Commuting to DC - how far out is reasonable? (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Ected]

Loudoun County and Fairfax County have some of the highest rated school systems in the Nation. Move there and don't pay for private school.

There are some areas in these counties I would avoid, not because they're "bad areas" but because they have a heavy Spanish population (i.e. some areas in Herndon, Sterling and Manassas). No issues with Spanish speaking kids I just personally think it makes adjusting to a new place harder if there is a large majority of kids are speaking Spanish.

I'd consider places in Reston, Ashburn and Vienna first if you're looking for really good schools.

Another vote for Loudoun. Look at Eastern Loudoun County (just west of Dulles) from there you aren't all that far from the Silver Line (and it will be coming out further shortly). The SL is nice, although there is a cost to it, and I'm not sure what parking is. LC has a nice bus service that runs both to Metro Stations and into the city. The buses are able to ride on the Dulles Access lanes on 267, which helps with traffic.

I live out in Leesburg, and my wife commutes to Tyson's Corner, and she goes on Rt 7 to avoid paying tolls. She deals with the long drive by working from home 2 days/week, and will commute via toll roads if time requires.

We love it out here with kids. Loudoun schools are great. Leesburg has a small townish feel to it, but you aren't far from anything you need.

Oh, and we have Wegmans. [/thread]

 

[Ratbert]

Loudoun County and Fairfax County have some of the highest rated school systems in the Nation. Move there and don't pay for private school.

There are some areas in these counties I would avoid, not because they're "bad areas" but because they have a heavy Spanish population (i.e. some areas in Herndon, Sterling and Manassas). No issues with Spanish speaking kids I just personally think it makes adjusting to a new place harder if there is a large majority of kids are speaking Spanish.

I'd consider places in Reston, Ashburn and Vienna first if you're looking for really good schools.

Another vote for Loudoun. Look at Eastern Loudoun County (just west of Dulles) from there you aren't all that far from the Silver Line (and it will be coming out further shortly). The SL is nice, although there is a cost to it, and I'm not sure what parking is. LC has a nice bus service that runs both to Metro Stations and into the city. The buses are able to ride on the Dulles Access lanes on 267, which helps with traffic.

I live out in Leesburg, and my wife commutes to Tyson's Corner, and she goes on Rt 7 to avoid paying tolls. She deals with the long drive by working from home 2 days/week, and will commute via toll roads if time requires.

We love it out here with kids. Loudoun schools are great. Leesburg has a small townish feel to it, but you aren't far from anything you need.

Oh, and we have Wegmans. [/thread]

Wegmans ftw, but all civilized areas have Wegmans.

If your wife actually works in DC, Loudoun is going to be a hateful commute. Look along the VRE (manassas line) out as far as Burke Centre. VRE has free parking. If you have unlimited funds, look in Clifton

I have friends who live in Fredericksburg & take the VRE into DC, but the I95 corridor is something to avoid.

 

[njherdfan]

Just wanted to pop in here and say how useful all of this is. I live in DC now, but there's a good chance I might be moving to the 'burbs within a few years.

 

[dschuler]

Loudoun County and Fairfax County have some of the highest rated school systems in the Nation. Move there and don't pay for private school.

There are some areas in these counties I would avoid, not because they're "bad areas" but because they have a heavy Spanish population (i.e. some areas in Herndon, Sterling and Manassas). No issues with Spanish speaking kids I just personally think it makes adjusting to a new place harder if there is a large majority of kids are speaking Spanish.

I'd consider places in Reston, Ashburn and Vienna first if you're looking for really good schools.

Another vote for Loudoun. Look at Eastern Loudoun County (just west of Dulles) from there you aren't all that far from the Silver Line (and it will be coming out further shortly). The SL is nice, although there is a cost to it, and I'm not sure what parking is. LC has a nice bus service that runs both to Metro Stations and into the city. The buses are able to ride on the Dulles Access lanes on 267, which helps with traffic.

I live out in Leesburg, and my wife commutes to Tyson's Corner, and she goes on Rt 7 to avoid paying tolls. She deals with the long drive by working from home 2 days/week, and will commute via toll roads if time requires.

We love it out here with kids. Loudoun schools are great. Leesburg has a small townish feel to it, but you aren't far from anything you need.

Oh, and we have Wegmans. [/thread]

Whatever happened to short commute?

 

[James Daulton]

A Nova suburb will cost you 50% more in housing and the commute will be the same as a commute from Columbia, Catonsville, etc. Howard County schools are the bomb for the most part. I'd look there were I you.

I have 1,500 square foot house on a 1/2 acre with 2 kids and we have plenty of room. I'd buy a 2nd house in the Keys well before I spent tons of cash on some McMansion.

 

[belljr]

Guy I know drives 2.5 one way every day. That's nutty

 

[Mr. Ected]

Loudoun County and Fairfax County have some of the highest rated school systems in the Nation. Move there and don't pay for private school.

There are some areas in these counties I would avoid, not because they're "bad areas" but because they have a heavy Spanish population (i.e. some areas in Herndon, Sterling and Manassas). No issues with Spanish speaking kids I just personally think it makes adjusting to a new place harder if there is a large majority of kids are speaking Spanish.

I'd consider places in Reston, Ashburn and Vienna first if you're looking for really good schools.

