As someone that lives in Georgetown, this thread is just sad.

If you want community in/around Fairfax, I'd like to suggest some neighborhoods in 22032: Kings Park West, Country Club View, and Middleridge. We are in Middleridge but I would happily live in those other neighborhoods. You can find some lots that are .35 - CCV has some that are up to . 5 acre. Civic Associations, but no HOAs, in all three of these neighborhoods. (We see that as a plus.)

The houses aren't brand new but many have been renovated, including some with additions. No 3 car garages.

So it really just comes down to whether you are ok with an older home and in exchange get a fabulous neighborhood. Our neighborhood has tons of community events (easter egg hunt, halloween parade, pet parade, community yard sales, home & garden tours, feed the firefighters) and I am sure CCV and KPW have similar events as well. People are out on walks all the time and stop to chat if you are out. Block parties and impromptu neighborhood gatherings abound. Lots of kids out playing and going from house to house. Neighbors genuinely care about each other and keep an eye on the elderly, families with new babies or sick love ones, etc.

We have thought about moving to a "nicer" house but value what we have here so staying put. Another area to explore is Burke Centre (22015) - again, the house are nothing spectacular but you are buying into a family-friendly neighborhood.

Good luck!

Miller Heights in Oakton has half acre or larger lots and a good sense of community. Lots of kids and good community feel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

Exactly this.

Another former Vienna resident. Yes, the town was fine to live in. Good neighborhoods and lots of family-friendly opportunities. Was it better than the dozens and dozens of other places across Arlington and Fairfax that offer similar opportunities? No.

I don't get why Vienna residents feel the need to talk up the town constantly on DCUM. Yes, it's a nice place, but it also suffers from bad traffic congestion and has a collection of strip malls and small office parks that constitute a "downtown" along Maple Ave.

Um, because we were asked. The OP literally asked.

Maybe you should think about why it triggers you so much that someone has expressed a liking for where they live. Do you not like where you live? If you do, share!

DP. No one cares if you like Vienna and say so.

People are put off by the superlatives that aren't justified and the suggestion that certain amenities (or combination thereof) are unique to one suburb when they can be found in abundance elsewhere.

Another vote for Mantua neighborhood in Central Fairfax. Fantastic community and feeds into good schools. Also a good place to be for access to major commute arteries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Don’t think Vienna would elicit the hate if some people didn’t talk it up quite so much.

Lived there for a decade and it’s fine but typical suburbia - not much different than many other places in the DC area, except part of it has its own town council and it has more congestion. People will say it’s family friendly because it has a lot of SAHMs, youth sports are big, and it’s a way to try and differentiate Vienna from more expensive places closer to DC.

But depending on OP’s budget and interests it could be a good choice. The larger lots are generally going to be in 22181 and 22182, not 22180.

Exactly this.

Another former Vienna resident. Yes, the town was fine to live in. Good neighborhoods and lots of family-friendly opportunities. Was it better than the dozens and dozens of other places across Arlington and Fairfax that offer similar opportunities? No.

I don't get why Vienna residents feel the need to talk up the town constantly on DCUM. Yes, it's a nice place, but it also suffers from bad traffic congestion and has a collection of strip malls and small office parks that constitute a "downtown" along Maple Ave.

Um, because we were asked. The OP literally asked.

Maybe you should think about why it triggers you so much that someone has expressed a liking for where they live. Do you not like where you live? If you do, share!

Anonymous wrote:vienna is great for young families, surrounded by schools, churches, playgrounds, and shops and restaurants.

I can't think of many local suburban areas that don't have schools, churches, playgrounds, and shops and restaurants.

Who actually thinks OP is going to find what she's looking for by selling her house in Willowsford (with 4 kids to corral during showings), packing up a household of 6, moving, unpacking a household of 6 in whatever neighborhood is deemed by DCUM as "close knit," and walking down the street with 4 kids to find "community"?

DCUM can argue all day and night about the relative advantages of Vienna vs Delray, vs McLean vs Fox Mill. But, at the end of all that arguing, OP is going to bring the same expectations she brought to Willowsford...and she's going to find the same things. She's going to be several hundred thousand dollars poorer, exponentially more stressed, and it will still require substantial effort and 3-5 yrs (minimum) to get any sense of being known and knowing others in the community.

It happens at the bus stop, while waiting at soccer practice or swim or dance. It happens by getting involved as a leader in scouts or HOA or PTA. There is no mahical land where the wrlcome committee comes to you and "close knit" communities invite you into their confidences. It is very hard to build adult friendship...but it isn't about finding the right place. It's about putting yourself into a lot of situations where you are interacting with other adults. A few might gel...but the yield is low.

Anonymous wrote:This conversation is so funny to me. People act like there is one (and only one!) “right” answer to this question, when in reality there are lots of great neighborhoods!

What the OP was getting at is “Tell me what your neighborhood is like for families with young children” - which is a great question since you can’t find this info anywhere in an MLS listing, and if you don’t know someone personally who lives in a neighborhood, you can’t really know otherwise. As someone with similar considerations for house hunting, I appreciate all the thoughtful response.

Also have similar considerations for househunting, although my kids are early elementary. I tell them to look for basketball hoops, bikes, playsets, and other kid paraphernalia as we drive around the neighborhoods!

Anonymous wrote:This conversation is so funny to me. People act like there is one (and only one!) “right” answer to this question, when in reality there are lots of great neighborhoods!

What the OP was getting at is “Tell me what your neighborhood is like for families with young children” - which is a great question since you can’t find this info anywhere in an MLS listing, and if you don’t know someone personally who lives in a neighborhood, you can’t really know otherwise. As someone with similar considerations for house hunting, I appreciate all the thoughtful response.

You can't directly get that from a MLS listing because it violates Fair Housing Laws. People want to live next to other people exactly like them, but can't say that, so they look for other tells.

This conversation is so funny to me. People act like there is one (and only one!) “right” answer to this question, when in reality there are lots of great neighborhoods!

What the OP was getting at is “Tell me what your neighborhood is like for families with young children” - which is a great question since you can’t find this info anywhere in an MLS listing, and if you don’t know someone personally who lives in a neighborhood, you can’t really know otherwise. As someone with similar considerations for house hunting, I appreciate all the thoughtful response.

vienna is great for young families, surrounded by schools, churches, playgrounds, and shops and restaurants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Del Ray. It’s like Midwest meets northwest smaller city. Very family friendly. People here are great, there’s actual diversity, lots of parks, solid school, awesome local restaurants and shopping, very safe, great housing stock.

lol "diversity" in Del Ray. Rich, white, liberal, 30-somethings, strollers, dogs.

So diverse that they're rebranding North Mount Vernon and Chirilagua as "Del Ray North" to let people know it's ok to live there now.

Speak for yourself- I'm old, not rich, and right wing. But, I am white.

Anonymous wrote:I really like mantua.

Surprised you can type that with 13 fingers.

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Del Ray. It’s like Midwest meets northwest smaller city. Very family friendly. People here are great, there’s actual diversity, lots of parks, solid school, awesome local restaurants and shopping, very safe, great housing stock.

lol "diversity" in Del Ray. Rich, white, liberal, 30-somethings, strollers, dogs.

So diverse that they're rebranding North Mount Vernon and Chirilagua as "Del Ray North" to let people know it's ok to live there now.