Hi Reddit,

In a few days, I'll be leaving Atlanta for a new job in the DC area. The problem is I don't know the area at all. I'll be working in the Stafford area b ut it does not look like there is too much there. 

Currently I live in Atlanta just a couple blocks north of Midtown (in the Brookwood neighborhood). I have learned the joys of the reverse commute, having a lot of things in walking distance, and more that is only a few minutes away by other means of transportation. 
My apartment is 950 square feet (a lucky find for the price) but I moved from a place that was about 600 square feet. The small place was getting cramped, but I don't need all the space I have in my big place either.

I would like to keep my commute under 45 min and rent around $1200 (but that's not a firm number). I would guess inside the beltway would be my best bet for a similar living situation, and it looks like it would be a reverse commute keeping my commute time down. But I don't know if I can get manage something 'big enough' for roughly what I want to pay for rent. I’m guessing something around 700 square feet would be the low end of the scale of ‘big enough’. 
The other thing I am trying to find is somewhere 'geek friendly'. It seems that geeks go into hiding around here unless they are attending Georgia Tech. I've been out of college long enough that it's not a good idea to hang out with college students. 

Is there anything inside the beltway worth considering? Are there other areas that I might be better off looking into?
user
I'm moving to the DC area and need advice on where
assistant
Hi Reddit,

In a few days, I'll be leaving Atlanta for a new job in the DC area. The problem is I don't know the area at all. I'll be working in the Stafford area b ut it does not look like there is too much there. 

Currently I live in Atlanta just a couple blocks north of Midtown (in the Brookwood neighborhood). I have learned the joys of the reverse commute, having a lot of things in walking distance, and more that is only a few minutes away by other means of transportation. 
My apartment is 950 square feet (a lucky find for the price) but I moved from a place that was about 600 square feet. The small place was getting cramped, but I don't need all the space I have in my big place either.

I would like to keep my commute under 45 min and rent around $1200 (but that's not a firm number). I would guess inside the beltway would be my best bet for a similar living situation, and it looks like it would be a reverse commute keeping my commute time down. But I don't know if I can get manage something 'big enough' for roughly what I want to pay for rent. I’m guessing something around 700 square feet would be the low end of the scale of ‘big enough’. 
The other thing I am trying to find is somewhere 'geek friendly'. It seems that geeks go into hiding around here unless they are attending Georgia Tech. I've been out of college long enough that it's not a good idea to hang out with college students. 

Is there anything inside the beltway worth considering? Are there other areas that I might be better off looking into?
user
I'm moving from Atlanta to the DC area, not sure where
assistant