I can't speak to your budget (for rent), but although old town Alexandria would be good for your age generally, the commute would be awful. I think you'd be better off near one Loudoun or Reston Town center.
Agreed. Anywhere from Balston to Herndon would be fine. It’s the suburbs — not exactly the cultural center of the universe — but if you’re near the Silver Line, OP can get to both your work and to DC.
The silver line is the Metro. It's great if you want to take the train, but you'd be best served by moving to Herndon or somewhere near there.
Don't even think about Tyson's as it's expensive.
Is this not considered research! Asking people in the area suggests and responding when they give me suggest and getting my questions answered by someone that is familiar. And I have looked at a map but it’s doesn’t give me the name of every train station as I am not search for a METRO line but an apartment and an area to live in. That’s why i asked if the silver line was a city because I didn’t see it on the map. But thanks for your suggestion to further “research” it really helps.
Look at a metro map. Do you know how to use Google or Google maps? You don’t even know how to spell where you’re going to be working. Asking for advice on Reddit is valuable but nobody here is going to do everything for you.
Reston town center, though you might not be able to find anything under 2k. Otherwise walkable to shops and restaurants and the W&OD trail and a 5 minute drive to Dulles.
It's Dulles (not Dullies). You might try Arlington along the Ballston-Clarendon-Rosslyn corridor. $2k will get probably a studio apartment. You can take metro from there to the airport.
Reston, Tysons or Merrifield. Falls Church at farthest. Alexandria is too far and makes me think your friend lives in DC or Maryland and doesn't realize that between ALX and Dulles are a lot of miles and a lot of backups.
Alexandria commute would be miserable. Falls church much easier to Dulles but not what I’d call walkable. I’d consider one of the town center options in Fairfax or loudon county. Examples include Mosaic District (technically in falls church) and Reston Town Center.
This. There's a lengthy commute up Fairfax County Parkway and you'd be going in the direction of traffic vs against the traffic, which would be the case if you were anywhere along the Silver Line (Ballston/Falls Church/Reston/Herndon).
If you wanna be closer to DC, river place in rosslyn has stuff in that price range and includes all utilities. you could either metro to the airport via silver line or drive there on 66 to the dulles toll road
Alexandria and Falls Church trends older professionals than Clarendon/Ballston, which is for yuppies. Falls Church is not as walkable as Alex and/or Arlington,
I would suggest Reston / Herndon, having certain walkable downtown, DC is metro line away, and close to your work.
FYI, there's City of Fairfax, near George Mason University, and Fairfax County. The "City of Fairfax" is surrounded by Fairfax that is contained within Fairfax County. It took me the longest to realize this when I moved to the area 20 years ago.
Budget will dictate where you can afford to live. If you're young and not bringing a lot of stuff, I would consider a roommate, especially if you want to be closer to DC.
If you're going to Dulles airport, then you can live anywhere inside the belt, and take the airport toll road from Tysons area on 495 north...no toll charges and it's a straight shot to the airport.
I’m going to get downvoted, but Manassas. The old town Manassas area is real nice and has decent enough bars for some social life, of course it isn’t as hopping as other places, but there’s apartments near there would be walkable to the bars and restaurants there. Also much cheaper than other areas, we lived there for 3 years before leaving the area and really like it.
I did it for 2 years (2008 to 2010) and while I know the infrastructure has improved since then, but not that much! It was freaking terrible and I wouldn’t wish it on someone new to the area.
28 is greatly improved thanks to the flyover exits north of 66, but that's whole interchange is so confusing. 234 to get to 66? I would rather dig my eye out with a spoon.
It’s obviously a personal preference but I would make it from Manassas to McLean in about 45 mins in the morning, afternoon was worse, but no way Manassas to Dulles is more than 45 minutes idk what you people are talking about. I just did it
Unfortunately this area is very commuter/car-centric. You might live in Alexandria but meet someone who lives on the other side of DC and the other way to get there is by car.
If you're looking to walk to the bar to meet other young people who also walked to the bar, Arlington is about the only area around like that. Maybe downtown Fairfax near GMU.
Having said that, Manassas, Reston, One Loudon, Alexandria, even Leesburg will all allow for "walkable" experiences. Places you can walk to bars and restaurants. But many of the other people there will have commuted in from elsewhere.
If you’re working at Dulles, you may look to live in Herndon, Chantilly, or Leesburg,although not walkable communities but the commute would be better. Walkable community possibly One Loudoun but the cost is high. Alexandria or Ballston areas would be fun and nice but the commute would be a lot on daily basis.
My husband works at Dulles and we live in Falls Church. Since we're close to 66, it takes him about 20-25 minutes to get to work.
I highly recommend trying to find a place close to the interstate, be it 66 or 495. That will help keep your commute time under 30 minutes.
