Lower McLean vs North Arlington vs Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. So it looks like Langley and McLean (even with its over-enrollment) look to be the best options, but no one has made a strong case for Vienna and Madison looks really good.

What are the pros for Vienna?

Relative to McLean and North Arlington?

1) Housing is less expensive
2) Community is more kid-oriented (for example, more affordable family-friendly restaurants than McLean, fewer bars than Arlington)
3) Town of Vienna has its own government/events, but is smaller than McLean or North Arlington
4) Parents are younger, more relaxed
5) Better HS sports teams

+1

I would take all of these.

So let's look at some cons of Vienna relative to McLean and North Arlington:

1) Commuting to Penn Quarter takes much longer
2) Maple Avenue (Route 123 in Vienna) is very congested
3) Housing is less attractive
4) Schools aren't quite as good as those in McLean
5) Vienna has more of a "Stepford" (conformist, very sports-oriented) vibe than McLean or North Arlington

#3 and #5 - LOL - surely you can't be serious.

Yes, about both the pros and the cons.

I'm guessing you have never lived in Vienna. I have. It's nice, but there are numerous reasons why it's less expensive than McLean and North Arlington.

Many people move to Vienna to be around more down to earth, nicer people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. So it looks like Langley and McLean (even with its over-enrollment) look to be the best options, but no one has made a strong case for Vienna and Madison looks really good.

What are the pros for Vienna?

Relative to McLean and North Arlington?

1) Housing is less expensive
2) Community is more kid-oriented (for example, more affordable family-friendly restaurants than McLean, fewer bars than Arlington)
3) Town of Vienna has its own government/events, but is smaller than McLean or North Arlington
4) Parents are younger, more relaxed
5) Better HS sports teams

+1

I would take all of these.

So let's look at some cons of Vienna relative to McLean and North Arlington:

1) Commuting to Penn Quarter takes much longer
2) Maple Avenue (Route 123 in Vienna) is very congested
3) Housing is less attractive
4) Schools aren't quite as good as those in McLean
5) Vienna has more of a "Stepford" (conformist, very sports-oriented) vibe than McLean or North Arlington

#3 and #5 - LOL - surely you can't be serious.

Yes, about both the pros and the cons.

I'm guessing you have never lived in Vienna. I have. It's nice, but there are numerous reasons why it's less expensive than McLean and North Arlington.

Many people move to Vienna to be around more down to earth, nicer people.

Arlington has over 200,000 people, Vienna has over 60,000 people, and McLean has over 50,000 people.

Somehow I don't think people are going to decide where to live because you couldn't get along with your ex-neighbors in McLean 5-10 years ago. As another poster was advised earlier on the thread, "Not everything is about you." But thanks for playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some area around Columbia Pike have gotten better, and the ridge is the nicest part of the county...
- just sayin'

I always thought County Club Hills was the nicest part of Arlington, although you can't beat "the ridge" for easy access to Chirilagua and its 24-hour laundromats.

Nope. It's the ridge. It's always been the ridge. CCH is for strivers. The ridge is the real deal.

[Anonymous]

Let's recap the data and put aside the personal issues.

School Data:

2016 SAT Scores

Langley 1851
McLean 1821
Madison 1789
Yorktown 1752
Washington-Lee 1702

2016 US News Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #2
Madison - #3
Langley - #6
Yorktown - #13
Washington-Lee - #17

2016-17 National Merit Semifinalists

Langley 15
McLean 13
Madison 10
Washington-Lee 8
Yorktown 1

2016 Schooldigger Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #11
Langley - #12
Madison - #24
Yorktown - #59
Washington-Lee - #132

2016 Washington Post Regional Challenge Index

Washington-Lee - #5
McLean - #7
Yorktown - #11
Madison - #18
Langley - #21


2016-17 Enrollments

Yorktown 1880
Langley 1973
McLean 2053
Madison 2188
Washington-Lee 2330

Projected Over/Under Capacity 2021-22

Washington-Lee 540 over-capacity
Madison 295 over-capacity
McLean 263 over-capacity
Yorktown 190 over-capacity
Langley 401 under-capacity

Real Estate Outlook:

http://www.zillow.com/mc-lean-va-22101/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/arlington-va-22207/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/vienna-va-22180/home-values/

Average Median Sales Price - New Builds:

McLean/22101 - $1.78M
Arlington/22207 - $1.57M
Vienna/22180 - $1.35M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's recap the data and put aside the personal issues.

