Moving next year, unsure where to live (Woodbridge, Franconia: apartment, for rent)

[vduke]

My husband and I will be moving next summer to work in D.C. We were originally planning on moving to Woodridge but we're still unsure. We need somewhere that's relatively safe as we would like to grow our family in the next couple of years but we also need somewhere that we can take the metro to D.C. We're very unfamiliar with northern VA and would like some suggestions on where the best places to live would be. We're still lending towards Woodbridge since I have read that the crime isn't as bad there but I don't know if I am being misinformed. If anyone could help me out that would be great. TIA!

[LynchburgLover]

It depends on your budget and size/style of house.

Without personal info, it would be helpful to know the ages of children (are you looking for elementary or HS? Special needs?), any significant hobbies (do you have to be close to a good gymnastics place?). How far are you willing to drive to a metro or VRE station? Etc. It helps people suggest areas if they have a clue about your general lifestyle.

Some areas are better for young families, some for executive lifestyle, do you want urban or rural, mountains or water, etc.

Best of luck.

[JavaJunkieDC]

You can't get to DC from Woodbridge using Metro. You would have to take the VRE to Union Station.

[vduke]

Sorry for not including more info. Right now we have no kids but plan to in the near future. I'm not sure how long we will be in the DC area for so at least knowing about elementary schools would help. We are in our mid to late twenties and would like something in the rural area; somewhere that's not entirely crowded. I've never experienced using the metro before so it's definitely going to be something to get used to for me. I would like to live at least within 10-15 min from some sort of transportation into DC. For our budget we're trying to stay under $2000 a month for rent and hoping to rent a house, not a townhouse or apartment.

[Ffxdata]

There are no rural areas within 15 minutes f a metro station. I would say there aren't any rural areas with 30 minutes of a metro. VRE expands those options a bit. Woodbridge is not rural.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by vduke

I would like to live at least within 10-15 min from some sort of transportation into DC.

This is still very vague. Where will you be working?


Fredericksburg has "some sort of transportation" into DC (VRE), but the train ride alone is 1.5 hours. Then add in Metro travel time, walking to an office, and the 10-15 minutes you are getting to the train, you are talking over 2 hours - each way.


Please define the longest commute you wish to make and let us know where you will be working in DC. Location in the city certainly matters to help us point you in the right direction.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

There are no rural areas within 15 minutes f a metro station. I would say there aren't any rural areas with 30 minutes of a metro. VRE expands those options a bit. Woodbridge is not rural.

But there certainly are areas within 15 minutes of "some sort of transportation" into DC. It's probably VRE or commuter bus lines.


Anywhere "rural" headed into DC will absolutely be a long commute.

[vduke]

My husband will be working at the Pentagon and I'm not sure where I will be working yet. Honestly all I'm asking for are some suggestions of some nice cities around DC to look into that doesn't have a crazy cost of living and isn't too far from the metro or VRE so we don't have to drive into DC and deal with the traffic. Rural is preferred but if we can't get that near the metro or VRE that is fine. Also hoping for less than an hour of a commute. Thank you

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by vduke

My husband will be working at the Pentagon and I'm not sure where I will be working yet. Honestly all I'm asking for are some suggestions of some nice cities around DC to look into that doesn't have a crazy cost of living and isn't too far from the metro or VRE so we don't have to drive into DC and deal with the traffic. Rural is preferred but if we can't get that near the metro or VRE that is fine. Also hoping for less than an hour of a commute. Thank you

I understand, and your struggle is understandable and shared by many.

There are many "nice cities" around but it depends on what you like and your price range which you have stated as less than $2000 a month. Urban? Suburban? Walkable? People your age? Lots of families? For suburbia with many families you could find something in Springfield and use the Franconia-Springfield station. For people your age and loving a party scene, you could afford something on the Orange line corridor like Rosslyn or Ballston. If you like a small town feel in a larger city area, City of Falls Church and Vienna are options that you could probably afford and each have their own metro option. If you want plenty of space in an exert you may be able to do a VRE commute from someplace farther out using VRE which I know nothing about. All people would classify these as nice towns. All have fine elementary schools.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

City of Falls Church and Vienna are options that you could probably afford and each have their own metro option.

I could be wrong, but I don't think you are getting a SFH for under $2K in these areas.