Fredericksburg or Woodbridge (Arlington, Alexandria, Lake Ridge: high crime, school district, salary)

[QueenzGurl]

Hello All, I am writing this for a friend of mine. She just accepted a position in Arlington, VA. She is an African-American Muslim with 2 school age children. For some reason she has narrowed down to living in Fredericksburg or Woodbridge. Maybe because of cheaper rent. She doesn't want to live in DC because of the high crime. Any how, may you please share your opinion or facts of whether she should go to Fredericksburg or Woodbridge or neither? If neither could you recommend somewhere she would be fine living? I really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

[Yankeesfan]

Fredericksburg would be an excessively long commute.

[ChristineVA]

She would never see her children if she moved to Fredericksburg. It is 30 miles south of Woodbridge. Quite a difference. It is not an easy commute. Woodbridge isn't an easy commute either but it is manageable. I don't think Fredericksburg is a good choice for someone with young kids. The best way to commute in and out of either city is public transportation but if you have to leave in the middle of the day often (as I did when my kids were younger), public transportation can be a problem. At least living in Woodbridge, she has somewhat of a chance of driving on her own if need be.

I also think that she may find Woodbridge to be more diverse considering her religion and ethnicity. Not that Fredericksburg is "lily white and Christian" but it is more so than Woodbridge.

[qwertman]

The commute from woodbridge won't be that bad, there are several options to arlington - slugging, bus, or VRE. From Fredericksburg would add half and hour to the commute, but VRE runs down there too.

Fredericksburg might be a little cheaper but maybe not by much.

Woodbridge will probably be more convienent.

Woodbridge is more diverse.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by QueenzGurl

Hello All, I am writing this for a friend of mine. She just accepted a position in Arlington, VA. She is an African-American Muslim with 2 school age children. For some reason she has narrowed down to living in Fredericksburg or Woodbridge. Maybe because of cheaper rent. She doesn't want to live in DC because of the high crime. Any how, may you please share your opinion or facts of whether she should go to Fredericksburg or Woodbridge or neither? If neither could you recommend somewhere she would be fine living? I really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

Well the good news is that your friend could take the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to work from either of these towns. The bad news is that it wouldn't be a quick commute. Driving would be even worse as she would join the I-95 conga line.

My understanding of Fredericksburg is that it is a very family-friendly town overall. I don't know much about how Muslims are received down there. It is indeed a long commute. Even with flex-time, her children would become latch-key kids on one end of the day or the other.

Woodbridge would be shave off a half hour off the commute but it would still be pretty rough because of I-95. The Lake Ridge community there is said to be the most desirable but others with more knowledge than me can expound on that.

Honestly, without knowing her salary, I'd recommend Lorton or Kingstowne, both in southeast Fairfax County. The commute would be relatively short and your friend may be pleased by the reputation of the school district. FWIW, there's also a private Muslim school in the Fairfax County section of Alexandria that may be worth looking into.