School Data:

2016 SAT Scores

Langley 1851
McLean 1821
Madison 1789
Yorktown 1752
Washington-Lee 1702

2016 US News Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #2
Madison - #3
Langley - #6
Yorktown - #13
Washington-Lee - #17

2016-17 National Merit Semifinalists

Langley 15
McLean 13
Madison 10
Washington-Lee 8
Yorktown 1

2016 Schooldigger Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #11
Langley - #12
Madison - #24
Yorktown - #59
Washington-Lee - #132

2016 Washington Post Regional Challenge Index

Washington-Lee - #5
McLean - #7
Yorktown - #11
Madison - #18
Langley - #21


2016-17 Enrollments

Yorktown 1880
Langley 1973
McLean 2053
Madison 2188
Washington-Lee 2330

Projected Over/Under Capacity 2021-22

Washington-Lee 540 over-capacity
Madison 295 over-capacity
McLean 263 over-capacity
Yorktown 190 over-capacity
Langley 401 under-capacity

Real Estate Outlook:

http://www.zillow.com/mc-lean-va-22101/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/arlington-va-22207/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/vienna-va-22180/home-values/

Average Median Sales Price - New Builds:

McLean/22101 - $1.78M
Arlington/22207 - $1.57M
Vienna/22180 - $1.35M

Great data - thanks.

[Anonymous]

OP, looks like you have your answer. I don't think PPs intended to help you, or any normal, everyday buyer - but they sure did.

Which would you choose and why?

Budget: 950k-1.2m
House: prefer colonial style
Kids: 2 kids soon starting ES
Work: Penn Quarter
Race: white

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's recap the data and put aside the personal issues.

School Data:

2016 SAT Scores

Langley 1851
McLean 1821
Madison 1789
Yorktown 1752
Washington-Lee 1702

2016 US News Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #2
Madison - #3
Langley - #6
Yorktown - #13
Washington-Lee - #17

2016-17 National Merit Semifinalists

Langley 15
McLean 13
Madison 10
Washington-Lee 8
Yorktown 1

2016 Schooldigger Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #11
Langley - #12
Madison - #24
Yorktown - #59
Washington-Lee - #132

2016 Washington Post Regional Challenge Index

Washington-Lee - #5
McLean - #7
Yorktown - #11
Madison - #18
Langley - #21


2016-17 Enrollments

Yorktown 1880
Langley 1973
McLean 2053
Madison 2188
Washington-Lee 2330

Projected Over/Under Capacity 2021-22

Washington-Lee 540 over-capacity
Madison 295 over-capacity
McLean 263 over-capacity
Yorktown 190 over-capacity
Langley 401 under-capacity

Real Estate Outlook:

http://www.zillow.com/mc-lean-va-22101/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/arlington-va-22207/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/vienna-va-22180/home-values/

Average Median Sales Price - New Builds:

McLean/22101 - $1.78M
Arlington/22207 - $1.57M
Vienna/22180 - $1.35M

Great data - thanks.

You're very welcome. And here's the recap of some relative advantages of each location (somewhat more qualitative):

Arlington:

* Shortest commute to Penn Quarter
* More older homes, if preferred
* Smaller class sizes in public schools

McLean:

* Top schools
* Prime location halfway between DC and Tysons
* Most short-term appreciation potential

Vienna:

* Most affordable
* Small-town atmosphere in Town of Vienna
* Younger families, if preferred

[Anonymous]

Actually Arlington is halfway between downtown and Tysons. Where is the data on short-term appreciation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's recap the data and put aside the personal issues.

