Where to live.....McLean Arlington or vienna

[Anonymous]

If you are working in McLean, and can find a decent rental there, that's where you should live. If you are coming from another area, you may not appreciate yet how long it can take to get through Tysons traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is fine for families with kids who are solid students but not academic stars, and very much into sports.

I live in McLean, but WTF does this even mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would favor Falls Church City over any you mentioned. Small - two square miles; walkable; only neighborhood schools (one line of schools for all of FCC); lot's of great new restaurants, grocery stores, mini-target (all w/in walking or biking distance) and small community feel.

Are you even paying attention to OP are you just want to cheerleader FCC?

OP, I live in Arlington and love it, but for your specific situation and your particular kids, I would add to the pile of PPs saying you want FFX, because of MS starting in 6th. Traffic is awful, so find a home you like with a good commute. McLean or Vienna are both nice areas, with good schools.

Another Arlington resident who agrees with this. Just anecdotally, the people in Vienna when we go shopping or out to eat there are always very friendly - more so than other parts of NOVA. But I have friends who live in McLean and it's also a great place for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would favor Falls Church City over any you mentioned. Small - two square miles; walkable; only neighborhood schools (one line of schools for all of FCC); lot's of great new restaurants, grocery stores, mini-target (all w/in walking or biking distance) and small community feel.

Are you even paying attention to OP are you just want to cheerleader FCC?

OP, I live in Arlington and love it, but for your specific situation and your particular kids, I would add to the pile of PPs saying you want FFX, because of MS starting in 6th. Traffic is awful, so find a home you like with a good commute. McLean or Vienna are both nice areas, with good schools.

Another Arlington resident who agrees with this. Just anecdotally, the people in Vienna when we go shopping or out to eat there are always very friendly - more so than other parts of NOVA. But I have friends who live in McLean and it's also a great place for kids.

NP, but I'd also suggest Falls Church City, even though your oldest would change schools for 6th grade. Because FCC is self-contained, your oldest would go to middle school with all the same kids he/she was with in 5th grade. It's much less of a transition that it would be in an area with multiple feeder elementary schools. There is also a huge foreign service and military family population in FCC, and kids and families here are used to friends coming in and out of the schools--no one will think twice about your kids only being here for two years. You'll also find a large support system of people who are in or have been in your shoes. That said, if you're set on Vienna or McLean, I'd do Vienna for walkability. Good luck with whatever you choose to do and welcome to NoVA!

[Anonymous]

It's only part of Vienna (22180) that is walkable, and that area is no more walkable than FCC or parts of Arlington and McLean. If you are in the 22181 or 22182 zip codes (both Vienna), it's very car-dependent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would favor Falls Church City over any you mentioned. Small - two square miles; walkable; only neighborhood schools (one line of schools for all of FCC); lot's of great new restaurants, grocery stores, mini-target (all w/in walking or biking distance) and small community feel.

Are you even paying attention to OP are you just want to cheerleader FCC?

OP, I live in Arlington and love it, but for your specific situation and your particular kids, I would add to the pile of PPs saying you want FFX, because of MS starting in 6th. Traffic is awful, so find a home you like with a good commute. McLean or Vienna are both nice areas, with good schools.

Another Arlington resident who agrees with this. Just anecdotally, the people in Vienna when we go shopping or out to eat there are always very friendly - more so than other parts of NOVA. But I have friends who live in McLean and it's also a great place for kids.

NP, but I'd also suggest Falls Church City, even though your oldest would change schools for 6th grade. Because FCC is self-contained, your oldest would go to middle school with all the same kids he/she was with in 5th grade. It's much less of a transition that it would be in an area with multiple feeder elementary schools. There is also a huge foreign service and military family population in FCC, and kids and families here are used to friends coming in and out of the schools--no one will think twice about your kids only being here for two years. You'll also find a large support system of people who are in or have been in your shoes. That said, if you're set on Vienna or McLean, I'd do Vienna for walkability. Good luck with whatever you choose to do and welcome to NoVA!

The single-family houses I'm seeing for rent in OP's budget in FCC seem depressing.

This is one I came across: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1104-N-Tuckahoe-St_Falls-Church_VA_22046_M52688-18814#photo0

Are there nicer properties (not townhouses) for rent?

[Anonymous]

A nice/ newer angle family home in FCC within the OPs budget is not likely to happen.

The listing above would be typical for what you get for around 3500.

McLean is not going to be much better.

I am not familiar with the Vienna single family rental home market.

[Anonymous]

*single family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A nice/ newer angle family home in FCC within the OPs budget is not likely to happen.

The listing above would be typical for what you get for around 3500.

McLean is not going to be much better.

I am not familiar with the Vienna single family rental home market.

There are more options in McLean and Vienna, as they are much larger than FCC and have more single-family neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Again, I would not look outside of FCPS with your kids age and your oldest going into 5th and 6th. You will want to keep your kids at the same school and this will only be possible in FCPS schools. No reason to look at falls church city (FCC) or Arlington in this situation. You will absolutely be able to find a rental within your budget in McLean, but it will not be a luxury house. But it will be just fine for 2 years, your kids will have heir own bedrooms, and you will be close to DC for cultural attractions.

Here’s a home example:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6225-Loch-Raven-Dr-Mclean-VA-22101/51756362_zpid/

Or

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1638-Morrill-Ct-Mclean-VA-22101/51755789_zpid/

[Anonymous]

If public schools are important to you, I believe the schools rankings have Mclean high schools ranked ahead of Vienna, which is ranked ahead of all Arlington high schools.

Langley high school is actually one of the best in the entire state, with McLean High School almost as, if not just as, good. You can't go wrong in McLean. On the downside, you don't get much house for your money. Split levels in the cheaper parts of McLean that feed into McLean HS are even expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If public schools are important to you, I believe the schools rankings have Mclean high schools ranked ahead of Vienna, which is ranked ahead of all Arlington high schools.

Langley high school is actually one of the best in the entire state, with McLean High School almost as, if not just as, good. You can't go wrong in McLean. On the downside, you don't get much house for your money. Split levels in the cheaper parts of McLean that feed into McLean HS are even expensive.

If you read the OP, they'll likely come and go before their kids hit high school. You really can't go wrong with any of the elementary schools in Vienna or McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna is fine for families with kids who are solid students but not academic stars, and very much into sports.

I live in McLean, but WTF does this even mean.

NP. I think PP means they are white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If public schools are important to you, I believe the schools rankings have Mclean high schools ranked ahead of Vienna, which is ranked ahead of all Arlington high schools.

Langley high school is actually one of the best in the entire state, with McLean High School almost as, if not just as, good. You can't go wrong in McLean. On the downside, you don't get much house for your money. Split levels in the cheaper parts of McLean that feed into McLean HS are even expensive.

If you read the OP, they'll likely come and go before their kids hit high school. You really can't go wrong with any of the elementary schools in Vienna or McLean.

Agree. The public elementary schools in McLean and Vienna should be fine for 95% of parents.