Hi there!
I should specify that 11 miles is more south east, so work is in the Springfield area.
My job is extremely stable, but I could see myself working in DC eventually (if I get a job at State or something).
I have coworkers who have really nice houses in Occoquan and Lake Ridge. The issue is they have to commute in and drive 12+ miles north super early at 4 or 5 am because, like you advised to avoid, they come up 95. They seems miserable.
That really seems to leave me with few options. Springfield is fairly pricey for a shabby area. Annandale same story. (I don't think I'd be happy in either area. There's nothing to really walk to, not great areas, higher crime in parts, etc.). Right over the Wilson bridge into Oxon Hill and south DC SUPER cheap, but I've heard crime is significantly bad as are the schools. Plus the Wilson bridge is a choke point that can take an hour to get over.
And you're right $250k-300k condos in Alexandria, but the condo fee has me doubting whether it's something I should really do. Is the ~$300 a month, $3.6k a year something I should avoid? I was even under contract for a condo in Arlington. It was one of the worst, retro units in the cheapest part of a really nice area. $1.9k a month... and it needed $15k worth of work (contractor estimates for parts and labor... I'm reluctant to do the work myself... yet).
So I'm still brooding over what to do. Thanks for the input!