School Data:

2016 SAT Scores

Langley 1851
McLean 1821
Madison 1789
Yorktown 1752
Washington-Lee 1702

2016 US News Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #2
Madison - #3
Langley - #6
Yorktown - #13
Washington-Lee - #17

2016-17 National Merit Semifinalists

Langley 15
McLean 13
Madison 10
Washington-Lee 8
Yorktown 1

2016 Schooldigger Rankings - Virginia

McLean - #11
Langley - #12
Madison - #24
Yorktown - #59
Washington-Lee - #132

2016 Washington Post Regional Challenge Index

Washington-Lee - #5
McLean - #7
Yorktown - #11
Madison - #18
Langley - #21


2016-17 Enrollments

Yorktown 1880
Langley 1973
McLean 2053
Madison 2188
Washington-Lee 2330

Projected Over/Under Capacity 2021-22

Washington-Lee 540 over-capacity
Madison 295 over-capacity
McLean 263 over-capacity
Yorktown 190 over-capacity
Langley 401 under-capacity

Real Estate Outlook:

http://www.zillow.com/mc-lean-va-22101/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/arlington-va-22207/home-values/

http://www.zillow.com/vienna-va-22180/home-values/

Average Median Sales Price - New Builds:

McLean/22101 - $1.78M
Arlington/22207 - $1.57M
Vienna/22180 - $1.35M

Great data - thanks.

You're very welcome. And here's the recap of some relative advantages of each location (somewhat more qualitative):

Arlington:

* Shortest commute to Penn Quarter
* More older homes, if preferred
* Smaller class sizes in public schools

McLean:

* Top schools
* Prime location halfway between DC and Tysons
* Most short-term appreciation potential

Vienna:

* Most affordable
* Small-town atmosphere in Town of Vienna
* Younger families, if preferred

Not OP, but also looking in these areas. Thank you for doing this!

[Anonymous]

This is OP. If we can't find anything decent in our price point in Upper McLean, we'll look in Lower McLean. If we can't find anything good in our price point in McLean, we'll broaden out to Vienna or North Arlington.

The houses we find on the market will likely dictate where we end up, as all of these areas seem very good.

Thanks again all who contributed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually Arlington is halfway between downtown and Tysons. Where is the data on short-term appreciation?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in all three! I prefer Vienna, Arlington, McLean, in that order, but would go with whatever commute would be best, so likely Arlington. There aren't huge differences among them, so go with the one that will make your life easier.

The schools in McLean are not facing the capacity issues that will be such a major challenge for Arlington in the coming years. As others have noted, there's a need for a fourth high school in APS and no clear indication if and when APS will get around to finding a site, raising the funds, and building the school. Live in McLean and you're pretty much assured of Langley, McLean or Marshall having space for your kid (and there are more admits to TJ as well than from APS).

PP here. I just really disliked McLean.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean is best. Vienna is too far out and I'd be too nervous about the lack of clear plans to deal with school overcrowding in Arlington to buy there now.

Much smaller class sizes in Arlington.

+1

My third grader in Vienna has 20 in his class. Is Arlington that much smaller???

my 3rd grader has 18 in the class and there are 4 3rd grade classrooms at her school (in 22207). DC's never had more than 20 kids in any of the classes so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. If we can't find anything decent in our price point in Upper McLean, we'll look in Lower McLean. If we can't find anything good in our price point in McLean, we'll broaden out to Vienna or North Arlington.

The houses we find on the market will likely dictate where we end up, as all of these areas seem very good.

Thanks again all who contributed.

We had the same priorities, except we had a somewhat larger budget and preferred Lower McLean (closer to Metro and DC).

Good luck with your search!