West of Wisconsin Avenue in the NW. Relatively quiet, can bicycle to grocery store, beer store. Tons of parks. Can make it to the Mall, downtown, shops, restaurants in 10 minutes by bicycle. Can get to all the local riding trails very easily, nearby to AU and GU for library needs, sports, etc. Short ride to Key Bridge and VA. Also a short ride to a few music venues. Oh, you can bike to Reagan if you need to fly!

You have to travel FAR to live in the suburbs and not put up with the hell of sprawl and traffic. If you are going to put up with the downside of a city, might as well just live in the city

Or, you can head up the road and live in Bethesda, I just wouldn't want to live near that many malls and strip malls. Plus, I don't like the Old Line State

And I'm pretty sure you are older than me and at a different stage in life, but you can live in DC pretty well on not that much money. It is a total myth, promoted in the "how much do you make" thread that you have to make at least $200,000 to live in/near any city. Hogwash. In grad school I live in DC at a very comfortable level for $10,000, with something like 1/2 going to rent. No car, no family, lived with a girlfriend so a 1-bedroom apartment was affordable, my only vice of beer cost me maybe $10-$15 a week, and I cooked for myself.

Anyway, that is my advice. Houses in the NW ain't cheap, but I don't know if you are looking for a house to buy, an apartment to rent, or what. But, that NW corner between VA and MD is incredible.