Job offer at George Mason University - help with where to live! (Washington: apartments, car insurance)

[Telix]

I was just offered a job at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. I flew out last week for the in-person interview, but didn't have any time to go sight-seeing. I've visited D.C. area a few years back but didn't really see any of the smaller neighborhoods or anything. Here are the things I already know:

- Fairfax is damn expensive to live in, and housing in general is expensive.
- The public transportation is pretty decent and can get you around okay, depending on where you live.
- I've heard good things about the Capitol Hill area for meeting our neighborhood/public transportation desires (see below).

About me:
- I live with my GF (and we are both 27) and two cats, and are going to get a dog ASAP. We like living in neighborhoods that have neater, older homes and apartments, rather than new developments. We like walkable/bikeable neighborhoods with things like bars, restaurants, indie movie theaters, farmers markets on the weekends, the usual hippy/yuppie ****. We just prefer to not have to drive everywhere.
- Some place with a lively community is cool, but not so "lively" that it feels dangerous or super sketchy at times. We like being able to walk downtown, see people we know sitting at a coffee shop or something, that kind of thing.
- We are both academic professionals so we make decent, but not great, money. We can probably afford apartments in the $1200-1500 range without too much strain on the budget, but we pay $850 now for a huge 2BR place. We'd like to have enough space to not feel super cramped and maybe have an office and such - so 2BR rather than studio or 1BR is preferred.
- I don't have any heavy interest in living extremely close to GMU or the Fairfax area. I'm fine with a reasonable (1 hour or less) commute, especially if it's via public transportation so I can read/listen to music/watch a TV show on my iPod/etc. This means living close to a public transportation line that could get me to GMU would be ideal.

What I'd like to know:
- What neighborhoods are good starting points for looking for apartments? Like I mentioned, I've heard good things about Capitol Hill, and also the Arlington area.
- What's good and bad about certain areas of the city?
- Where are good places to see/visit, but not live in? (Sightseeing, museums, etc)
- Are there any areas to avoid due to scariness/danger?
- Anything you have for me!

Thanks in advance.

[saganista]

Although it would be a signficant train/bus commute to GMU, Capitol Hill would fit your bill in terms of just about everything but price. A nice 2-BR there might start in the $2K range. There may be units for less, but they are likely to be in 'transition' areas. Oakton (about 5 miles from GMU) would fit your bill in terms of price alright, but not so much in terms of anything else. Really nice, cheap places simply don't exist anywhere, so I would say that some trade-offs are going to be involved, one way or the other...

[claremarie]

If you're willing to drive to work, you will have many more housing options. GMU is not on the Metro line, and you can't really walk anywhere from the campus.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by claremarie

If you're willing to drive to work, you will have many more housing options. GMU is not on the Metro line, and you can't really walk anywhere from the campus.

I may be wrong, but I believe there is a shuttle, free for students and faculty, that takes students from campus to Vienna Metro actually.

While I think you will most find what you're looking for in DC neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, as saganista noted, rents there are a bit crazy, as they are in much of DC. If you downgraded to a one bedroom however, it could be doable. Just keep in mind that if living in DC, generally "things" are more expensive than they would be in the suburbs; things like car insurance, gas, groceries, etc. Perhaps none are exceptionally so but it's something to keep in mind if pinching pennies while comparing one place to another.

Arlington of course is a popular slightly cheaper (but still pricey) alternative for many to DC. For whatever reason though, it doesn't seem to me that it would be to your liking. It's not really quaint and neighborhoody; but rather more slick, if that makes any sense. The Clarendon area probably offers your best in terms of mirroring what you're looking for within Arlington however.

I actually think you should check out Falls Church. It's a tad closer to GMU (it borders Arlington), has two Metro stops so a trip to either GMU or DC isn't horrible, has a tiny little walkable downtown, a lot of older homes and more character than your typical DC suburb. The city is very small in area so it might not meet all of your criterion, but I definitely think it's some place at the very least worth checking out.

[im22too]

you're in luck, man--I just left GMU! Try Fairlakes, man....off Lee Hwy, around Fair Oaks Mall. I know that area like the back of my head...if you have any questions, hit me up!

[im22too]

p.s. GMU IS ON THE METRO LINE, PEOPLE. ORANGE--VIENNA. ABOUT 2 HOUR TRIP TO DC. BUSSES RUN SPORATICALLY, AND THE CABBIES ARE INSANE, SO GET TO THE STATION EARLY.

[im22too]

P.P.S. The best thing about "Funfax" as that there are no "bad" areas NoVA is the second richest community in the US (second to Orange CO, CA)....except if you're inquiring about that Latino gang that has been terrorizing MD and VA as of late...anyways, fairfax has everything and is 30 min driving from everything else. Washington, DC...Shopping -- you can find everything from Gucci to pay less, limited edition sneaker shops, exotic food...not to mention GMU's main campus, which houses 3 athletic facilites (the main one has plazmas on all the treadmills), a movie theater, the Patriot Center (think where all the Top 40 music artists play)...some of the hottest females in the country...(i had to add that) and some of the most prolific university professors in the country. and Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, etc are only a couple hours away in Virginia Beach.

....only thing is....Fairfax, also has some of the most ignorant, selfish, snotty people you will ever meet in your life. and the Cops are horrible. HORRIBLE...

[muaranah]

You might want to do a few test runs with the bus to the Vienna Metro station before assuming you will be OK riding it- it can seem like a very long wait for it on a cold winter morning or evening. Should still be free with a GMU ID card, though.

[xavierob82]

Originally Posted by claremarie

GMU is not on the Metro line, and you can't really walk anywhere from the campus.

There is a free shuttle bus on campus that takes student/faculty/staff to and from the Vienna/GMU metro stop. Even during the summer.

[NW2NOVA]

Originally Posted by im22too

p.s. GMU IS ON THE METRO LINE, PEOPLE. ORANGE--VIENNA. ABOUT 2 HOUR TRIP TO DC. BUSSES RUN SPORATICALLY, AND THE CABBIES ARE INSANE, SO GET TO THE STATION EARLY.

It's not "on" the metro line - its 5 miles from Vienna station. Not walkable unless you like 10 miles a day. There is a shuttle, but it only goes every 30 mins and who knows how crowded it'll be. You'll need a car unless you live very close.