Where to live in Prince William County that is not ghetto? (Richmond: 2015, condos)

[jtees4]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I don't disagree with any of the rest of your post, but I disagree with this part. "Hispanic" is a linguistic heritage, not a race. Thus police reports and demographic surveys usually categorize it separately from black/white/Asian. I have worked with Hispanics who were of paler complexion than mine--and I am one pasty SOB. I'm pretty sure my skin tone is offered in a Benjamin Moore ceiling paint. (And there are of course black people--usually Dominicans--with Spanish names. Like Sammy Sosa. Oh, wait--he's white now.)

SNIP......

LOL, this is the last place I thought I'd find something really funny this morning...but you went and did it with your Sammy Sosa comment. And I also agree on the "hispanic", it means language, so there are white, light, and dark Hispanics from different areas all over the world. I have a good friend who happens to be Nigerian. When people call him African/American he gets very upset and tells them he is not....because he is Nigerian...but he does say "I am black". I am white and grew up in a black neighborhood in NYC (some would say ghetto but it wasn't), I still call black people "black" because I can't know where they come from just because of the color of their skin. Some Caribbean people also don't like being called African/American. I also know lots of Portuguese people with "Spanish" names, they speak Pourteguese, not Spanish. Thanks for the unexpected laugh this morning.

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by fritzmatrix

In July I will be moving to a job in the Manassas/Woodbridge area from Cary, North Carolina? (One office is in Manassas, another in Woodbridge)

I am a 30-year old male. I am Hispanic (culturally I am more white than Hispanic).
If you know anything about Cary, NC, it is mostly filled with upper class white folk and middle-class executives. I am looking for the same in Northern Virginia. I have heard good things of Bristow and Gainesville. I heard rumors that traffic won't be too bad as long as I drive the opposite direction from DC.
Money wise? I'll be banking upper $70k. I am not sure whether I would want to move permanently to VA so I'll probably rent for the time being.

So folks, where should I look into moving? You get extra brownies points the more specific you are?
(city, neighborhood, address, apartment complex, etc.)

I get what you mean by culturally more White, you don't want to be shoved into the same box as low-income Salvadorans. Using the word "ghetto" is a little loaded though.

With that said, the upper class in Northern VA *will* include Blacks, Asians of all sorts, Hispanics, etc.), but it might be 70/30 White/other in western PWC, 50/50 or 60/40 in Western Fairfax, 75/25 in Vienna, and then 85/15 in the really ritzy parts of North Arlington/Falls Church. With that said, they aren't going to be arguing at all hours, playing loud music, drinking in public, and other behaviors stereotypically associated with a low-class sort of area. They might be a little standoffish at worst (and that's everyone).

If you're not sure where you want to live, you ought to be able to get a 1BR place for $1200-$1500 or so, while you sort your options and save your $$$; income of $75k gets you rent of $1875 a month (is dividing income by 40 a valid rule?) which puts you well in play for a 1BR place in Haymarket or Bristow. But you're not gonna be rolling like a bigshot on 75K even in Haymarket certainly not in a big SFH.

Lake Ridge in eastern PWC is nice too, you might even be able to break into the TH rental market on your income.

Now you COULD try living in Manassas City but some parts of there aren't all that nice, or even Front Royal or Warrenton where you'd save even more $$$ (1 BR for under a grand) but give some of it back at the pump (and even that depends on when they want you at Woodbridge, FroRo-Manassas is very doable, but not so much FroRo/Woodbridge.)

If you have student debt, a huge motorcycle you've absolutely got to have with you, or two 50 pound pit bulls, then Front Royal or Warrenton becomes more of a necessity since you will need a yard/shed/the money to pay your student loans.

[fritzmatrix]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

What's your housing budget? At upper $70k, you're probably not going to be able to afford to live in the upper class neighborhoods.

I live in proximity to the Springwoods at Lake Ridge apartment complex. It appears to be a decent complex in a nice area of Lake Ridge - 22192. From my observations, it is socioeconomically, racially, & culturally diverse so that might not fit your ideal. However, it is in a nice area of Woodbridge, relatively low crime, close to shopping and restaurants, and a convenient commute to Manassas.

The Dominion Lake Ridge apartments might be worth taking a peak at as well.

Housing budget? $800 - $1500 monthly.

[kww]

Originally Posted by fritzmatrix

Housing budget? $800 - $1500 monthly.

I didn't bother or care to read any of the other posters remarks (beyond a brisk glance at baseball player references, cultural indifferences, breakdowns of linguistic heritages, etc.)

Under $1,500.00 a month in rent, there are roughly seventy rentals in PWC with a minimum of one bedroom.

Practically anywhere in PWC will get you to either of your office locations in a reasonable timeframe, as you should not have to hit either of the major highways to accomplish this.

If you are concerned about certain neighborhoods/streets in regards to crime etc, you can call the county and give the street address and get 'some' results. If sex offender status is a concern, no shortage of websites should help to provide results for that.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by fritzmatrix

Housing budget? $800 - $1500 monthly.

Since you'll be bouncing between Woodbridge and Manassas, suggest west of I95. There are loads of rentals along Minnieville in the zip code of 22192. You could also push to the area where Old Bridge rd intersects with Prince William pwky. Lots of townhouse complexes there with both agency and private owners that rent in that range. Your commute in either direction to Manassas and Woodbridge would be easy. Are you working at both those locations? Original post was somewhat unclear on with location(s).

[justtitans]

Where is the OP? Why keep wasting time on this if he hasn't responded in 3 weeks time?

[farplaner]

Look 3 posts up...

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by fritzmatrix

Housing budget? $800 - $1500 monthly.

In that case (and at the top of your budget) welcome to the world of heterogeneous garden apartments with contractor vans and taxis parked on the streets. Nothing wrong with that, I've lived in such an area for three years with no problems, just will not meet your Caryesque expectations by a long shot. I don't know what a "culturally white" Hispanic is, but I am sure there are plenty of them around here too.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by tongyang

Look 3 posts up...

Thanks I can't see clearly.

[Oldhag1]

I would aim for the 22192 zip code. We do have cultural diversity but we do not have a ghetto vibe at all.