Young professional, work near Dulles, live between there and DC

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Plus, if you're (generic you) spending all your money on North Arlington rent, you won't have much left over to have fun. And I'm assuming you don't want to have 20k of credit card debt when you meet a nice girl/guy and decide it's time to settle down a bit.

You've got to also figure out, how often will you actually be going out to things that can't be duplicated in Reston/Fair-fill-in-the-blank/Ashburn? (e.g. if you go out to the movies 2x a week, and to a generic bar maybe 1x a month, you can do that just as easily in Ashburn as in Clarendon.)

Also, you're commuting 5x a week. Who knows how often you'll be out and about a week?

Also, if you're making typical recent grad salaries of 40-50k a year, you can't pattern your life after the computer superstar, MBA, or top 20 law school grad that's making 75k and up a year.

I'd also look at Columbia Pike Arlington, the bus line there is EXCELLENT (might want to check how late the buses run during primo partying hours, though.)

(Also if you have any friends who do live in Orange Line Arlington -- because it makes sense for them -- you can crash there on party nights and re-pay in ethanol/food form. Makes the party longer!

I hear you but it depends on how often you go out and do things. I usually go out somewhere just about every night even if its just going to someone's house that lives in the District. I hate my commute but I think its worth it because I value being close to the bars and activities in the city. I used to live out in Oakton and it was kinda lonely at times unless I burned up the freeway heading into the city. So I would recommend north Arlington or Falls Church over Ashburn for sure.

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by terrence81

I hear you but it depends on how often you go out and do things. I usually go out somewhere just about every night even if its just going to someone's house that lives in the District. I hate my commute but I think its worth it because I value being close to the bars and activities in the city. I used to live out in Oakton and it was kinda lonely at times unless I burned up the freeway heading into the city. So I would recommend north Arlington or Falls Church over Ashburn for sure.

Agreed 100%

Much like parents will be willing to add 10-20 minutes each way or pay a few hundred extra a month to live in a good school district, the singles will do the same to live in a good social district.

The areas (North Arlington especially, then Falls Church City, Vienna, and Reston) that are both command a premium, since both families and singles want to live there.

[terrence81]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Agreed 100%

Much like parents will be willing to add 10-20 minutes each way or pay a few hundred extra a month to live in a good school district, the singles will do the same to live in a good social district.

The areas (North Arlington especially, then Falls Church City, Vienna, and Reston) that are both command a premium, since both families and singles want to live there.

I know. That''s why I live in south Arlington haha. Although I do hope to possibly move to north Arlington although I still get tugs from friends to move to DC since I spend so much time in the District.