Help! Vienna Vibes and Feel? TOV?

[Anonymous]

We are moving to FCPS and are looking at house in Vienna. We like the walkability of TOV but are unsure how does it feel like to live in TOV or Vienna?

Here is what we are unsure of

- Is it a high pressure environment? We want our DC to have a good education and it is important to us but don’t want to put too much pressure on DC also (just the right amount of pressure 😀 if anything like that exist). This is why we are not looking to buy in Langley or McLean area. Not sure how is Madison compare to Langley/McLean/Woodson.

- Community feel or sorority/mean girls vibe? We read on other DCUM threads that Vienna has a sorority/ mean girls vibe but also reads that it is very family oriented and has community vibe. We are a little lost with these conflicting opinions and would appreciate if you could share your thoughts or experiences.

- What is it like to live in TOV for non competitive and non sporty family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to FCPS and are looking at house in Vienna. We like the walkability of TOV but are unsure how does it feel like to live in TOV or Vienna?

Here is what we are unsure of

- Is it a high pressure environment? We want our DC to have a good education and it is important to us but don’t want to put too much pressure on DC also (just the right amount of pressure 😀 if anything like that exist). This is why we are not looking to buy in Langley or McLean area. Not sure how is Madison compare to Langley/McLean/Woodson.

- Community feel or sorority/mean girls vibe? We read on other DCUM threads that Vienna has a sorority/ mean girls vibe but also reads that it is very family oriented and has community vibe. We are a little lost with these conflicting opinions and would appreciate if you could share your thoughts or experiences.

- What is it like to live in TOV for non competitive and non sporty family?

Vienna skews weathy, social, sporty, healthy, and to a lesser degree intellectual. In that group you are going to find a wide range of people who enjoy and portray those vibes and those that feel and act the opposite as well. It's a well established well run town compared many other areas of Fairfax County and people like to be involved and generally enjoy their neighbors and with their wealth generally dont have tremendous problems. Of course some people make it a popularity or status game but the majority do not.

If you are against the vibes from the start maybe it isn't the town for you or maybe you have to be ok being a minority. There are plenty of people who arent competitive and aren't sporty but they enjoy the social or intellectual or healthy atmosphere. They just aren't a majority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to FCPS and are looking at house in Vienna. We like the walkability of TOV but are unsure how does it feel like to live in TOV or Vienna?

Here is what we are unsure of

- Is it a high pressure environment? We want our DC to have a good education and it is important to us but don’t want to put too much pressure on DC also (just the right amount of pressure 😀 if anything like that exist). This is why we are not looking to buy in Langley or McLean area. Not sure how is Madison compare to Langley/McLean/Woodson.

- Community feel or sorority/mean girls vibe? We read on other DCUM threads that Vienna has a sorority/ mean girls vibe but also reads that it is very family oriented and has community vibe. We are a little lost with these conflicting opinions and would appreciate if you could share your thoughts or experiences.

- What is it like to live in TOV for non competitive and non sporty family?

Vienna skews weathy, social, sporty, healthy, and to a lesser degree intellectual. In that group you are going to find a wide range of people who enjoy and portray those vibes and those that feel and act the opposite as well. It's a well established well run town compared many other areas of Fairfax County and people like to be involved and generally enjoy their neighbors and with their wealth generally dont have tremendous problems. Of course some people make it a popularity or status game but the majority do not.

If you are against the vibes from the start maybe it isn't the town for you or maybe you have to be ok being a minority. There are plenty of people who arent competitive and aren't sporty but they enjoy the social or intellectual or healthy atmosphere. They just aren't a majority.

We moved to Vienna this year after over a decade in FCC. I agree with pretty much all of this. I'll add that it feels like a much more cohesive community than FCC did to me, with more of a unique vibe. And the vibe is very community-focused. I'll also add that I've been surprised at how many Trump signs are in yards--I've seen more Trump signs than Harris signs. I think of NoVA as just a big sea of blue so it surprised me. Let me be clear -- I'm not talking about a large number of Trump signs, just more than I would have expected.

[Anonymous]

The PP said it very well. We like Vienna a lot but it isn’t for everyone.

