Pooks Hill is a perfect area for NIH. Tell him to look at Pooks Hill Tower and Court. It's basic but safe and has parking included. Son lived there with room mates about 3 ish years ago. If he's looking for fancy, it's not, but should be convenient. If he's living with granite and stainless in what he has, this is more formica if I remember correctly - although I've only seen the one unit. I don't know if they have efficiency units.
Son and Fiance started looking at $1800 as top of their budget so they could save for a house. The townhouse they found is now $1900, but was listed at $2K. It's nearer to Gaithersburg and they will have gridlock also but son has the ability to adjust hours a bit, plus once they start looking for that house, they will be out further anyway. There house range is under $500K and they won't get much closer in for that, that they would want.
The townhouses they saw at $1800 were certainly livable but not many updates, on the smaller side, postage stamp green space, and a lot of them were built back to back so neighbors on 3 sides. Plus parking included but minimal and guests would almost have to leave their cars home. So, they are fortunate to have found the one they did.
If he wants to move in November it's time to do it. Son gets the new place mid October, and they started looking in the spring, but they were pretty picky about staying on budget and getting what they eventually got.
Does he get parking at NIH? Son does get parking at Walter Reed.
I also just read the google reviews (4.1) and they are pretty positive for the Tower building. Bad reviews were 1 star with no message, which to me is a fishy review.