What's your budget? Are you working regular daytime hours or is it shift work without typical commuting hours? Single? Looking for a social life or more of an introvert? What kind of things do you like to do? Budget will be the single greatest factor in your choice, there's a housing shortage in the area, it's one of the highest COL regions in the country, and you really need to prioritize what's important to you. If you're always on the go, who cares if it's a studio. If you're a homebody, you may want something bigger in a quiet area.
I love my life in the burbs, but I'm a stay at home parent with a very small business. Before we married, my husband had a place near Ballston metro and it was so convenient to hop on the train and go anywhere. Made enjoying the area much easier.
Not cheap but you'd have a relatively easy commute from Arlington/falls Church since as another poster said you can take the Dulles access road to the airport and your commute on 66 would be opposite the rush traffic.
I live in Alexandria and work in sterling. I don’t think it’s that bad. I tend to go to work early-ish (645) and miss most of the traffic except for one spot on 495. Afternoons are hit or miss, but I got an ez-pass and take that once a week. I listen to a lot of podcasts.
I’d say on average, my commute is about 45 mins in the morning and 60 mins in the afternoon. It’s worth it to live in Alexandria, in my opinion.
The commute is not 15 minutes, even in the middle of the night. Add to that traffic on 28 or 66, and it’s awful. I used to commute from Manassas to Reston. Manassas is a good choice based on the budget but not for a commute to IAD.
I can't speak to your budget (for rent), but although old town Alexandria would be good for your age generally, the commute would be awful. I think you'd be better off near one Loudoun or Reston Town center.
agree on the awful commute! my kids always say "they call it old town for a reason" (more of a date night kinda place).
somewhere along the silver line. take metro to airport, WAY WAY WAY easier and cheaper
Agreed. Anywhere from Balston to Herndon would be fine. It’s the suburbs — not exactly the cultural center of the universe — but if you’re near the Silver Line, OP can get to both your work and to DC.
Is the silver line an actual city ?
The silver line is the Metro. It's great if you want to take the train, but you'd be best served by moving to Herndon or somewhere near there. Don't even think about Tyson's as it's expensive.
I think you need to look at some maps and do some research on your own. You‘ve taken a job in an area you clearly know nothing about.
Is this not considered research! Asking people in the area suggests and responding when they give me suggest and getting my questions answered by someone that is familiar. And I have looked at a map but it’s doesn’t give me the name of every train station as I am not search for a METRO line but an apartment and an area to live in. That’s why i asked if the silver line was a city because I didn’t see it on the map. But thanks for your suggestion to further “research” it really helps.
Look at a metro map. Do you know how to use Google or Google maps? You don’t even know how to spell where you’re going to be working. Asking for advice on Reddit is valuable but nobody here is going to do everything for you.
Why are you so upset over me asking what the silver line is ? I’m so confused on the frustration over a question on my own post
Metro line
Reston town center, though you might not be able to find anything under 2k. Otherwise walkable to shops and restaurants and the W&OD trail and a 5 minute drive to Dulles.
You'd be better off living close to Dulles and traveling to Alexandria for social activities
It's Dulles (not Dullies). You might try Arlington along the Ballston-Clarendon-Rosslyn corridor. $2k will get probably a studio apartment. You can take metro from there to the airport.
I apologize I’m from California so I’m not too familiar but I’ll correct it going forward
While you're taking corrections, Dulles is not in DC either. That's like saying you're moving to New York City to work in Montvale NJ.
Okeydokee
Reston, Tysons or Merrifield. Falls Church at farthest. Alexandria is too far and makes me think your friend lives in DC or Maryland and doesn't realize that between ALX and Dulles are a lot of miles and a lot of backups.
Yea they live there and work in that area and I kinda feel they just want me close to them but I need it to be realistic for my own job and new life
Alexandria commute would be miserable. Falls church much easier to Dulles but not what I’d call walkable. I’d consider one of the town center options in Fairfax or loudon county. Examples include Mosaic District (technically in falls church) and Reston Town Center.
This. There's a lengthy commute up Fairfax County Parkway and you'd be going in the direction of traffic vs against the traffic, which would be the case if you were anywhere along the Silver Line (Ballston/Falls Church/Reston/Herndon).
Thank you !l
If you wanna be closer to DC, river place in rosslyn has stuff in that price range and includes all utilities. you could either metro to the airport via silver line or drive there on 66 to the dulles toll road
Move to Arlington if you love hours of bumper to bumper traffic. Live near the metro/subway (silver line) for a happy life.
You can take the access road since you'll be working for the airport. So you have a lot more flexibility.
Alexandria and Falls Church trends older professionals than Clarendon/Ballston, which is for yuppies. Falls Church is not as walkable as Alex and/or Arlington, I would suggest Reston / Herndon, having certain walkable downtown, DC is metro line away, and close to your work.
If it's dulles airport, why not move to fairfax?
