We checked the registry too when we moved and found that Virginia lists both work and home addresses. In Vienna, a lot are along Maple Ave, all the addresses are businesses -- which means that these individuals most likely have night jobs as stockers or janitorial service.

both are upscale, affluent suburbs, very safe

where you should live depends on your budget, Vienna is less expensive than Mclean, both are FCPS schools, people seem to particularly like to live in Mclean for schools but Vienna schools are great too, with maybe some elementary and one high school preferred by most

you should relax, you are moving to a nice, albeit expensive, area (now I love Portland and suspect you will not like the traffic we have here or the home prices, but that's another story)

Anonymous wrote:Look into the McLean Hamlet neighborhood. DH could bike to work on the new bike lanes, new silver line is practically walking distance for some parts of the neighborhood. Schools are first rate. DD is in the AAP program at Spring Hill and we have been so please with the school, the extra activities and the caliber of families.

Isn't McLean Hamlet the neighborhood that a poster on another recent thread said she rejected because she was worried about the highway noise and air quality? Have you found either to be a problem?

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, because the schools are almost without exception superior in McLean.

Ugh. The primary reason why McLean is more expensive is far and away because it's closer to DC. I'd think the slightly higher test scores in the McLean schools are a much less significant consideration, and one that doesn't warrant such a statement.

Anonymous wrote:yes!
Vienna is wonderful though....incredibly family friendly. McLean has its positives as well. You will just spend a heck of a lot more for the same house.

Yes, because the schools are almost without exception superior in McLean.

Oh and I would not lose sleep over the sex offender issue. Kids in McLean and Vienna are safe - the parks are nice, the families are wealthy and kids are as safe as they would be in Portland!!!! It probably is you channeling your (understandable!!!) anexiety about moving.

Look into the McLean Hamlet neighborhood. DH could bike to work on the new bike lanes, new silver line is practically walking distance for some parts of the neighborhood. Schools are first rate. DD is in the AAP program at Spring Hill and we have been so please with the school, the extra activities and the caliber of families.

Capital One is a major NoVa employer. Prior poster is right that many CapOne employees live in both Vienna and McLean and that, compared to what many people endure, a commute from Vienna to Capital One is easy. However, the construction in Tysons won't simply be limited to the Metro stations in the coming years. If you can afford them, some of the McLean neighborhoods off Lewinsville or Chain Bridge Road would seem ideal.

Vienna can't be more than a 10 minute drive from Capital One unless you live on the far west of town and then even in bad traffic I think you could get there in 20 minutes. I know many families in Vienna that work at Capital One. Most of us have a commute much greater than this. The road construction is finishing up this next year. Pick a house and neighborhood that you like. If you want to bike to work I'd suggest living in Pimmit Hills or McLean Hamlet.

It also reflect the difference in offender registration. VA is a very strong law and order state. Offenses that may not require registration in some states do require them in VA. I know that Vienna/McLean is not dangerous.

It is a reflection of population density, not a reflection of a larger proportion of sex offenders. The large majority of Fairfax county is very safe.

Thanks for the response. That helps.

Depends on your price range, but overall McLean is more convenient to the Capital One building off Route 123 than Vienna. If you live in Vienna, you'd have to go through more of Tysons, which is a construction zone at the moment and will be for some time to come. Vienna is more affordable, however, and the schools are very good in both Vienna and McLean.

I don't know what you came across on the registry, but McLean and Vienna are both very safe. If you were comfortable with the Portland area - which attracts more transients than NoVa - you really have nothing to fear here.

yes! I know that when we bought our house there was a sex offender listed in the neighborhood. Very quickly we learned that the house had been sold several years ago and the offender had moved with no update to the system. It's is hard to know the accuracy of the system. I think Vienna though is very safe....as a rule. Of course as a parent you always need to look out for your kids.

Vienna is wonderful though....incredibly family friendly. McLean has its positives as well. You will just spend a heck of a lot more for the same house.

I am reseaching schools and preschools options in the McLean, Vienna area. My husband has been offered a position with Capital One and we would like to live very close to his work..We will be moving from the West Coast, from Portland OR.

After looking at schools in the area, I looked at the sex offender listings, and was shocked to see so many people listed in the McLean/Vienna areas. Here in Portland there is only one person listed in a 3 mile radius of us. We live in the suburbs, but still pretty close to Downtown Portland.

I have never visited the MClean/Vienna area, so am unaware of what it is like. We are planning a visit soon, but I have a lot of concerns regarding the safety of myself and my two elementary school aged children, with so many sex offenders around.

My question is: are parks pretty safe for kids? Or do you have a keep a close eye on your children at all times?
Are the neighborhood elementary schools considered safe?
Is it safe to go for a jog by yourself in the mornings/late nights?

Thanks for your input.