Springfield, Virginia

Springfield is a small suburb about 30-40 minutes from DC by car. It has its own Metro stop on the Blue line, which makes commuting a bit earlier from this area, though the train ride to central DC would be about 30-45 minutes, depending on the time of day. Many families live in Springfield because there are many apartments that are extremely affordable. If living in an urban area isn't important to you, you may want to consider Springfield. The only downside is the traffic in this region, which is close to what they call the "Mixing Bowl" -- where several major highways cross paths. One of these major highways is 95, which is known around DC for its intense traffic congestion. The upside is that Springfield is safe, and the public schools get good reviews. As far as restaurants and shopping, Springfield has a number of great choices. The area has all the ameneties you would expect from a nice suburb.