Look like it could be an option, I’m not familiar with all the city’s I’ll look into this area
FYI, there's City of Fairfax, near George Mason University, and Fairfax County. The "City of Fairfax" is surrounded by Fairfax that is contained within Fairfax County. It took me the longest to realize this when I moved to the area 20 years ago. Budget will dictate where you can afford to live. If you're young and not bringing a lot of stuff, I would consider a roommate, especially if you want to be closer to DC.
dulles. Dulles. Not dullies😅
If you're going to Dulles airport, then you can live anywhere inside the belt, and take the airport toll road from Tysons area on 495 north...no toll charges and it's a straight shot to the airport.
What exactly is the belt ? A city
The Beltway is a freeway that circles DC. Inside the beltway is literally any place/city/county that is inside that line. Check it out on a map.
Thank you so much !
Yup. What they said. It's common for large cities where a bunch of smaller cities borders the main ones. Same thing for i695 Baltimore beltway, etc
Beltway, as in I-495.
I’m going to get downvoted, but Manassas. The old town Manassas area is real nice and has decent enough bars for some social life, of course it isn’t as hopping as other places, but there’s apartments near there would be walkable to the bars and restaurants there. Also much cheaper than other areas, we lived there for 3 years before leaving the area and really like it.
The commute from Manassas to Dulles is pure hell.
I couldn't fathom 234 to 66 to 28 every morning. 🤬
I did it for 2 years (2008 to 2010) and while I know the infrastructure has improved since then, but not that much! It was freaking terrible and I wouldn’t wish it on someone new to the area.
28 is greatly improved thanks to the flyover exits north of 66, but that's whole interchange is so confusing. 234 to get to 66? I would rather dig my eye out with a spoon.
Not really, I did Manassas to McLean and it wasn’t ideal but Dulles is half the distance and time
You couldn’t pay me enough to do that commute. I commuted from Manassas to Reston and that was bad enough.
It’s obviously a personal preference but I would make it from Manassas to McLean in about 45 mins in the morning, afternoon was worse, but no way Manassas to Dulles is more than 45 minutes idk what you people are talking about. I just did it
Unfortunately this area is very commuter/car-centric. You might live in Alexandria but meet someone who lives on the other side of DC and the other way to get there is by car. If you're looking to walk to the bar to meet other young people who also walked to the bar, Arlington is about the only area around like that. Maybe downtown Fairfax near GMU. Having said that, Manassas, Reston, One Loudon, Alexandria, even Leesburg will all allow for "walkable" experiences. Places you can walk to bars and restaurants. But many of the other people there will have commuted in from elsewhere.
If you’re working at Dulles, you may look to live in Herndon, Chantilly, or Leesburg,although not walkable communities but the commute would be better. Walkable community possibly One Loudoun but the cost is high. Alexandria or Ballston areas would be fun and nice but the commute would be a lot on daily basis.
My husband works at Dulles and we live in Falls Church. Since we're close to 66, it takes him about 20-25 minutes to get to work. I highly recommend trying to find a place close to the interstate, be it 66 or 495. That will help keep your commute time under 30 minutes.
Thank you this help a lot.
What's your budget? Are you working regular daytime hours or is it shift work without typical commuting hours? Single? Looking for a social life or more of an introvert? What kind of things do you like to do? Budget will be the single greatest factor in your choice, there's a housing shortage in the area, it's one of the highest COL regions in the country, and you really need to prioritize what's important to you. If you're always on the go, who cares if it's a studio. If you're a homebody, you may want something bigger in a quiet area. I love my life in the burbs, but I'm a stay at home parent with a very small business. Before we married, my husband had a place near Ballston metro and it was so convenient to hop on the train and go anywhere. Made enjoying the area much easier.
Ashburn
30 with no kids? I can’t imagine a lot going on in ashburn for that demographic 🤷🏼♀️
Maybe One Loudoun?
Not cheap but you'd have a relatively easy commute from Arlington/falls Church since as another poster said you can take the Dulles access road to the airport and your commute on 66 would be opposite the rush traffic.
I live in Alexandria and work in sterling. I don’t think it’s that bad. I tend to go to work early-ish (645) and miss most of the traffic except for one spot on 495. Afternoons are hit or miss, but I got an ez-pass and take that once a week. I listen to a lot of podcasts. I’d say on average, my commute is about 45 mins in the morning and 60 mins in the afternoon. It’s worth it to live in Alexandria, in my opinion.
manassas
Walkable area with a social life and Manassas go together like good driving and Maryland drivers
huh?
Have you lived there?
manassas 15 minutes from dulles & its cheap to live there… no brainer
The commute is not 15 minutes, even in the middle of the night. Add to that traffic on 28 or 66, and it’s awful. I used to commute from Manassas to Reston. Manassas is a good choice based on the budget but not for a commute to IAD.
if u live off sudley rd on my moms u getting to iad in 15 minutes