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Have your eye on Fairfax or Loudoun County? Wondering what the difference is, or if there even is one? Read on to find out from a real estate agent and local, since 1993, what it’s like living in Northern Virginia.
Like many suburbs in America, Northern Virginia (Nova) has seen a steady and large increase in growth over the past several decades. With the completion of the Metro silver line (public transportation train to Washington, D.C.) earlier this year - a plan that has been in the works since the 1970s, there is even easier access to downtown D.C. as well as all stops along the way. Yet some of the small town charm that Loudoun has been known for - horse country, wine country, access to West Virginia and the Appalachian Trail - and the historic buildings and battlefield sites in Fairfax, along with mom and pop businesses and the natural wonder of Great Falls Park - still exist and part of the lure of living in these areas.
In one sense, there is no shortage of housing, and yet like all of the United States, there is an affordable housing shortage which the local governments are continuously trying to rectify. Let’s take a look at some of the areas you might choose to live in both Fairfax and Loudoun County in Northern Virginia and some highlights of living in each.
Schools
Both school districts are rated top nationally and have exceptional amenities and special programs. In Loudoun, there is the Academies of Loudoun, which offers high level professional instruction in medicine, science, tech, engineering, as well as cooking, HVAC, cosmetology, and much more. Loudoun is continuously building new schools to keep up with the demand of the growing community, and there is a chance your child(ren) will go to a newly built school, depending on which neighborhood you choose to live. Fairfax has a reputation of strong academics, as well. The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is the accelerated school in Fairfax. While many of the school buildings are older because the county is older, they are designed with accessibility and sustainability in mind.
Parks
Each county has a wide variety of both National and Regional Parks as well as its own Parks and Recreation Department. And because the counties are adjacent, it’s easy to visit places in each. Some highlights include (in Fairfax): Meadowlark Botanical Garden, Great Falls National Park, Clemyjontri Park, Huntley Meadows Park and (in Loudoun) Cox Farms, Hal & Bernie Hansen Regional Park, Bull Run Park, and A.V. Symington Aquatic Center at Ida Lee Recreation Center. Visit NOVA Parks for a complete list of parks in the region.
Washington, D.C.
Kennedy Center, Museums, Nationals baseball, Union Station, the White House, Smithsonian National Zoo. An entire category could be devoted to the outstanding museums in Washington, D.C. There are also multiple monuments and a huge array of entertainment opportunities that come to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. See the DC Visitors guide for more information and to plan your visit.
Entertainment
This category really needs its own blog post, so I will include a list here with links to some of my favorites: Middleburg Film Festival, Steven F. Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum, Tyson’s Galleria and Tyson’s Corner, One Loudoun, Reston Town Center, Top Golf, Dulles Sport & Golf, Harper’s Ferry (WV), Reston National Golf Course, Lansdowne Resort, Brambleton Town Center, Bush Tabernacle Roller Rink, Ion International Ice-skating Center, Great Country Farms, Baltimore National Aquarium (MD).
Dulles International Airport and Reagan International Airport
In Loudoun and Fairfax, respectively, these two airports being nearby are a huge convenience for domestic and international travel.
Trips within Driving Distance
It should be mentioned that the Northern Virginia area is an excellent location for reaching other vacation destinations not requiring air travel. Some places that locals like to visit are:
Hershey Park (PA)
Busch Gardens or Great Wolf Lodge (Williamsburg)
Deep Creek Lake (MD)
OBX (Outer Banks) beaches in North Carolina
Delaware beaches (Rehoboth, Lewes, Dewey, Bethany)
Ocean City, MD beaches
Nashville (TN), Savannah (GA), Philadelphia (PA), and NYC (NY) are also drivable destinations.
As you can see, this area has a lot to offer. The only downside that most people mention is the cost of living, which is high. Some mention traffic as a downside, but with more people working from home since COVID, the commuter traffic may be less, depending on your opinion. Others mention the transient nature of the area, since many people relocate for work and then end up leaving.
My advice for people wanting to move here and stay here is to use the resources above to get involved in community activities, enjoy the abundant resources, visit nature, and find a neighborhood or community that is a good fit for the kind of lifestyle you are desiring. For example, Reston is an established city with a nature vibe, plenty of trails and wooded areas, yet a short distance to D.C. and also highlighting nightlife with the Reston Town Center. Whereas, Ashburn is a newer area, with a focus on families and new construction still being built, and while it’s still a short trip to D.C., it’s closer to the mountains of West Virginia and farmland in Western Loudoun (which Ashburn itself used to be!).
Please do reach out if you have any questions or are looking to buy or sell your home in the area. Refer a friend who is relocating or needs a Realtor to sell their Northern Virginia home. I would love to help!
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