Good neighborhood for young families in NoVa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna just blows. You have to drive everywhere all the time. And the housing stock is tired, outdated, builder grade slop.

Plus, youre just breathing the carcinogenic exhaust from 66 all day every day.

Hard pass.

How is Ashburn better than this?

It's not. You couldn't pay me to live in either. Plastic, plastic, plastic.

Me either. Hate Ashburn and similar. But like Vienna. So there is something for everyone out there.

Ashburn>>>> Vienna

At least Ashburn knew it would be a cookie cutter suburbia. Vienna is like that person who is confused about what they identify as, being 45 years old and still confused about their life.

[Anonymous]

Go away, Vienna hater.

[Anonymous]

NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

Exactly this.

Another former Vienna resident. Yes, the town was fine to live in. Good neighborhoods and lots of family-friendly opportunities. Was it better than the dozens and dozens of other places across Arlington and Fairfax that offer similar opportunities? No.

I don't get why Vienna residents feel the need to talk up the town constantly on DCUM. Yes, it's a nice place, but it also suffers from bad traffic congestion and has a collection of strip malls and small office parks that constitute a "downtown" along Maple Ave.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Del Ray. It’s like Midwest meets northwest smaller city. Very family friendly. People here are great, there’s actual diversity, lots of parks, solid school, awesome local restaurants and shopping, very safe, great housing stock.

[Anonymous]

Dominion Valley haymarket va

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dominion Valley in Haymarket

Piedmont in Haymarket

ANywhere in Haymarket

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean Hamlet is utopia for elementary school aged kids. So many kids biking together, playing and generally just having fun outside.

This was my first thought as well.

[Anonymous]

I’m in fox mill on the side that has bigger houses. If OP is ok with some kids sharing rooms, a 5 bedroom with finished basement with offices might fit the bill. Families with young kids are always outside together especially in the cul de sacs.
But I agree with PP, the neighborhood overall is probably a bit too middle class for OP. But big lots don’t usually make for good socializing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean Hamlet is utopia for elementary school aged kids. So many kids biking together, playing and generally just having fun outside.

This was my first thought as well.

Not mine. The lots aren't a 1/2 acre and it's mostly full of old people. Are you a realtor?

[Anonymous]

I really like mantua.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

Exactly this.

Another former Vienna resident. Yes, the town was fine to live in. Good neighborhoods and lots of family-friendly opportunities. Was it better than the dozens and dozens of other places across Arlington and Fairfax that offer similar opportunities? No.

I don't get why Vienna residents feel the need to talk up the town constantly on DCUM. Yes, it's a nice place, but it also suffers from bad traffic congestion and has a collection of strip malls and small office parks that constitute a "downtown" along Maple Ave.

NP here. Vienna offers more than most Northern Va suburbs that are not that far out from DC. Vienna offers sidewalks and places for families to walk to, if they want. There is more of a downtown feeling than most places. There are food options. Many people appreciate that their teens can get on their bikes and go out for the day, in the fresh air, without having to drive somewhere. Maybe that is not for you - but many people need that in their lives. Not to mention, being so close to the bike trail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience there is an inverse relationship between the size of the house/lot and the friendliness of the neighbors. I’m sure there are exceptions, but I have found that the friendliest and most inclusive families live in neighborhoods with older/more modest homes on smaller lots or in townhomes. DCUM turns its nose up at the schools these neighborhoods feed into. Fox Mill is a great example of this. They are just more down to earth. We live in a neighborhood with “highly sought after” schools and it’s much more of a mix… some nice people but some who think their sh*t doesn’t stink. If I could do it over again I might move somewhere like Fox Mill. It seems like a much easier place for kids and parents to make friends because it’s not filled with a bunch of strivers sizing each other up and competing with one another.

+1 I agree with this. This can apply in school zones with "good" schools too - I grew up in a highly sought after area of north arlington, fairly large lots for arlington, lots of new builds popping up. Perfectly nice neighborhood overall, but it's a hugely different vibe than my now adult neighborhood which is not even that far away in Westover, but the lots are much smaller, very few new builds, older smaller not quite as "beautiful" homes, many with additions. The small lots bring a closeness, there are a lot of two fed, very laid back families, things are so friendly and connected. I've always thought the housing stock and small lots is a part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

Exactly this.

Another former Vienna resident. Yes, the town was fine to live in. Good neighborhoods and lots of family-friendly opportunities. Was it better than the dozens and dozens of other places across Arlington and Fairfax that offer similar opportunities? No.

I don't get why Vienna residents feel the need to talk up the town constantly on DCUM. Yes, it's a nice place, but it also suffers from bad traffic congestion and has a collection of strip malls and small office parks that constitute a "downtown" along Maple Ave.

NP here. Vienna offers more than most Northern Va suburbs that are not that far out from DC. Vienna offers sidewalks and places for families to walk to, if they want. There is more of a downtown feeling than most places. There are food options. Many people appreciate that their teens can get on their bikes and go out for the day, in the fresh air, without having to drive somewhere. Maybe that is not for you - but many people need that in their lives. Not to mention, being so close to the bike trail.

Sidewalks - in Town of Vienna, yes; outside Town of Vienna, it varies.

More of a downtown feeling - Not really. Strip malls abound.

Food options - No better than other places apart from more fast food.

Overall walkability - If you live close to Maple, perhaps. Otherwise, not necessarily, and the fact that most of the retail is along one main drag with a ton of vehicular traffic as opposed to spread out among a grid of streets is a negative.

So, again, it's a potential option but for the most part Vienna is like other outside-the-Beltway suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Del Ray. It’s like Midwest meets northwest smaller city. Very family friendly. People here are great, there’s actual diversity, lots of parks, solid school, awesome local restaurants and shopping, very safe, great housing stock.

Just don't stop for gas