Are your kids in HS already? If so, great, but I think your experience can vary a significant amount at the ES level - some very different vibes, so I wouldn’t just look at high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to FCPS and are looking at house in Vienna. We like the walkability of TOV but are unsure how does it feel like to live in TOV or Vienna?

Here is what we are unsure of

- Is it a high pressure environment? We want our DC to have a good education and it is important to us but don’t want to put too much pressure on DC also (just the right amount of pressure 😀 if anything like that exist). This is why we are not looking to buy in Langley or McLean area. Not sure how is Madison compare to Langley/McLean/Woodson.

- Community feel or sorority/mean girls vibe? We read on other DCUM threads that Vienna has a sorority/ mean girls vibe but also reads that it is very family oriented and has community vibe. We are a little lost with these conflicting opinions and would appreciate if you could share your thoughts or experiences.

- What is it like to live in TOV for non competitive and non sporty family?

Vienna skews weathy, social, sporty, healthy, and to a lesser degree intellectual. In that group you are going to find a wide range of people who enjoy and portray those vibes and those that feel and act the opposite as well. It's a well established well run town compared many other areas of Fairfax County and people like to be involved and generally enjoy their neighbors and with their wealth generally dont have tremendous problems. Of course some people make it a popularity or status game but the majority do not.

If you are against the vibes from the start maybe it isn't the town for you or maybe you have to be ok being a minority. There are plenty of people who arent competitive and aren't sporty but they enjoy the social or intellectual or healthy atmosphere. They just aren't a majority.

We moved to Vienna this year after over a decade in FCC. I agree with pretty much all of this. I'll add that it feels like a much more cohesive community than FCC did to me, with more of a unique vibe. And the vibe is very community-focused. I'll also add that I've been surprised at how many Trump signs are in yards--I've seen more Trump signs than Harris signs. I think of NoVA as just a big sea of blue so it surprised me. Let me be clear -- I'm not talking about a large number of Trump signs, just more than I would have expected.

What? No ....Vienna tends to be rather apolitical with yard signs and stuff, but no. There are not more trump supporters. Just more people who: work for the fed and worry about the Hatch Act, don't want to impact their business by appearing partisan, abd those who support Harris and know she'll win the county,nso signs are kind of redundant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP said it very well. We like Vienna a lot but it isn’t for everyone.

Are your kids in HS already? If so, great, but I think your experience can vary a significant amount at the ES level - some very different vibes, so I wouldn’t just look at high school.

OP here- our DC is not in elementary yet. Could you elaborate more? Houses we are looking at are in Vienna Elementary and Louise Archer Elementary

[Anonymous]

We lived there for a decade. It has its good points - people are generally friendly and it's very kid-oriented when it comes to cheap eats, youth sports, etc.

On the other hand, it has a conformist vibe and it is extremely sports-oriented. We've lived in other places in the DC area, including McLean, that felt more private with fewer neighbors keeping tabs on everyone in the neighborhood.

Agree with the PP, by the way, that Vienna generally tends to be rather apolitical. People will usually make small talk about just about anything other than politics to avoid offending anyone's contrary sensibilities, but maybe things are different when it comes to Trump (whether for or against).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP said it very well. We like Vienna a lot but it isn’t for everyone.

Are your kids in HS already? If so, great, but I think your experience can vary a significant amount at the ES level - some very different vibes, so I wouldn’t just look at high school.

OP here- our DC is not in elementary yet. Could you elaborate more? Houses we are looking at are in Vienna Elementary and Louise Archer Elementary

Archer is one of the best elementary schools in FCPS, but some not in AAP feel the focus is on AAP to the detriment of the other students. Vienna is in the middle of the pack as far as FCPS elementary schools go. But if you are moving here from elsewhere, I think it is good to bear in mind that FCPS are, for the most part, better than the schools in most other places.

[Anonymous]

Vienna Elementary is very community focused being in the center of town and a little more social sorority like. Louise Archer is more international and academic but not too different and they both feed to Thoreau and Jackson and then Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna Elementary is very community focused being in the center of town and a little more social sorority like. Louise Archer is more international and academic but not too different and they both feed to Thoreau and Jackson and then Madison.

