Best rural cities in DC area (Virginia)

[Anonymous]

western Loudoun county along rt 7 is gorgeous, a really nice place to live, and could work well for you: far western Leesburg, Hamilton, parts of Purcellville, parts of Waterford, parts of Round Hill (by "parts" I mean the rural areas that are reasonably close to rt 7... western Loudoun is enormous, and some of the most beautiful properties are too far from 7 to work well out for commuting)

I don't especially recommend Lovettsville (as others have) because the traffic isn't great for commuting. Check out Google maps traffic in the am and pm to get an idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re willing to consider MD, look at Calvert County, specifically Owings, Dunkirk, Sunderland, and Huntingtown. We’re in Sunderland and DH has a 45 minute commute into DC. And once you clear PG county, there’s little to no traffic.

Isn’t PG county’s crime a concern? I’m not sure about Calvert County, but PG’s schools are unfortunately some of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged in the region.

the OP said schools are not a concern
like many people in PGC her/his child is not in public school


And no there isn't much crime out there.The crime is concentrated in the areas bordering DC

[Anonymous]

Fauquier County is your answer.

[Anonymous]

The area around The Plains and Marshall

[Anonymous]

Croom area of Upper Marlboro, Aquasco, and Brandywine

[Anonymous]

If you need to commute to DC a couple times a week, great falls is your best bet. Anywhere further commute will take all your time to leave you with no energy for horse riding/farming hobbies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:western Loudoun county along rt 7 is gorgeous, a really nice place to live, and could work well for you: far western Leesburg, Hamilton, parts of Purcellville, parts of Waterford, parts of Round Hill (by "parts" I mean the rural areas that are reasonably close to rt 7... western Loudoun is enormous, and some of the most beautiful properties are too far from 7 to work well out for commuting)

I don't especially recommend Lovettsville (as others have) because the traffic isn't great for commuting. Check out Google maps traffic in the am and pm to get an idea.

Lovettsville traffic is horrible because Maryland is allowing unchecked (and crappy quality) growth in Frederick County. How are all those new Frederick County residents supposed to get to their jobs in Virginia, when MD won't allow a new bridge to get built? All that traffic is funneled onto Rt. 15/Pt. of Rocks bridge. They're also pouring in over the Brunswick bridge. Then they're re-routing themselves through all the narrow, curvy country roads as short cuts to avoid gridlock on the main roads. They speed, brake check, pass on double yellow lines, and tailgate. Good times.

[Anonymous]

Laytonsville and Poolesville, MD are good options. This house in Laytonsville for example just sold not too long ago. https://www.redfin.com/MD/Gaithersburg/9721-Huntmaster-Rd-20882/home/10482973

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you need to commute to DC a couple times a week, great falls is your best bet. Anywhere further commute will take all your time to leave you with no energy for horse riding/farming hobbies.

This is the most realistic response so far. If you do need to commute into D.C., anything further out than Fairfax County will be tedious at best. As it is, Great Falls can still be quite a drive to and from D.C. in rush hour, depending specifically of course on exactly where in D.C. you're speaking of. There are small equestrian properties in Great Falls, where property values are supported by the reputation of the local schools. The same cannot be said of the more rural suggestions where the schools are less well regarded, although it will be possible to find larger tracts of land further out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is 5 acres enough? Feel like building?

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Great-Falls/119-Commonage-Dr-22066/home/40363323

This lot is in an equestrian community in great falls.

[Anonymous]

If you’re looking for closer in- Great Falls and Oakton.

There are some properties with a lot of acreage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for closer in- Great Falls and Oakton.

There are some properties with a lot of acreage.

Can you even get more than 5 acres in Fairfax County these days?

[Anonymous]

Anne Arundel areas of Lothian, Harwood, and Davidsonville; Boyd’s, Barnesville & Dickerson in Moco; of course middleburg and the plains in VA. Also Mt. Airy and Damascus in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need to commute to DC a couple times a week, great falls is your best bet. Anywhere further commute will take all your time to leave you with no energy for horse riding/farming hobbies.

This is the most realistic response so far. If you do need to commute into D.C., anything further out than Fairfax County will be tedious at best. As it is, Great Falls can still be quite a drive to and from D.C. in rush hour, depending specifically of course on exactly where in D.C. you're speaking of. There are small equestrian properties in Great Falls, where property values are supported by the reputation of the local schools. The same cannot be said of the more rural suggestions where the schools are less well regarded, although it will be possible to find larger tracts of land further out.

This is the most unrealistic response. Great falls isn’t what anyone would consider what op wants. Especially if she wants more of a rural conservative area.

I second the poster who mentioned Davidsonville/Crownsville area. Very rural, but close enough to dc where it’s not terribly far.

[Anonymous]

OP I own a "horse property" but in Maryland; Frederick county just east of Lovettsville. This is not the forum to ask for advice on property like you are looking for, most posters don't have a very good idea of the requirements needed for a horse property - five, and even 10 acres isn't nearly enough land for horses/large livestock and then you really need to pay attention to zoning laws because just because you have an acreage - it may not be zoned properly for livestock/agriculture. There are realtors here in the DMV who specialize in helping buyers find these properties, and a lot are sold without being listed through word of mouth.

In Maryland I'd seek out Denise Parsons or Deanna Rippeon, they both are horse people and realtors who work with buyers and sellers to find these properties. Properties like this are still in demand even with the rising interest rates, prices won't go down. I get solicitation letters almost every week from buyers looking for something "exactly like my property." There are also FB groups you can join for properties like this - search for Equestrian properties for sale on FB and you will get tons of groups to join. I'd also recommend the Virginia and Maryland Horse networks on FB - realtors sometimes post properties there. You may even want to consider West Virginia if the conservative thing is important, but I've found that once you get outside of MoCo and inner parts of Loudoun County, politics doesn't come up as much if at all and you would not know how people lean unless you really get to know them on a friend level.

There are several planned equestrian subdivisions in both states, where they have trails and a community barn, and that may be a better option for you than a horse property - but that's your personal preference. We preferred not having neighbors closer than 15 acres away and I wanted my horses on my property where I can see, feed, ride, treat and monitor their well-being myself. I've heard of too many stories where barn managers didn't catch something early and a horse needed to be put down from colic/EPM/preventable diseases.