OP, if you are still reading, you should start watching Google traffic maps during commuting hours (5:30-9:30) and see what you are in for. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Anonymous wrote:OP - what's wrong with DC public schools? Can't DC just commute along with you? (you work in DC correct?).

And do you really want to live someplace like like Virginia? Seriously?

LOL, because she wants good schools. DCPS is a nightmare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In addition to Burke & West Springfield, don't rule out Fairfax Station/Lorton. You can get newer homes in that area. Yes, there are homes in the 500K-600K price range in Fairfax Station, it isn't all McMansions -

Silverbrook and Sangster are the same flipping building!
And Lake Braddock & South County are very similar schools.
(I'm at Robinson, so I have no skin in the LB vs SC game).

Lorton yes.

Fairfax Station??? Hmmm.doesn't that add a lot of time to get to 95?

I think the poster means the Lorton side of Fairfax Station, not the Fairfax side.

Anonymous wrote:In addition to Burke & West Springfield, don't rule out Fairfax Station/Lorton. You can get newer homes in that area. Yes, there are homes in the 500K-600K price range in Fairfax Station, it isn't all McMansions -

Silverbrook and Sangster are the same flipping building!
And Lake Braddock & South County are very similar schools.
(I'm at Robinson, so I have no skin in the LB vs SC game).

Lorton yes.

Fairfax Station??? Hmmm.doesn't that add a lot of time to get to 95?

In addition to Burke & West Springfield, don't rule out Fairfax Station/Lorton. You can get newer homes in that area. Yes, there are homes in the 500K-600K price range in Fairfax Station, it isn't all McMansions -

Silverbrook and Sangster are the same flipping building!
And Lake Braddock & South County are very similar schools.
(I'm at Robinson, so I have no skin in the LB vs SC game).

Anonymous wrote:OP - what's wrong with DC public schools? Can't DC just commute along with you? (you work in DC correct?).

And do you really want to live someplace like like Virginia? Seriously?

She wants good schools which rules out DC.

OP, do the Burke Lorton or West Springfield thing. You want to be just outside the beltway close to 95 for the revese commute to work to Stafford and close to the VRE or Springfield Metro.

Where in DC is the job? That will help a bit.

OP - what's wrong with DC public schools? Can't DC just commute along with you? (you work in DC correct?).

And do you really want to live someplace like like Virginia? Seriously?

Anonymous wrote:This thread should be moved to real estate.

Do you think this happens magically when you say that? hit the "report" button and tell Jeff.

This thread should be moved to real estate.

Anonymous wrote:I recommend Burke. Some elementary schools in Burke are wonderful. You will have an easy reverse commute to Stafford (30-40 mins) and you can take the VRE to DC. So you will be able to maximize your budget, get good schools and have a reasonable commute (40 minutes in DC is reasonable). Good luck!

40 minutes to Union Station. If you are not walkable from there, its down to the Metro from the VRE platform. Easily going add 20 - 30 mins, more if you need to transfer in Metro Center.

I recommend Burke. Some elementary schools in Burke are wonderful. You will have an easy reverse commute to Stafford (30-40 mins) and you can take the VRE to DC. So you will be able to maximize your budget, get good schools and have a reasonable commute (40 minutes in DC is reasonable). Good luck!

Buses from that area start really early and take a good bit of time:

schedules here: http://martzgroupva.com/new-schedule-effective-april-11th/

OP, I don't think you quite realize how hard your scenario is going to be. You don't want your life to be hard. Please listen to these people carefully. I have lived in this area for 23 years and they know what they are talking about. People around here have turned down high paying jobs to avoid the commute. One of you in DC and one of you in Stafford will be brutal for the whole family. You will quickly become miserable and will have no quality of life. It is not an exaggeration. It is a fact of life in the DMV if you don't plan it right. But, if you really cannot change one of the jobs, then they are right that one of you must live close to work and one of you must sacrifice on the commute. A long commute for both of you does no one any good. +1 on the reverse commute to Stafford. So, that means you would live close in to DC. Depending on where you are coming from prepare to temper your housing expectations. For your budget (assuming $500-$600K), you will be looking at an old, small SFH, TH, or even condo as you get closer to DC. Housing is out of control here and the closer in to DC you get the more expensive.

Unfortunately, you have a pretty severe conflict among your budget, job locations, and school priorities. If school really is a top priority and you can afford it, I suggest you live in Alexandria and go private. This will mean sacrificing on the housing. If you live in FFX County (Southern) both of your commutes will be long, but you will be able to have good schools. Arlington County, Falls Church, Northern FFX County (e.g., Annandale, Fairfax, Oakton, Vienna, McLean, etc.) have good schools, but add 20-30 minutes onto the commute to Stafford, which will already be 1+ hours on a good day. Your commute to DC from those areas would also be 45 mins. to 1 hour each way. Target your housing search up and down 395 (inside the Beltway) and 95. If telecommuting is an option take it as often as you can! Some government jobs are doing it 3+ days a week now.

BTW - Alexandria is not halfway. Southern FFX County (Springfield, Burke, Lorton) are more like halfway.

With all of that said, this can be a great place to live if you work it right and plan accordingly. The key is not working in DC and Stafford when you have kids. Sorry. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Many of these posts are confusing and I don't think everyone knows what they're talking about. Commute to Stafford on the VRE? You can't reverse commute on the VRE.

My spouse and I did something similar - I worked in DC and he worked at Quantico. We live in West Springfield. He probably had the shorter, more consistent commute. It was far (mileage-wise), but it was usually traffic-free. The big problems he had were traffic on base and sometimes on 95 in the afternoon/evening.

I would slug downtown and that was the fastest option for me. There are many slug lots in Springfield, in addition to the Metro, express buses to the Pentagon, and the VRE.

Schools are great in West Springfield. I would just recommend choosing neighborhoods carefully based on commuting routes. If you pick something close to the Fairfax County Parkway and 95/395, that will save you a lot of time.

I would not move as far at as Woodbridge. The schools are not as good and it's not necessary for the Stafford commuter. Woodbridge will make the commute a lot longer for the DC person and just shorten the mileage for the Stafford commuter. Traffic/time is more of a concern for the one commuting into DC.

No.

Reverse commute down 95 driving a car to Stafford. Not ideal hut doable since they will be going against traffic.

DC spouse commutes via VRE from Lorton/Burke/West Springfield.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I think that if you live in kings park east or west your commute for both will be fine. I don't live in that area, but I used to, and I have coworkers who do and the commute is 15 minutes to Vienna metro and then 34 minutes on the train to metro center. Total time is about 1 hour. Not too bad for this area. The schools in the aforementioned communities are pretty good. For the Stafford commuter I recommend 123 Sourh to Occoquan where 95 can be picked up.

Good luck!

Vienna to Stafford every day? Ugh.

Agreed. We had friends who left the area -- near Tysons -- to move to Stafford where one of them worked. They liked their FCPS school, but the commute and the added costs of getting back and forth was killing them.

Aside from that, if it snows you could be literally stranded on the roads for hours. I had a neighbor whose commute from DC to Reston took 10 hours one snowy night. Please do your research before just coming here and pretending it will all be okay. Transportation issues are the #1 gripe in this area.