Located next door to our nation's capital, Northern Virginia is very different from the rest of Virginia. It is densely populated, parts are urban, others suburban, and fast-paced. Northern Virginia is as good as it gets if you have a steady income and want to settle down and raise kids. Here are a few things I wish I knew before my PCSing and relocating to Northern Virginia.
northern Virginia
Northern Virginia, also known as “NOVA”, is an area within the Commonwealth of Virginia located along the borders of Maryland and Washington DC. Due to its proximity to DC, it is common for residents to live in NOVA and work in Washington DC.
Northern Virginia includes the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Stafford, and Prince William as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park. With a strong local economy, these counties are among the wealthiest in the United States.
Northern Virginia has a dedicated connection to the military. It has 1968 veteran-owned companies in Fairfax County alone and the highest density of veterans in the United States. With these numbers, military members and their families can find a solid support network within the region.
military bases in nova
This is a list of military bases and installations in Northern Virginia:
Fort Belvoir: Located in Fairfax County, it is an Army Installation providing logistical and administrative support to all the armed services.
The Pentagon: Located in Arlington VA, The Pentagon is the headquarters of the Department of Defense (DoD).
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall: Located in Arlington VA, the joint base supports DoD military and civilian personnel assigned to Fort Myer, Fort McNair, Henderson Hall, and the Pentagon.
Marine Corps Base Quantico: Located in Prince William County, it is a Marine Corps Installation. The FBI Academy and DEA are also located on the base.
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): Located in Chantilly VA, NRO develops, acquires, and operates space-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems to enhance U.S. national security.
Neighborhoods in nova
Alexandria City, Arlington County, and Fairfax County are the counties closest to Washington DC. These are excellent areas to live in with good housing, low crime, good entertainment venues, and lots of parks and public open spaces for outdoor activities. If you prefer a “countryside” lifestyle, you may have to go further out than Fairfax County, but such properties may be found within a 90-minute commute from Washington DC.
Fairfax County is mainly suburban, with detached family houses and excellent public schools. The county is home to everything from the shopping center mecca of Tysons Corner to the urban villages of the Mosaic District, and Reston Town Center.
Arlington is affluent and urban, with good access to the Metro. From the shops, restaurants, and urban living in Clarendon and Ballston, to more traditional, single-family neighborhoods, you can find a location that suits your lifestyle. With an average age of 34, Arlington has a population filled with young professionals, new parents, and new homeowners.
Alexandria is in between all these places, with a mix of townhouses, condos, restaurants, and some access to Metro. The nicest neighborhoods in Alexandria are the West End, Old Town, Del Ray, and Kingstowne.
Prince William and Loudoun Counties are the most affordable areas to live near DC. Prince William County offers plenty of opportunities for outlet shopping. Loudoun County is known for its beautiful scenery, local wineries, and breweries.
Public Schools in nova
There are good and bad schools in rich and poor neighborhoods. For this reason, it is important to research school profiles and school-based programs before selecting a place to live.
Fairfax County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Virginia. In fact, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked as the #1 public high school in America by US News in 2022. With 217 schools and 174,636 students, Fairfax County is also the 10th largest school district in the United States. Use the FCPS Boundary Locator to identify the elementary, middle, and high schools that serve a particular address in Fairfax County.
Arlington County is ranked as the second-best school district in Virginia. With more than 28,000 students, Arlington is the 13th largest public school system in Virginia. In line with Arlington’s demographics, more than half of the student body is non-white. Students hail from nearly 150 countries and speak more than 110 languages.
One important proxy of quality education is per-student spending. Arlington County leads Virginia by investing $19,348 per student annually. Meanwhile, the per-student spending is $16,505 for Fairfax County, $15,214 for Loudoun County, $13,705 for Manassas City, and $12,641 for Prince William County.
Real Estate in nova
If you are buying or renting a home, you will need a Military Realtor®.
The housing market is expensive and competitive. Northern Virginia has some of the richest counties in America. For many families, the school district is a very important criterion when deciding where to buy a home. There is also competition from buyers to purchase homes near Metro stations and in close proximity to Washington DC. But this consideration and ability to choose is not a luxury all families can afford, especially in today’s wildly competitive housing market. According to Realtor.com, the median sold home prices for Northern Virginia are:
Arlington, VA - $950,000
Alexandria, VA - $699,000
Fairfax County - $715,500
Loudon County - $700,000
Prince William County - $565,000
bah rates in nova
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates are calculated based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. Remember, BAH rates change by location. For example, Fort Belvoir’s BAH rate is higher than Quantico’s BAH. Use the BAH Calculator to see estimated payments.
If residing off base, military members can use their BAH to buy or rent a home. The beauty of BAH is that you get to choose your housing. If you choose to live in Fairfax County, Arlington, or Alexandria, BAH will reduce your housing cost but it will not cover 100% of the mortgage or rent payment due to high home prices. To save money, it is quite common to see a military member that is stationed at The Pentagon but lives in neighborhoods near Quantico Base or even near Fort Meade NSA in Maryland.
