N. Arlington versus Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oakton is better than Vienna hands down.

Thanks for that very useful post with all the detailed analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The difference between Vienna and Oakton: in a few hours, I will walk from my in-town house to Taste of Vienna. You can't walk anywhere in Oakton.

Hope OP is attending this today too!

Just came from there...a little cold and drizzly, but delicious!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Only one commute to Oakton. Vienna is clearly better commute but would like to get a sense of the vibe of these two communities. What do you see are the most distinct differences in culture, atmosphere, people, overall feeling, etc in these two areas? How about differences in the schools (Yorktown v. Madison)? We are looking for liberal leaning, vibrant community, down-to-earth people, good schools. Any other areas might we want to consider?

Both are liberal. Yorktown more liberal than Vienna. Vienna more down to earth than Yorktown. Yorktown is more affluent and urban, but Vienna has a vibrant community feel. Both high schools are good. Yorktown class sizes are smaller. The sizes of the schools are similar. Nothing you probably don't already know.

If Yorktown is more affluent, I wonder why it's 14% FARMS and Madison is 9%.

That's because of the island.

Isn't it part of Yorktown, too? I guess it's OK to include the area if it makes Yorktown seem more "urban," but not if it makes Madison more affluent. SMH.

NP here. I don't have a dog in this fight, and I think you are comparing very meaningless differences, but your logic is way off. The percentage of FARMS kids only tells you how many families earn above $45K (for a family of 4). I think we can all agree that a HHI of $50K or even $100K is far from affluent in this area, but those kids would not be eligible for FARMS. I have no idea what the relative affluence levels are of the two areas, and I suspect it depends what measure you use, but FARMS percentage is not relevant to that discussion. If Vienna's 91% non-FARMS population all have HHIs of $50-100K, and N. Arlington's 86% non-FARMS all have HHIs of $400-500K, which area is more affluent? (I just made up those numbers to illustrate my point.)

Silly and completely fabricated hypothetical, but the simple fact is that Yorktown has a significantly percentage of kids receiving assistance and PP offered no facts to support a claim Yorktown was more "affluent." Typical North Arlington puffery with no facts to back it up.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Only one commute to Oakton. Vienna is clearly better commute but would like to get a sense of the vibe of these two communities. What do you see are the most distinct differences in culture, atmosphere, people, overall feeling, etc in these two areas? How about differences in the schools (Yorktown v. Madison)? We are looking for liberal leaning, vibrant community, down-to-earth people, good schools. Any other areas might we want to consider?

Both are liberal. Yorktown more liberal than Vienna. Vienna more down to earth than Yorktown. Yorktown is more affluent and urban, but Vienna has a vibrant community feel. Both high schools are good. Yorktown class sizes are smaller. The sizes of the schools are similar. Nothing you probably don't already know.

If Yorktown is more affluent, I wonder why it's 14% FARMS and Madison is 9%.

That's because of the island.

Isn't it part of Yorktown, too? I guess it's OK to include the area if it makes Yorktown seem more "urban," but not if it makes Madison more affluent. SMH.

NP here. I don't have a dog in this fight, and I think you are comparing very meaningless differences, but your logic is way off. The percentage of FARMS kids only tells you how many families earn above $45K (for a family of 4). I think we can all agree that a HHI of $50K or even $100K is far from affluent in this area, but those kids would not be eligible for FARMS. I have no idea what the relative affluence levels are of the two areas, and I suspect it depends what measure you use, but FARMS percentage is not relevant to that discussion. If Vienna's 91% non-FARMS population all have HHIs of $50-100K, and N. Arlington's 86% non-FARMS all have HHIs of $400-500K, which area is more affluent? (I just made up those numbers to illustrate my point.)

Silly and completely fabricated hypothetical, but the simple fact is that Yorktown has a significantly percentage of kids receiving assistance and PP offered no facts to support a claim Yorktown was more "affluent." Typical North Arlington puffery with no facts to back it up.

