My parents are in Northern VA and I'm there frequently. If you want "suburban" and "less than 1 hour commute", pick a place close to the subway (Metro) or with easy bus access to the subway if your work location permits it.

The best thing to do to keep your sanity in that area is not to drive. The roads and traffic are horrendous and rush hour can occur at any time, even 9-10pm when folks try to head into the city centre.

Looking for the traditional SFH with a large yard means paying a LOT; newer developments give you 0,2-0,25 acres if you're lucky, and the asking prices are high, starting around 400k in the outer suburbs. The lots in the "outer" suburbs (Counties of Loudoun, Stafford, and Prince William) are cheaper but then you deal with a ridiculous commute and the "overbuilding" of hundreds of houses in a community. The housing bubble hit those places hardest in the area.

$300k gets you perhaps a condo in the more desirable places in Fairfax and Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. If that's really your price range, you need to research the cost of living in this area. The City of Manassas is probably a place to stay away from. Property taxes can be high as well, dependent on which county or city you live in. They are also levied on vehicles and boats.

INOVA Fairfax Hospital is well-regarded hospital in the area.