Traffic in nova
The commute from Northern Virginia to DC has become worse over the past 20 years. It can take upwards of an hour or more to travel across the region during rush hour. Rush hour lasts from 6:00 a.m to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The traffic pattern goes toward DC in the morning and reverses to Northern Virginia at the end of the workday. Even with the rise of telework, traffic has not gotten any better.
Although Northern Virginia and Washington DC are connected by Metro, the Metro train does not connect the entire region. As a result, we have commuters who live in Virginia and drive to Washington DC to work. Bottom line is that there are too many people trying to get into, out of, and around Northern Virginia.
Metro
Although Metro has 91 stations, it does not connect all parts of the region. The Yellow, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines run throughout Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax County. And those lines crisscross and connect Northern Virginia to Washington DC and Maryland. If you live near a Metro station, it will be great because it’s so convenient.
If you are planning to park at a Metro station, there are 44 stations with parking facilities. In Northern Virginia, the Metro stations with parking are Dunn Loring-Merrifield, East Falls Church, Franconia-Springfield, Huntington, Van Dorn Street, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, West Falls Church-VT/UVA, and Wiehle-Reston East.
Overnight parking is offered at four stations: Greenbelt, Huntington, Franconia-Springfield, and Wiehle-Reston East. Parking is free on weekends. Each passenger needs a SmarTrip® farecard to pay Metro fares and Metro parking. Fares are based on when and how far you ride.
Virginia railway express
VRE is a commuter railroad service that operates Monday to Friday, during rush hour. In the morning, VRE travels northbound to Union Station in DC. In the evening, VRE travels southbound toward Manassas (along I-66) and Fredericksburg (along I-95). VRE connects with Metro at Franconia-Springfield, Alexandria (King Street), Crystal City, L'Enfant, and Union Station. The Metro fare is separate; transfer to Metro is not included in the VRE fare.
The Burke Centre VRE station has a large five-story parking garage which provides free parking to VRE passengers. If you work 9-to-5, taking VRE will be great unless you have to work late or don’t follow the exact train schedule.
Quantico Base: The Quantico VRE station is almost directly behind the Marine Corps Base Quantico. There is a free on-base shuttle from the Quantico VRE station transporting Marines and civilians to areas around the base.
The Pentagon: The Crystal City VRE station is the closest station to The Pentagon. The platform is very small but covered. From the station, it is a 10-minute walk to the Crystal City Metro. From there, take the Yellow Metro Line to the Pentagon Metro.
snow drivers
Northern Virginia has the worst snow drivers. Although we do not get much snow, the area shuts down when there is even the slightest hint of snow. On snow days, everyone goes into panic mode. It starts with weather forecasters predicting a few inches of snow. Then, within minutes, panic ensues. People blitz their local grocery store, stocking up on bread and bottles of water. Schools preemptively announce closures. The federal government calls for a two-hour delay, and major highways turn into bumper-car lines.
Anyone who commutes by car knows that navigating the area’s congested roadways is difficult, even on a clear day. Add in some snow and transplants to the region who aren’t used to driving in it, and things can get crazy.
crime rate in nova
A great thing about choosing to live outside DC and in the suburbs of Northern Virginia is the lower crime rate. Cities within this region consistently rank high for safety. Each county has a lower violent crime score than Washington DC. According to CrimeGrade.org, the crime grades for Nothern Virginia are:
Arlington, VA: A
Alexandria, VA: A-
Fairfax County: A+
Manassas, VA: D+
Woodbridge, VA: C+
job market in nova
Northern Virginia is home to 8,900 tech companies, with no sign of slowing its tech growth. The state scored a big win in 2018 when e-commerce giant Amazon announced plans to locate one of its new headquarters in Arlington County. Amazon has now become one of the largest employers as they have offices and data centers in multiple counties. Even before Amazon’s arrival, Northern Virginia was a tech hub with a large portion of the world’s internet traffic going through data centers in Loudoun and Fairfax County.
The military and the federal government also contribute to the large source of employment in the region, including the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security, to name a few. Military experience makes veterans attractive candidates because many of the positions require security clearances. The military is also the primary customer for many contracting companies.
Working in Northern Virginia, in some ways, is like a bridge between military and civilian life. Many veterans find Northern Virginia to be a comfortable environment. If sticking to government-related work, it's common for veterans to find themselves working in the same circles they did during their military careers and/or working within their military occupational specialty. Whether your goal is to find an active clearance job or switch career paths, Northern Virginia is a supportive community for veterans and their families.
Pros & Cons of Living in Nova
Pros:
Cultural diversity
Safe neighborhoods
Good public schools (k-12)
Spring and Fall are pleasant
Excellent job market; unemployment is very low.
Proximity to Washington DC and all that it has to offer.
High ceiling for career growth in government, health, and technology sectors.
The economy is robust and insulated due to the impact of the federal government on the local economy.
Cons:
The cost of living is high
Heavy traffic
Summers are humid
Very generic suburbs.
Boring for young professionals.
People are very career-oriented and status-oriented. “So what do you do?” is the second question people ask after learning your name.
Read More: Living in Washington DC