I live in Vienna. I would like to know where in Vienna someone who makes less than 100K could live? I make 165K, and could not buy my house today.

[Anonymous]

"Typical North Arlington puffery "

Could you just say "typical puffery" and leave out the North Arlington part? I'm new to this particular thread, but I live in 22207 and I try hard to not be a "puffer". Perhaps you could try to not paint us all with the same brush?

OP, if I were you I'd probably live in Vienna - it's a nice place and a better commute. That said, I do also like my neighborhood in the Yorktown district. For those who think everyone here is wealthy and elitist, my husband and I are both Feds, one of is us a GS12, the other a GS15 so while we have a good HHI, we're certainly not millionaires. Most of the kids on our street go to the public schools, with the exceptions of one family that homeschools and one family that prefers Catholic schools (for the religion, not a quality concern about the publics). Our neighbors are friendly, but we don't hang out except for maybe 3-4 times a year when someone has a big neighborhood party. Like many areas with lots of young kids, we're all busy. Some of the families on our street that have SAH parents seem to be more social than we are, I'd assume because they can pick up their kids earlier and have more playdate availability, but I don't think it's because they are snobby or don't like us that we don't socialize as often.

We do have charming areas we can walk to for restaurants or playgrounds, but you can find that in Vienna as well. Basically, what I'm saying is that I think we're pretty normal, as are most areas of Vienna. Sure, you have some neighbors who make more and have more - but you'll find that anywhere around here. Most of the cars on the street in our neighbohood are of the Honda/Toyota variety rather than the BMW/Mercedes variety, but there is one person (who doesn't have an Arlington tax sticker, so I assume the car is driving through from McLean based on where they come from) who blows down the street in a porsche at the same time I'm leaving in the morning at least once a week. An ass, but normal.

Pick whichever neighborhood seems to work better for you in terms of commute, home style, and yard. If I were you, I'd probably lean towards Vienna because that extra time that you don't have to commute will be valuable.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Only one commute to Oakton. Vienna is clearly better commute but would like to get a sense of the vibe of these two communities. What do you see are the most distinct differences in culture, atmosphere, people, overall feeling, etc in these two areas? How about differences in the schools (Yorktown v. Madison)? We are looking for liberal leaning, vibrant community, down-to-earth people, good schools. Any other areas might we want to consider?

Both are liberal. Yorktown more liberal than Vienna. Vienna more down to earth than Yorktown. Yorktown is more affluent and urban, but Vienna has a vibrant community feel. Both high schools are good. Yorktown class sizes are smaller. The sizes of the schools are similar. Nothing you probably don't already know.

If Yorktown is more affluent, I wonder why it's 14% FARMS and Madison is 9%.

That's because of the island.

Isn't it part of Yorktown, too? I guess it's OK to include the area if it makes Yorktown seem more "urban," but not if it makes Madison more affluent. SMH.

NP here. I don't have a dog in this fight, and I think you are comparing very meaningless differences, but your logic is way off. The percentage of FARMS kids only tells you how many families earn above $45K (for a family of 4). I think we can all agree that a HHI of $50K or even $100K is far from affluent in this area, but those kids would not be eligible for FARMS. I have no idea what the relative affluence levels are of the two areas, and I suspect it depends what measure you use, but FARMS percentage is not relevant to that discussion. If Vienna's 91% non-FARMS population all have HHIs of $50-100K, and N. Arlington's 86% non-FARMS all have HHIs of $400-500K, which area is more affluent? (I just made up those numbers to illustrate my point.)

Silly and completely fabricated hypothetical, but the simple fact is that Yorktown has a significantly percentage of kids receiving assistance and PP offered no facts to support a claim Yorktown was more "affluent." Typical North Arlington puffery with no facts to back it up.

I live in Vienna. I would like to know where in Vienna someone who makes less than 100K could live? I make 165K, and could not buy my house today.

