Fort McNair is in the District of Columbia. Washington DC has over 630,000 people, and is neither a state nor a county. The joint base is in the Southwest Quadrant of DC, at the southern tip of Washington, not far from Prince George's County, Maryland and also close to Alexandria, Virginia.

It is about 4 miles from downtown Washington to Fort McNair; this takes about 14 minutes to commute in good traffic, but the city can have thick traffic and travel times can vary significantly. The average commute in the District of Columbia is roughly 30 minutes, although this too varies quite a lot.

The major local employers in the District of Columbia are the Federal Government, in many branches, and related businesses, including support services, non-government organizations, lobbying firms, and many other concerns. The District has many non-governmental businesses.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the District area ranges from $650 to $1,470 per month, with a median of $1,060 per month.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in the District is about $445,000.

Short Description of the Area: Washington DC is the US capital district. It is one of the largest US cities, with a residential population of over 630,000 and a workweek population of over 1 million. The District is at the joining of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and is roughly at the midpoint of the East Coast. The Naval Yard is on the north shore of the Anacostia River, on the south side of the main city.

Climate and Weather: The District of Columbia area has a humid climate, with winter temperatures ranging from the low 40s to high 20s and summer temperatures between the high 80s and low 70s. The area has four full seasons, with wet springs and falls, hot humid summers, and rainy or snowy winters. The District varies between North and South climates, and can suffer serious storms at times, including rare hurricanes. Overall the area has moderate climate, but can be volatile.