Affordability of SFHs in NoVa School Districts

[Anonymous]

Looked at some information on relative affordability of buying a SFH in various school districts in APS, ACPS, FCPS and FCCPS; tiers of affordability in terms of median sales prices over the past 12 months follow:

Tier 1: Langley ($1.180M)
Tier 2: Yorktown, McLean ($905-915K)
Tier 3: George Mason, Washington-Lee, Madison, TC Williams, Marshall, Oakton ($755-810K)
Tier 4: Wakefield, South County, Woodson, South Lakes, Centreville, West Potomac, Robinson, Stuart, Lake Braddock ($590-670K)
Tier 5: Chantilly, Fairfax, West Springfield, Hayfield, Falls Church, Westfield ($525-565K)
Tier 6: Annandale, Herndon, Edison, Mount Vernon, Lee ($465-506K)

[Anonymous]

The difference between the Haves and Have-Nots is significantly evident in this picture. And those Have-Nots are home-owners.

Surprised that the housing stock in Mount Vernon is so low.

[Anonymous]

We paid less than $450k for our SFH in your tier 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looked at some information on relative affordability of buying a SFH in various school districts in APS, ACPS, FCPS and FCCPS; tiers of affordability in terms of median sales prices over the past 12 months follow:

Tier 1: Langley ($1.180M)
Tier 2: Yorktown, McLean ($905-915K)
Tier 3: George Mason, Washington-Lee, Madison, TC Williams, Marshall, Oakton ($755-810K)
Tier 4: Wakefield, South County, Woodson, South Lakes, Centreville, West Potomac, Robinson, Stuart, Lake Braddock ($590-670K)
Tier 5: Chantilly, Fairfax, West Springfield, Hayfield, Falls Church, Westfield ($525-565K)
Tier 6: Annandale, Herndon, Edison, Mount Vernon, Lee ($465-506K)

This actually kind of reflects the general tiers I see in the corresponding neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference between the Haves and Have-Nots is significantly evident in this picture. And those Have-Nots are home-owners.

Surprised that the housing stock in Mount Vernon is so low.

It is the difference between the Haves and the Have-Mores that the OP is comparing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We paid less than $450k for our SFH in your tier 5.

These are medians, so of course there will be less and more expensive sales in each district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference between the Haves and Have-Nots is significantly evident in this picture. And those Have-Nots are home-owners.

Surprised that the housing stock in Mount Vernon is so low.

I look at different statistics for various school areas to try and discern trends. For now, Edison is the Tier 6 school district where I'd buy now in that price range. The MV area has some really nice properties near the Potomac, but for the most part it's a moribund area that doesn't get much new investment and attracts less interest than other areas.

[Anonymous]

Your West Springfield numbers are wrong.

Homes in West springfield sfhs run in the upper $500s to the mid $700s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your West Springfield numbers are wrong.

Homes in West springfield sfhs run in the upper $500s to the mid $700s.

The median sales price for a single family home in the West Springfield HS district over the past 12 months (356 sales) is $550K. The median price of the current listings is $560K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your West Springfield numbers are wrong.

Homes in West springfield sfhs run in the upper $500s to the mid $700s.

The median sales price for a single family home in the West Springfield HS district over the past 12 months (356 sales) is $550K. The median price of the current listings is $560K.

According to which website?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your West Springfield numbers are wrong.

Homes in West springfield sfhs run in the upper $500s to the mid $700s.

The median sales price for a single family home in the West Springfield HS district over the past 12 months (356 sales) is $550K. The median price of the current listings is $560K.

Well, since West Springfield high school and its feeder schools significantly outperform most of the schools/pyramids in your tier 4 grouping, some by a lot, it seems your limited data shows that WSHS schools are one of the best values in fcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your West Springfield numbers are wrong.

Homes in West springfield sfhs run in the upper $500s to the mid $700s.

The median sales price for a single family home in the West Springfield HS district over the past 12 months (356 sales) is $550K. The median price of the current listings is $560K.

According to which website?

Piggybacking on this question, are you sure your boundaries are accurate and you are not pulling home sales from other zip codes?

[Anonymous]

Op, it's may be useful data to have. Thanks for sharing
I assume you had no other point?

[Anonymous]

Well, since West Springfield high school and its feeder schools significantly outperform most of the schools/pyramids in your tier 4 grouping, some by a lot, it seems your limited data shows that WSHS schools are one of the best values in fcps.

+1 This is quite interesting. The price of homes is not totally dependent on the schools. Location is playing a role here (for commuting I would imagine). I think West Springfield is one of those hidden value areas because people see Springfield and think of the area around the mixing bowl (which is lower income).

Also, high education does not always correlate to high income. You've got more military officers and civil service types in West Springfield (lower income, but high educational attainment there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We paid less than $450k for our SFH in your tier 5.

And some of the subdivisions south of Chantilly HS are 700+ on the low end.

This whole OP is kind of subjective