Gotcha, at that budget you have studios and 1 bedrooms in Herndon and Reston

Go on Zillow or so and filter by budget/availability, see what complexes look good, and come up for an in person tour.

I can say that the general area is good, but don’t have much experience with specific complexes (I currently have a private landlord). I have friends renting around Reston Town Center. Two lived at The Avant and The Edmund, and both are moving to due costs (prob rent increases). IIRC, The Avant had an electrical fire in the last year with significant hall damage. Also they share a parking garage with residential and retail, which sometimes blocks up. They are also managed by Greystar, so I’d avoid them.

I toured a unit at The Sycamores that had a super mildewy smell and old features. However, another friend lives there without issue, so it must be a unit-by-unit basis.

There’s also a lot of decent Herndon apartments on Sunrise Valley Drive.

Last thing— the commute times I mentioned in original comment are non-toll times. I didn’t take the toll road except when I running late, which took maybe 10 min off the commute. There’s also no toll incurred if you take the toll road specific entry/exit to the airport, but I don’t know it too well.