Comm Colleges, VA Neighborhoods? Military Fam w/Son Move DC (Washington: rent, chapel)

[gdorm]

Hi out there, I've been reading plenty of post about moving to DC area, hope I can get some good advice too. We'll be there in Sept, Here is our info:

-Military Family with 18 yr.old son just grad from HS. Don't know the area so we haven't registered/committed to any school yet. He's going to take off Fall Sem so we can get to know the place & start Jan.
-Looking at NVCC either the Alexandria, Annandale, Woodbridge locations? Can someone give us the demographics and the safety profile on those areas around school? I looked at the College web-site already and of course no info on that.
-Husband will work by Ronald R. airport and I will be at Ft. Belvoir so looking at N. Va area that's easy commute say less than 30 min.
-Like to be close enough to the city to enjoy it's riches, YET cherish peace and quiet from a hard days work. Sounds like I'm asking too much, Is there such a neighborhood?
-We are used to high rent & cost of living, originally from San Fran and currently live in Honolulu, HI paying close to 2,800 to 3,000 so hoping to pay LESS is a welcome change!
-I consider us to be a liberal and culturally open family, love the ARTS & Museums, (I'm an active artist).
-Ideally be in a neighborhood with other young ppl so our son can meet new friends, yet we don't want to be too far out in Suburbia! Lived in the Suburbs before in CAL, hated it! It's just like "Orange County House-wifes" Ugh!

I would really appreciate any advice & tips on navigating DC. It will be nice to live in/ear a real city again, (Honolulu is nice but it's touristy). Thanks!

[Beach-rat]

I would suggest the Saratoga/ Newington Forrest area of Springfield 22153? Rolling Road and Fullerton Roads.. 10 minute straight shot to FT. Belvoir.. Express bus to Pentagon (National Airport via subway) or Bus to Springfield Subway... NVCC is 15 min Rolling Rd to Braddock to Wakefield Chapel Rd..

Very nice area.. cheaper than Honolulu and will not have the locals trying to beat up your kid (Kailua HS grad, been there done that)

[slowlane3]

To change the subject from "housing" -- I just want to add, if you're an artist, you should definitely visit this facility: Torpedo Factory Art Center

[Smoke_Jaguar4]

Safety at NVCC: I'd say none of the campuses are in an 'unsafe' area of town. Northern VA as a whole is a very safe area, with some minor exceptions.

Demographics: Not sure what you mean here. This area is very diverse thanks to the convergence of people from all over the world that come to DC and choose to live in VA. If you see the languages offered at NVCC, it's because there are local pockets of the population that speak these languages. Economically, most people hear are working middle and upper class income with relatively little poverty.

One area to check for housing: Mount Vernon runs along the northeast boundary of Ft Belvoir and connects to the George Washington Highway which takes you straight to Reagan National.

[g3org3]

Another housing area to look into: Del Ray/Rosemont in Alexandria (22301). Might be pushing 30 min to Ft. Belvoir, but it would be against traffic.