I'd price out the commute. If you're going to be driving on the toll road, that toll really adds up. I also don't find housing in Reston to be especially cheap compared to closer-in parts of Fairfax. (I'd check out the neighborhoods feeding into Fairfax HS and maybe Marshall HS to see if I could get closer.)

I have friends with kids in feeders to West Potomac HS in the Fairfax County part of Alexandria and they are pretty happy with the schools, even though the rankings aren't high. Their neighborhoods have tons of school-aged kids who use the publics. Many of the families I know in City of Alexandria schools are looking to move before middle school. Plus I think parks & rec services are better in Fairfax County vs. City of Alexandria. (Our family has lived in Fairfax, Alexandria and Arlington at various times.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reston/Herdon has some great areas. We live in the FoxMill ES boundary and love it. The ES is very good and has a nice community. Carson is excellent and South Lakes is solid. We like the neighborhood. The commute to Arlington is ok, our commuter leaves after school drop off, so around 9, and the commute takes 40 minutes. Housing prices are more affordable. We are happy out here.

What is a commuter?

A person who commutes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You couldn’t pay me to live in the middle of nowhere like Fairfax County

Everyone has a price...

DP. It would have to be extremely high.

Anonymous wrote:Reston/Herdon has some great areas. We live in the FoxMill ES boundary and love it. The ES is very good and has a nice community. Carson is excellent and South Lakes is solid. We like the neighborhood. The commute to Arlington is ok, our commuter leaves after school drop off, so around 9, and the commute takes 40 minutes. Housing prices are more affordable. We are happy out here.

What is a commuter?

Anonymous wrote:You couldn’t pay me to live in the middle of nowhere like Fairfax County

Everyone has a price...

Reston/Herdon has some great areas. We live in the FoxMill ES boundary and love it. The ES is very good and has a nice community. Carson is excellent and South Lakes is solid. We like the neighborhood. The commute to Arlington is ok, our commuter leaves after school drop off, so around 9, and the commute takes 40 minutes. Housing prices are more affordable. We are happy out here.

You couldn’t pay me to live in the middle of nowhere like Fairfax County

Read the threads here, in VA Public Schools, and Private Schools first. The City of Alexandria has some significant problems right now (poor leadership, traffic, the schools) so there is not too much to recommend. On the other hand, the Alexandria part of Fairfax County has some really nice areas for families. You also might want to think about Kingstown and parts of Springfield or Annandale. They are 3 areas that have pockets where you can get a really good value in a nice, safe neighborhood with good public schools.

Anonymous wrote:For a young family, which one would you recommend? Commute would be DC metro area ( downtown and arlington depending on days) 3 times a week. TIA

Alexandria City is fine but the schools are a joke, and there is corruption embedded in the system. I used to tutor in them actually.

As far as the County part of Alexandria, the schools are mostly sub-par. The neighborhoods are hit or miss. I've never really like that area as it feels terribly isolated compared to living in the central or northern part of the County. It' just hard to get out of there easily.

Reston is much, much better than County Alexandria. It's not nearly as seedy and haphazard. But be careful with the school district as always.

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria. Reston is too far and suburban hell

Families LIKE suburbia, genius.

Anonymous wrote:For commuting, most parts of Alexandria are going to be closer to downtown DC and Arlington.

For families, schools are going to be much better in Reston. Even the parts of Alexandria in FFX have subpar schools. You should see what parts of Alexandria you are looking into. Waynewood and Stratford Landing in parts of FFX that are called Alexandria have decent ES, but horrible MS and HS.

On balance it is up to you whether you want a better commute or better schools. Keep in mind you can live in Alexandria and still do private schools.

Reston schools are awful though.

For commuting, most parts of Alexandria are going to be closer to downtown DC and Arlington.

For families, schools are going to be much better in Reston. Even the parts of Alexandria in FFX have subpar schools. You should see what parts of Alexandria you are looking into. Waynewood and Stratford Landing in parts of FFX that are called Alexandria have decent ES, but horrible MS and HS.

On balance it is up to you whether you want a better commute or better schools. Keep in mind you can live in Alexandria and still do private schools.

I'm not anti-Reston (haven't lived there--only visited.) We live in Alexandria and love it. People will be here shortly to tell you how horrible the schools are, and it's just not true. My kids went to public all the way through and we are in the home stretch, and we've been very pleased with the education they've received. Your commute will definitely be easier in Alexandria.

Alexandria. Reston is too far and suburban hell

For a young family, which one would you recommend? Commute would be DC metro area ( downtown and arlington depending on days) 3 times a week. TIA