't get that community feel that I get in Vienna. I'm not a big fan of G-burg or Germantown. Of course, you can go farther out 270 to get some more "town" feeling but then your husband will be sitting on I-270 every morning with the rest of the people who sought out cheaper housing. Kensington is a nice little area. And at my place of employment we had people living in Olney/Brookeville or Columbia and commuting. Those are pretty nice places, as well, but longer commutes of course, and maybe not any better than coming from NoVA. Anyway, just throwing some ideas out there.

[PennySzymanski]

Originally Posted by michgc

I lived in Maryland for 10 years and I have lived in Virginia for nearly 10 years. I've lived in College Park, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, and Chevy Chase. In Northern Virginia, I've lived in Falls Church and Vienna. So feel free to ask any questions. Personally, I like Virginia more than Maryland, too. And I have no former ties to Virginia. The people just seem more down to earth to me here.

While I really enjoyed living in Bethesda, it is uber-expensive. Certain parts of Rockville are fine, but I don't get that community feel that I get in Vienna. I'm not a big fan of G-burg or Germantown. Of course, you can go farther out 270 to get some more "town" feeling but then your husband will be sitting on I-270 every morning with the rest of the people who sought out cheaper housing. Kensington is a nice little area. And at my place of employment we had people living in Olney/Brookeville or Columbia and commuting. Those are pretty nice places, as well, but longer commutes of course, and maybe not any better than coming from NoVA. Anyway, just throwing some ideas out there.

In terms of Rockville, are there any neighborhoods/subdivisions that you would recommend or advise to stay away from (due to crime or that not so safe feeling)?