moving to DC, need help picking a neighborhood

hey guys, i'm moving to DC for a job out in Tysons Corner and trying to figure out the best place to live. alot of my friends live within DC and are trying to convince me to live there as opposed to Arlington, VA. Obviously I'll be driving to work and knowing that traffic is a problem I'm trying to find a neighborhood where I can balance my commute to work with commute to social life (seems like most of my friends go out within DC)

Can yall talk to me about traffic there? Looks like if I live in Ballston/Clarendon I can get to Tysons via 66 in 20min or so (I realize I'm going the other way of traffic) How much time would it add if I lived in Gtown? What about Dupont or Adams Morgan? A friend said it's not so bad if I lived close to Rock Creek Parkway.

I heard theres currently construction on 66 between Arlington and Tysons... Using google maps for directions, it says if I lived in the district I should take GW Pkwy to 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd). Is there alot of traffic there and would that be quicker than taking 66?

edit

I'm willing to pay up to $1500/mo but would prefer to pay $1000-1200.... I'm asking my friends for potential roommates and scrounging around CL. I'd like a nice(r) place... wood floors, granite countertops. I think a townhome/rowhouse/house would be cooler/bigger than an apt. I know Arlington isn't that much cheaper but don't you have to get DC plates (more taxes) and pay higher income tax in DC? I don't want to have to commute more than like 30-45min one way or be in standstill traffic everyday.

when i visited my friend recently who lives in Ballston, I did realize that it did take a while to get into the city, even by car, and when we went out, cabs weren't cheap ($15-20) to get to U st./Adams Morgan from Ballston. I definitely see and understand the benefits of social life in DC vs NoVa, I'm just trying to get a better idea of the traffic since I'm not use to much traffic where I'm from so when I do hit traffic, I get impatient quickly.

thanks in advance

EDIT 2 Does anyone know anything about traffic/commute times from Potomac, MD to Tysons i.e. north and south bound on that stretch of 495? I have a godmother I can probably live with for a month or so if I haven't figured out a living situation by the time I need to move.