Anonymous wrote:We live in Centreville and I was depressed for several years after moving from Arlington. The restaurants are terrible, the parks are AWFUL, frankly a lot of the people are just not as interesting.

This is too bad to hear. I also don’t want to move somewhere with only chain restaurants. Would you describe it like that? Not sure how people are less interesting though.

Anonymous wrote:I’m in the Chantilly HS district, right on the line between Fairfax and Chantilly. Fair Lakes is right around the corner and has everything you need. Our neighborhood is lovely, has a private pool (but it’s hard to join), parks, walk to all 3 school levels, etc. Really just a nice laid-back place and so much more affordable than closer-in. I don’t feel like we settled at all, and we used to live in Arlington for years.

I can’t speak for further out in Chantilly/Centreville.

Hmm, this sounds like that ugly neighborhood behind Bob's Discount Furniture right off route 50. Glad you have a positive attitude about it. But I would not consider that area "lovely" or "walkable".

I live in Springfield near Burke.... there are a lot of families; neighborhood pools with swim teams are the hub of summer activities, and most don't have wait lists. Schools are generally very good. It is a little less interesting than Arlington (I lived there previously), but we live on trails near Burke Lake, so lots of nature, paddling, fishing, exploring with the kids. Pre-Covid we would still go into DC for date night since there aren't many great restaurants here. Basically, it's less crowded, more families, but with fewer "city" things to do. Easy trade off for us!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Centreville/Chantily. The crime is extremely low. There are a few parks. Zero family fun things to do in this area if you like skiing, boating, festivals or anything like that. Schools are great. Shopping and eating is fantastic. You either live with planes flying nonstop over head or the constant hum of the 66 or 28. If you’re real lucky you get both.

Zero family fun things to do? Wow. Doesn't Fairfax put on events? (precovid obviously)

How do we even figure out if we are in a close fly-zone?

Look at a map. Stand outside for ten minutes.

We live in Centreville and I was depressed for several years after moving from Arlington. The restaurants are terrible, the parks are AWFUL, frankly a lot of the people are just not as interesting.

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Centreville/Chantily. The crime is extremely low. There are a few parks. Zero family fun things to do in this area if you like skiing, boating, festivals or anything like that. Schools are great. Shopping and eating is fantastic. You either live with planes flying nonstop over head or the constant hum of the 66 or 28. If you’re real lucky you get both.

Zero family fun things to do? Wow. Doesn't Fairfax put on events? (precovid obviously)

How do we even figure out if we are in a close fly-zone?

I’m in the Chantilly HS district, right on the line between Fairfax and Chantilly. Fair Lakes is right around the corner and has everything you need. Our neighborhood is lovely, has a private pool (but it’s hard to join), parks, walk to all 3 school levels, etc. Really just a nice laid-back place and so much more affordable than closer-in. I don’t feel like we settled at all, and we used to live in Arlington for years.

I can’t speak for further out in Chantilly/Centreville.

I’m in Centreville/Chantily. The crime is extremely low. There are a few parks. Zero family fun things to do in this area if you like skiing, boating, festivals or anything like that. Schools are great. Shopping and eating is fantastic. You either live with planes flying nonstop over head or the constant hum of the 66 or 28. If you’re real lucky you get both.

We feed to Lake Braddock in Burke. It is great here. Depends on what you want in your life. I like that I have a huge yard. I like the same house is a little less $$$. I like that I have extra money for extracurriculars for my kids.

I do wish Burke had more restaurants, though.

I can get to tysons in 22 minutes. I can get to many parks. I can walk around my neighborhood.

I don't have to have a 4 year wait to get into a pool.

I have disdain for the bad attitude people who live in ARL have. Why do you care that we live here. I like ARL, would be nice to live there too. Why the hate and smugness

I know, I love Arlington but we can’t afford a SFH here.

Most people still prefer the schools, parks, restaurants, charn of Arlington to Centreville, Burke, etc.

Anonymous wrote:You have to keep your expectations low. These are the consolation places people live when they can't afford Arlington, Falls Church etc.

Its really important to be in a neighborhood with a pool.

Or they're not commuting into DC and don't like living nose to nose with other people.

You have to keep your expectations low. These are the consolation places people live when they can't afford Arlington, Falls Church etc.

Its really important to be in a neighborhood with a pool.

Burke: where your minivan is one of thousands in a sea of cars at the shoppers food warehouse parking lot. Everything: library, orthodontist, dry cleaner, is just a 5-15 min drive away. Blink and you’ll miss the strip malls because they are all in these sort of pits so they are not visible from the parkways.#suburbanplanning

Curiously the only thing you can walk to is the pool (center of social universe) or or a slug line (“slug lines: we made driving with strangers cool before Uber”). Enjoy a night out with the DH at your choice of strip mall Italian/Thai restaurants. Bask in the warm security of a community where everyone is basically the same.

Burke: 12 miles/15 minutes* from DC and yet, a world away.

*disclaimer: an hour and fifteen minutes in during rush hour, 6 am-9 pm.

Lived in this area 15 years... half in DC, half in Arlington and unfortunately this has been our bubble. We need to move away for more room but our realtor isn't really helpful with giving us a good idea of the "vibes" of these cities. Where/what websites should I be looking at? Sure I can look up crime stats and schools but can some REAL people give me some info about what they like or don't like about these areas? Thanks guys.