I would live in Oakton or the western side of Vienna. Nice neighborhoods, good schools (either Oakton or Madison), close to Fairfax Gymnastics. (McLean doesn't have much gymnastics - closest is Arlington, Fairfax or Chantilly). You can join Vienna Youth Soccer or a Fairfax club. There are pool and tennis clubs around, depending on what you like (Fairfax Raquet Club comes to mind). Vienna, Fairfax and Reston all have restaurants although a lot of the ethnic restaurants are in Falls Church and Annandale.

OP, if you focusing only on a NoVa location for a Reston job, I think the area in western Vienna off Hunters Mill and Lawyers Road would work well for you. 22181 zip code, Madison HS pyramid. You could get most of what you want under your budget.

If you want to live somewhere that's also not far from Reston, but ideally situated if you or SO might end up working later in Tysons, DC or Bethesda, McLean starts to make more sense.

Anonymous wrote:McLean gets you a starter new home at 1.6 million.

McLean gets you a starter new home at 1.6 million.

20171 zip--close to Reston and has good schools. Cul de sac easily found.

It sounds exactly like Franklin Park in McLean to me - we looked at a few houses there - really lovely, very friendly neighbors, access to everything etc - we live farther out b/c we wanted a large yard.

How likely would the job move round in the DC metro area?

Nor is Loudoun known for ethnic cuisine.

Ethnic cuisine is EVERYWHERE in Northern Virginia. What do you consider "ethnic" cuisine?

OP wants a cul de sac and a quiet street, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Belle Haven is lovely--but from Reston? NO way!

OP, I would consider Loudoun with commute to Reston.

Loudoun is not known for good schools.

Nor is Loudoun known for ethnic cuisine.

Anonymous wrote:Belle Haven is lovely--but from Reston? NO way!

OP, I would consider Loudoun with commute to Reston.

Loudoun is not known for good schools.

Belle Haven is lovely--but from Reston? NO way!

OP, I would consider Loudoun with commute to Reston.

You can live anywhere in DC with that budget. Just find the place you like best.

McLean sounds like a good match.

Or if you are considering private school Belle Haven in zip code 22307.

I can't speak to the Gymnastics, but I live in McLean--we have all of that at roughly the same price point. Except that our yard is 1 acre, but you can find smaller lots. Commute is great to either DC or Reston. That takes roughly 15 minutes from where I live, maybe 10 minutes longer from other parts of McLean. Our neighbors are friendly, although people on this board will often say people here are not. But those aren't the ones living here.

Ethnic food in McLean proper--not really. But we're so close to everything else, it hardly matters. Arlington, FC, Reston, DC, all close. You do have all the grocery stores here, plus Total Wine. Fitness centers. Pilates studios.

Reston probably has better bike paths, but I usually run on the towpath along the river.

Can't really beat the schools, whether it's the McLean HS or Langley HS pyramid.

You'll get plenty of advice from people, you really just have to check out the communities and decide for yourself. You will get a bigger house for the money in Loudon, though.

What school area / area of town would you move in NOVA for the following:

neighborhood with friendly people (relatively friendly)
nice grocery stores like whole foods, trader joes, etc
good school curriculums with good after school programs
good sports like gymnastics, soccer, tennis, fitness club
nice restaurants with ethnic cuisine
running trails / biking trails

budget of house:
up to 2mm for a 5 bedroom house
tiny yard with space for a small garden
house must be on cul de sac or non busy rd

Am willing to consider Loundon, fairfax and arlington however commute is from Reston so no more than 30-45 min commute.
I have been to a lot of areas but am really undecided on nieghborhood / school pyramid area.
thanks for your thoughts