Another vote for Loudoun. Look at Eastern Loudoun County (just west of Dulles) from there you aren't all that far from the Silver Line (and it will be coming out further shortly). The SL is nice, although there is a cost to it, and I'm not sure what parking is. LC has a nice bus service that runs both to Metro Stations and into the city. The buses are able to ride on the Dulles Access lanes on 267, which helps with traffic.

I live out in Leesburg, and my wife commutes to Tyson's Corner, and she goes on Rt 7 to avoid paying tolls. She deals with the long drive by working from home 2 days/week, and will commute via toll roads if time requires.

We love it out here with kids. Loudoun schools are great. Leesburg has a small townish feel to it, but you aren't far from anything you need.

Oh, and we have Wegmans. [/thread]

Whatever happened to short commute?

Dunno, one of my neighbors is in the Army and commutes from Leesburg to Ft. Belvoir. OUCH. Only plus is he goes wicked early, so he avoids most B.S. He also opts for the toll lanes on the beltway.

 

[Fear The Turtle]

Poolesville. You can find a nice home for $600K. As has been mentioned, the MARC train station is <10 mins. away. Even driving down Route 28 isn’t too bad.

The schools are golden. The middle school is the smallest in the County and we had nothing but great experiences there. As you’ve heard, the high school has been rated the #1 public high school in MD in some surveys. It has a magnet component that kids from most parts of the County (not Potomac so much as parents there are satisfied with their local schools) test to get into. It’s pretty hard to get accepted UNLESS you already live in the district. They definitely give magnet program priority to kids who would be attending the school anyway.

Bunch of bright kids walking around. My daughter swims and runs cross country and track and I enjoy attending the end of season banquets just to hear the kids speak. Not your typical student body.

Poolesville is located on the edge of the County’s big protected agricultural zone. The area is scenic, clean, and safe. There are several new housing developments but, overall, construction is restricted due to the ag. zone and I don’t see the tenor of the area changing for the foreseeable future.

Plenty of town spirit. There is an expansive commons that is host to many well-attended events during the course of the year. Other than the commons, though, there is not much to see (or do, for adults) along the main drag so you and the wife will have to search for entertainment elsewhere.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Poolesville. You can find a nice home for $600K. As has been mentioned, the MARC train station is <10 mins. away. Even driving down Route 28 isn’t too bad.

The schools are golden. The middle school is the smallest in the County and we had nothing but great experiences there. As you’ve heard, the high school has been rated the #1 public high school in MD in some surveys. It has a magnet component that kids from most parts of the County (not Potomac so much as parents there are satisfied with their local schools) test to get into. It’s pretty hard to get accepted UNLESS you already live in the district. They definitely give magnet program priority to kids who would be attending the school anyway.

Bunch of bright kids walking around. My daughter swims and runs cross country and track and I enjoy attending the end of season banquets just to hear the kids speak. Not your typical student body.

Poolesville is located on the edge of the County’s big protected agricultural zone. The area is scenic, clean, and safe. There are several new housing developments but, overall, construction is restricted due to the ag. zone and I don’t see the tenor of the area changing for the foreseeable future.

Plenty of town spirit. There is an expansive commons that is host to many well-attended events during the course of the year. Other than the commons, though, there is not much to see (or do, for adults) along the main drag so you and the wife will have to search for entertainment elsewhere.

PM me if you have any questions.

Poolesville and Leesburg are those places where it sux in this area to not have a bridge over the Potomac between RT 15 and 495. Put a decent bridge where Whites Ferry is, and there would be nice to be able to hop back and forth between NoVA and MD.

 

[Ratbert]

Poolesville. You can find a nice home for $600K. As has been mentioned, the MARC train station is <10 mins. away. Even driving down Route 28 isn’t too bad.

The schools are golden. The middle school is the smallest in the County and we had nothing but great experiences there. As you’ve heard, the high school has been rated the #1 public high school in MD in some surveys. It has a magnet component that kids from most parts of the County (not Potomac so much as parents there are satisfied with their local schools) test to get into. It’s pretty hard to get accepted UNLESS you already live in the district. They definitely give magnet program priority to kids who would be attending the school anyway.

Bunch of bright kids walking around. My daughter swims and runs cross country and track and I enjoy attending the end of season banquets just to hear the kids speak. Not your typical student body.

Poolesville is located on the edge of the County’s big protected agricultural zone. The area is scenic, clean, and safe. There are several new housing developments but, overall, construction is restricted due to the ag. zone and I don’t see the tenor of the area changing for the foreseeable future.

Plenty of town spirit. There is an expansive commons that is host to many well-attended events during the course of the year. Other than the commons, though, there is not much to see (or do, for adults) along the main drag so you and the wife will have to search for entertainment elsewhere.

PM me if you have any questions.

Poolesville and Leesburg are those places where it sux in this area to not have a bridge over the Potomac between RT 15 and 495. Put a decent bridge where Whites Ferry is, and there would be nice to be able to hop back and forth between NoVA and MD.

If MD & VA were the same state, MD 28 would cross the potomac, 270 & the American Legion (Cabin John) Bridge would suck less. Since they are mortal enemies as are most border states, this will never come to pass.

 

[grateful zed]

Just wanted to pop in here and say how useful all of this is. I live in DC now, but there's a good chance I might be moving to the 'burbs within a few years.

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