Have you recently found out you're going to be stationed at the Quantico Marine Corps Base and you're not sure whether to live north or south of Quantico?

In this episode of Give, Work, Play, I’m going to give you the pros and cons of living north or south of Quantico. We’ll look at everything from commute times and home prices to amenities so you know exactly what to expect.

When you think of Quantico, you're probably thinking of the Marine Corps Base. But did you know it's also the home for the DEA, the FBI Academy, and other big businesses in the area? Most people working in Quantico are trying to decide whether they should live north—in places like Dumfries, Woodbridge, and Lorton—or if they should head south to the Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania area.

To help you decide, we’ll look at the top reasons why you might want to consider going north or going south. First, we’re going to look at the pros of living north of Quantico.

The Pros of Living North

If you're going to be stationed at Quantico for two years and then have the possibility of going to the Pentagon or working in DC, living north of Quantico might be an option to explore. Why? Because of the commute. You’re going to have a lot of great commuting options that will help support you in getting where you need to go.

In addition to a great commute, the areas north of Quantico have more shopping options. You can find an Apple Store in Woodbridge, the Potomac Shopping Center, and Tyson's Corner. All of these areas have plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, and more. And if you're looking for nightlife and entertainment, being north of Quantico is probably something you want to consider. You can go to concerts at Wolf Trap, head into DC for a show or ballet, and even see a live circus, too.

Living in Northern Virginia might also give you the option to bike to work or even go out and grab a bite to eat. In some cases, you might even be able to walk there. Another major convenience of living north of Quantico is the ease of getting to the airports, including Dulles and Reagan. The further north you are, the faster you're going to get to that plane.

The Pros Of Living South

Now let's talk about why you want to live south of Quantico. First, you get more for the money, more house, and more land. If you're looking in Woodbridge, Dumfries, and Lorton, the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom house north of Quantico is going to run you about $525,000. However, if you go south of Quantico to Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania, that same house is going to run you $435,000. That’s a big difference.

In addition to cheaper housing prices, you’re also going to get more land. You might live on the water, or you might even be able to have horses. If horses in your yard and a swimming pool sound good to you, that’s a possibility, too. You might even find a newer home for the same money, as there’s tons of new construction going on here. So if you want the opportunity to actually build your next dream home, south of Quantico is probably the place you want to start looking.

While the commute south of Quantico wasn’t great 10 years ago, new hot lanes going further south are making things better. They currently extend to Fredericksburg where the Rappahannock is, and they're set to go even further south all the way to Richmond. Additionally, you also have the train that you can take into DC, which is a commuting option as well. You can also go to the Slug Lot where you have an opportunity to commute with other people going to the same location, saving you time and money. Because the south is centrally located between DC and Richmond, you can easily take a flight to wherever you need to go.

Another great thing about living south of Quantico is that you're closer to the beaches. So if you wanted to head over to Virginia Beach, you're that much closer. If you don't love the hustle and bustle of city life, living further south of Quantico is going to give you more of that small-town feeling and vibe.

Which Area Will You Choose?

I hope this gave you some insight into why you might want to live north or south of Quantico. We help people everyday relocate to the Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Northern Virginia area, and we would love the opportunity to help you, too. Simply reach out to us or click here to check out our free Northern Virginia Military Guide for everything you need to know.