Northern Virginia vs. Southern Maryland: Where Should Your Family Live?
It's the first question almost every family asks me: Virginia or Maryland?
I'm licensed in both, so I don't have a horse in this race. Here's how I help families think it through.
Start with the commute
Where you work matters more than anything else. The Potomac River splits the region, and there are only so many ways across it. If you're at Fort Belvoir, Quantico, or the Pentagon, Northern Virginia usually makes the most sense. If you're at Joint Base Andrews or Pax River, Southern Maryland is the natural fit. If you're working in DC, both are on the table.
Tip: Test the drive at the time you'd actually commute. A route that takes 25 minutes on Saturday can take an hour on Tuesday morning.
Northern Virginia
Think Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and Stafford.
- Transit: Metro in the closer-in areas, plus VRE commuter rail farther out.
- Homes: A mix of townhomes, condos, and single-family homes. Closer in, you trade space for walkability.
- Lifestyle: Walkable old towns, lots of restaurants, and a big military community around Belvoir and Quantico.
Southern Maryland
Think Prince George's, Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert counties.
- Space: Generally more house and more land for your budget, especially as you head south.
- Homes: Lots of single-family homes and newer construction communities.
- Lifestyle: A slower pace, water access along the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay, and close-knit communities around Andrews, Indian Head, and Pax River.
Other things to compare
- Taxes: Property tax and income tax work differently in each state, and military pay may be treated differently too. Ask a tax professional how your situation works.
- Schools: Every family weighs this differently. I'll point you to the official school data so you can compare for yourself.
- Resale or rental: If you might keep the home as a rental after your next PCS, we'll look at rental demand near the bases.
The short answer
Pick the commute first, then the budget, then the lifestyle. If two areas still look good after that, come see both. Or let me show you on video. I'll tell you what I honestly think.
Military spouse and mom of two, helping families buy and sell in Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland with Foxtrot Company.