Teaching Job in Woodbridge...Where to Live? (Alexandria, Burke: rent, day care)

[redorange35]

Hello. I am close to accepting a teaching position in Woodbridge. I am moving from Texas, single male, no kids, and I'm a renter. Any suggestions?

I am considering Springfield, West Springfield, and Burke. The commute doesn't look too bad from those locations. Would this qualify as a reverse commute since I'm leaving early in the morning, driving south on 95?

I don't want to be south of Woodbridge because I would like to be closer to D.C. and other fun/social areas. Plus, the closest Whole Foods is in Springfield.

[spencgr]

There aren't a lot of "reverse" commutes in this area, but that is certainly one. The areas you mentioned are very much "family suburbia". Nothing wrong with that at all, but as a single person, I might want to go a little further (Shirlington, perhaps) or, if you can afford it, Old Town Alexandria.

[johnsonkk]

There are more than a couple of day care workers that have recently left for teaching positions in Fairfax county. Of course I don't know if that's where they live or if that is the only teaching jobs they applied to for teaching positions.

Unfortunately these are the best daycare workers (really teachers based on the education outlines) that have left. Is Fairfax no longer hiring teachers?

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by redorange35

Hello. I am close to accepting a teaching position in Woodbridge. I am moving from Texas, single male, no kids, and I'm a renter. Any suggestions?

I am considering Springfield, West Springfield, and Burke. The commute doesn't look too bad from those locations. Would this qualify as a reverse commute since I'm leaving early in the morning, driving south on 95?

I don't want to be south of Woodbridge because I would like to be closer to D.C. and other fun/social areas. Plus, the closest Whole Foods is in Springfield.

If you are a brand new teacher (your first year teaching ever) you might want to give very serious consideration to living nearer your workplace this first year and commuting to leisure, shopping and non-work activities. If you are like most of the other new teachers I have encountered through the years, school will be your social life. Also, there is a lot to be said for the cheaper rent in Woodbridge on a new teacher's pay.

Woodbridge does have a MOMS, which fits in the organic/wholesome food category and Wegman's which has a rather large organic/health food section. I have found I now only need to go to Whole Foods once or twice a month.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

Woodbridge does have a MOMS, which fits in the organic/wholesome food category and Wegman's which has a rather large organic/health food section. I have found I now only need to go to Whole Foods once or twice a month.

Not to mention that the WF in Springfield isn't that great (unless they've spruced it up). It's a very small WF that took over, I think, an old Magruder's grocery store. It is nothing like the other WFs I've been to.