I don't know VA routes that well since I don't live in VA and never would personally. I live in MD about 20 miles from my job and it takes me 40 mins in the morning and afternoon, of course I don't have a sales job where I would probably in the car roaming all over either I work from 6AM-3PM so I miss a lot of the traffic and it's nice.
VA sucks for commuting period, MD there are still some good spots that the commute isn't terrible but it really depends if you work for a company with a flexible work schedule.
Frederick isn't that good anymore it's 50+ miles from DC and everyone and their brother moved there to get "away" from DC which means the housing market took a skyward leap as well and this in turn made traffic that much worse.
There isn't really a GREAT place to live IMO you just have to get used to the commute and to be honest it doesn't bother me that much anymore. I still state that for 40K salary I'd recommend against coming to this area, it would be rough to live on that out here.
If he doesn't need his own place and doesn't mind renting a room off someone a lot of people do that out here I do right now and it works out for my roomie and I. Once I get my house I will be getting possibly another roomie as well.