When it comes to buying a home in Northern Virginia versus Maryland, you will most likely find more pricey homes in Northern Virginia. This is due to the lower percentage of unemployment Northern Virginia is extremely close to Washington DC where many jobs are located. There are also military bases all over the area so you can expect a lot of people working for the military in the area. Northern Virginia also has more metro stops and it is easier to get around which makes it more expensive then Maryland to buy homes. Buying a home in Maryland is not as expensive and is closer to DC in some parts as well. There are, however many attractions in Maryland that may raise the value in some homes. It all depends on what area you live in at the end. Virginia has its bad areas as well as Maryland. There are also extremely pricey areas. The size of the house also effects the cost. A big house in a good area of Maryland would cost more then a small house in a bad part of Virginia. The same goes for the other way around. Housing in both places is not bad as long as you pick a good area.