There are several apartment complexes in Vienna where many families live. Many people also rent in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Vienna addresses feed to Oakton, Madison, Marshall and ,I think, South Lakes, too. Depends where in Vienna one is looking. Oakton and Madison are better than Marshall or South Lakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna addresses feed to Oakton, Madison, Marshall and ,I think, South Lakes, too. Depends where in Vienna one is looking. Oakton and Madison are better than Marshall or South Lakes.

It's even more than that. In rough order of Vienna students zoned for different schools, it would be Madison, Marshall, Oakton, McLean, South Lakes, Langley and finally Falls Church. The only rule of thumb that safely applies is that all of Town of Vienna is Madison.

[Anonymous]

I live in 22207 but my advice would be Vienna over Arlington but to consider Falls Church. The shorter commute is one factor but more importantly is the sense of community I see with my Falls Church friends. Arl schools have been great for my kids but friends in Falls Chirch love their schools too.

[Anonymous]

I love living in Arlington but we're here mainly because of the commute. If DH and I were commuting to Oakton we'd have lived farther out. Much of the price premium in Arlington is for proximity to DC. Makes no sense to pay that if you are commuting the other way.

[Anonymous]

Vienna Annual town events - http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?nid=458

+ farmers markets, great schools, small town community feel, walkability (mostly), decent restaurants, great neighborhoods, community center (being renovated this year), trails and parks, even some nightlife with Jammin Java

North Arlington - I don't know, I'm sure they have these things too. We couldn't get past the price of a run down house 10 years ago. I'd hate to see what they cost now.

Vienna was our choice and we haven't regretted it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna Annual town events - http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?nid=458

+ farmers markets, great schools, small town community feel, walkability (mostly), decent restaurants, great neighborhoods, community center (being renovated this year), trails and parks, even some nightlife with Jammin Java

North Arlington - I don't know, I'm sure they have these things too. We couldn't get past the price of a run down house 10 years ago. I'd hate to see what they cost now.

Vienna was our choice and we haven't regretted it.

Vienna isn't that walkable, except for a relatively small fraction of the people who live there. The parking lots are always jammed, and it's not tourists from Ohio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna Annual town events - http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?nid=458

+ farmers markets, great schools, small town community feel, walkability (mostly), decent restaurants, great neighborhoods, community center (being renovated this year), trails and parks, even some nightlife with Jammin Java

North Arlington - I don't know, I'm sure they have these things too. We couldn't get past the price of a run down house 10 years ago. I'd hate to see what they cost now.

Vienna was our choice and we haven't regretted it.

Vienna isn't that walkable, except for a relatively small fraction of the people who live there. The parking lots are always jammed, and it's not tourists from Ohio.

folks from Oakton and City of Fairfax ? People who could walk, but for whatever reason choose to drive?

[Anonymous]

We absolutely love Vienna! Great sense of community, small town feel, but still close enough to DC. I don't know how much I'd love it if commuting into DC every day--I do it once a week and it sucks, even at the crack of dawn, but for commuting to Oakton, I think Vienna is a no-brainer. We chose it because we could not afford N. Arlington, but now we have a lot more money and have no desire to ever leave Vienna!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna Annual town events - http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?nid=458

+ farmers markets, great schools, small town community feel, walkability (mostly), decent restaurants, great neighborhoods, community center (being renovated this year), trails and parks, even some nightlife with Jammin Java

North Arlington - I don't know, I'm sure they have these things too. We couldn't get past the price of a run down house 10 years ago. I'd hate to see what they cost now.

Vienna was our choice and we haven't regretted it.

Vienna isn't that walkable, except for a relatively small fraction of the people who live there. The parking lots are always jammed, and it's not tourists from Ohio.

folks from Oakton and City of Fairfax ? People who could walk, but for whatever reason choose to drive?

I doubt it. Vienna is nice, but some people there exaggerate its walkability and downplay the typical commuting times.