Where in Northern Virginia to relocate middle income family with kids, horses, heat-sick husband (Winchester: real estate)

[CentralFloridato??help]

Hello,
We live in Central Florida and my husband works outside. He is sick of the heat and humidity for 6 months out of the year, and every summer we are determined to move and it never happens. He is blue collar, diesel mechanic, and there seems to be several career opportunities available in the Northern Virginia/Maryland area.
I am aware that humidity is bad as well in this area... how long out of the year is it bad?
We have two young children that will be starting school soon, and great education is very important.
We have horses, acreage is important.
We are a country-loving family. ATVs, horse back riding, but love conveniences of close to shopping/cities.
The jobs that we have found so far are located near Winchester, one near DC, one near Sterling/Dulles.
We are middle income, I am a stay at home mom, we would be looking for something 3 bedroom, at least 5 acres. Near people who like to do the things we like to do.
I have been researching online real estate, best areas, but would like more input. Have read a lot of the forums already on Winchester areas, and it seems to be recommended in general - but not sure which direction to look in since we would be looking outside the city.
As for Sterling and DC, nothing really seems to be affordable... all multi million horse estates.
Thank you for any and all input.
Horse people pretty popular in these areas? - would love to offer boarding - something this area is in need of?

Thanks again!

[LynchburgLover]

Front Royal, Virginia. (Warren County) Affordable, lots of farms, horses, open area; schools are reasonably good. 20-25 minutes to Winchester (your best job bet in my opinion). Winchester is a great family town. Parks, a children's museum, great new movie theater, a Mall, Best Buy opening soon.

You'd be in the Shenandoah Valley, which is not nearly as humid as closer in to DC.

Sterling and into DC are much longer commutes into much denser traffic and much more suburban feel.

Congratulations on the job offerings!
There's also lots of small towns (Strasburg, Woodstock etc).

[nal6f]

Columbia, Maryland (sorry Virginia)
or Damascus, Maryland
or
Haymarket, Virginia, although that could be expensive I don't think so!
Berryville, near Winchester, is affordable and very cute.

[LynchburgLover]

I thought about Poolesville, too, until OP said the job locations. There is a ferry to the Sterling job but it would still be tough. From Damascus or Columbia to jobs in Winchester, Sterling or DC would be nightmares.

Berryville is cute but 5+ acres of land in Clarke County is getting pretty expensive. Lots of big, old money farms in Clarke.

[LynchburgLover]

Second thought. Their taxes in Warren County (Front Royal) or any of the other Shenandoah area counties (except Clarke) would be significantly lower than Montgomery or Howard County. Granted the Howard County (Columbia) schools are slightly better. The overall cost of living in the Valley is much less than Montgomery/Howard in Maryland.

Job opportunities as a diesal mechanic would also be better because of the proximity to I-81 but it sounds like they've already lined up a few jobs.

OP: There's also several large trucking centers north of Winchester. Good luck.

[sammiblue]

Have moved from Florida to Winchester, love the area young families lots of horses. AFFORDABLE.
our realtor is Kathy Coville from long and Foster she is excellent and will zone in on your families needs also knowledgable about outlying areas and towns. 703 475 3484 tell her Maggie sent you.

[CAVA1990]

The heat and humidity generally appear magically on June 21 and go away on September 21.