There is a small area zoned for Vienna ES that is also zoned to Kilmer/Marshall. FCPS floated the idea of reassigning that area to Freedom Hill years ago, and they pushed back.

Of course, the Vienna ES boundaries will probably change if Dunn Loring ES gets opened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived there for a decade. It has its good points - people are generally friendly and it's very kid-oriented when it comes to cheap eats, youth sports, etc.

On the other hand, it has a conformist vibe and it is extremely sports-oriented. We've lived in other places in the DC area, including McLean, that felt more private with fewer neighbors keeping tabs on everyone in the neighborhood.

Agree with the PP, by the way, that Vienna generally tends to be rather apolitical. People will usually make small talk about just about anything other than politics to avoid offending anyone's contrary sensibilities, but maybe things are different when it comes to Trump (whether for or against).

The Republicans did get booed at the Halloween Parada which usually didn’t happen. But I guess this year, it’s different. OP-Vienna can be cliquey or not depending on whether you buy into the rat race. Some Vienna moms will be into AAP, which pool you belong to (get your name on a waitlist asap), sports, posting selfies in Vienna Foodies, etc. But most parents are academically focused without being extra. It’s a great place to raise a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived there for a decade. It has its good points - people are generally friendly and it's very kid-oriented when it comes to cheap eats, youth sports, etc.

On the other hand, it has a conformist vibe and it is extremely sports-oriented. We've lived in other places in the DC area, including McLean, that felt more private with fewer neighbors keeping tabs on everyone in the neighborhood.

Agree with the PP, by the way, that Vienna generally tends to be rather apolitical. People will usually make small talk about just about anything other than politics to avoid offending anyone's contrary sensibilities, but maybe things are different when it comes to Trump (whether for or against).

The Republicans did get booed at the Halloween Parada which usually didn’t happen. But I guess this year, it’s different. OP-Vienna can be cliquey or not depending on whether you buy into the rat race. Some Vienna moms will be into AAP, which pool you belong to (get your name on a waitlist asap), sports, posting selfies in Vienna Foodies, etc. But most parents are academically focused without being extra. It’s a great place to raise a family.

That has got to be the weirdest FB page ever. And I can't even explain why. I joined it for restaurant info when I moved to Vienna, and it is just ... selfies from some clique and also marketing disguised as regular posts? Hard to describe.

[Anonymous]

It is very competitive. Very. Move along, Op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are moving to FCPS and are looking at house in Vienna. We like the walkability of TOV but are unsure how does it feel like to live in TOV or Vienna?

Here is what we are unsure of

- Is it a high pressure environment? We want our DC to have a good education and it is important to us but don’t want to put too much pressure on DC also (just the right amount of pressure 😀 if anything like that exist). This is why we are not looking to buy in Langley or McLean area. Not sure how is Madison compare to Langley/McLean/Woodson.

- Community feel or sorority/mean girls vibe? We read on other DCUM threads that Vienna has a sorority/ mean girls vibe but also reads that it is very family oriented and has community vibe. We are a little lost with these conflicting opinions and would appreciate if you could share your thoughts or experiences.

- What is it like to live in TOV for non competitive and non sporty family?

It is both -- perspectives differ depending on who you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived there for a decade. It has its good points - people are generally friendly and it's very kid-oriented when it comes to cheap eats, youth sports, etc.

On the other hand, it has a conformist vibe and it is extremely sports-oriented. We've lived in other places in the DC area, including McLean, that felt more private with fewer neighbors keeping tabs on everyone in the neighborhood.

Agree with the PP, by the way, that Vienna generally tends to be rather apolitical. People will usually make small talk about just about anything other than politics to avoid offending anyone's contrary sensibilities, but maybe things are different when it comes to Trump (whether for or against).

I live in Vienna. Conformist is the perfect word. It feels like one big PTA meeting. Probably because it is run by a former PTA teacher/mom. Think lots of pressure to sign up for things and participate if you have kids. Also you have to be super happy all the time and no negative comments on anything food or town related. They get taken down immediately on any Facebook page, even the once independent yard sale page.