Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are artsy you might like del ray in alexandria. I don't know how the commute will be (coils he take metro?) and that price is probably a townhouse. Check zip 23301

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/del_ray_virginias_small_town_near_the_big_city/2903

I live in Del Ray and love it (and you're right that the vibe would probably appeal to OP). But the commute from Del Ray to GMU would be terrible. My parents live out that way and while it's not too bad to drive there on the weekend (takes 30-40 minutes), I avoid it like the plague at rush hour.

But wouldn't it be a reverse commute?

I'm the del ray poster and with what the next poster said about commute I think Falls Church might be a good fit. I think you will feel really far removed anywhere else. Vienna and fairfax are a pain to drive from on 66 even on the weekend but falls church you have a couple different ways to get closer in to the city. It has some character, a little bit of an art scene, and good schools.

I would say your best choices would be Town of Vienna or Fairfax City. These are different just Vienna and just Fairfax. It's confusing at first. These are small town communities within the greater county. Both are very close to GMU, Fairfax City being pretty much in the middle of it.

I don't know a lot about City of Fairfax schools, but in Town of Vienna I'd look at the Vienna El/Thoreau/Madison pyramid. You'll be close in town, walking distance to plenty of stores, restaurants, the elementary school, the library and .grocery stores. With your budget, you would be able to afford a single family rambler or split level style home or a townhouse.

OP is your DH dealing with rush hour or is he random hours?

Anonymous wrote:If you are artsy you might like del ray in alexandria. I don't know how the commute will be (coils he take metro?) and that price is probably a townhouse. Check zip 23301

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/del_ray_virginias_small_town_near_the_big_city/2903

I live in Del Ray and love it (and you're right that the vibe would probably appeal to OP). But the commute from Del Ray to GMU would be terrible. My parents live out that way and while it's not too bad to drive there on the weekend (takes 30-40 minutes), I avoid it like the plague at rush hour.

If you are artsy you might like del ray in alexandria. I don't know how the commute will be (coils he take metro?) and that price is probably a townhouse. Check zip 23301

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/del_ray_virginias_small_town_near_the_big_city/2903

I know you said you'll probably do this anyway, but I just wanted to echo the posters who said to rent! Especially to get a feel for commutes- it's just impossible to know what the trip will be like on a daily basis until you do it. We moved here a year ago from NYC, and my commute has been far worse than we anticipated- we vastly underestimated traffic around here (to be fair, we didn't have a car in NYC so commuting by car was new). Fortunately we're renting, but it's taken us a bit of time to zero in on the area that will be the best fit for us. Anyway, good luck!!

I grew up in DC and consider myself pretty urban but for various reasons have lived in various parts of NOVA for the last 13 years. I went to grad school at GMU and find that the city of Fairfax has changed a lot in the last 5-10 years and really think that OP should consider it in addition to Vienna. I have lived in both and actually prefer Fairfax City, but yes, there are some good restaurants on Maple Ave. I live in Arlington now and prefer that to anywhere else in NOVA, but with the budget and commute issues I think City of Fairfax is the way to go. OP you could afford a decent place in S. Arlington (which I love) but the commute for your husband would not be good (too far from 66 and 495). Also some people hate the schools, but really they are fine. Good luck OP! I agree with renting for at least the first year unless you find a place you love in Fairfax City.

I am from NOVA (lived right near Stenwood ES and went to Marshall HS back in the day) and have lived in NYC for the past decade or so. Sorry, OP -- the most "life" you will find in NOVA is the traffic. It is all really boring ugly sprawl and probably the opposite of any place you could consider "artsy." But it sounds like your husband got a great job, so grow where you are planted, right? Just don't get your hopes up too high!

If I were you, I'd focus on the town of Vienna, as it can be quaint in pockets and Maple Ave. has a good strip of restaurants and anything else you might need. I think it's the closest thing you'll get to a "town" in the area. I think it's more pleasant than Falls Church and less expensive, but others may disagree.

Another vote for Fairfax city. All these are very similar so you might as well be close and pay less.

Anonymous wrote:if you are looking for a liberal area I would recommend Maryland.

I thought you people believed a commute less than 20 minutes was worse than death itself. So why in Elvis' name would you be suggesting ANYWHERE in Maryland?

if you are looking for a liberal area I would recommend Maryland.

Fairfax city streetscape:

We moved here from NYC. We rented for the first year, and I echo the PPs who say RENT FIRST! While you're renting, visit all the other neighborhoods and towns where you might want to buy. Try to go on weekends when there are festivals or things happening so that you can see how active the area is. Visit neighborhood parks and see if there are kids playing there in the afternoons.

I do love Fairfax City. If my DH wasn't working in DC, we would have looked there. Perfect location for you.

Rent in Fairfax City, almost zero commute and damnit, it's an independent city of 20k. It's like a lower cost version of Falls Church with an (IMO) better downtown area.