New poster here. I live between Burke and Vienna so I'll try to split the difference more objectively. They both have things going for it.

Schools: Vienna has better rated schools, that's just being objective. That doesn't mean they'll necessarily be better for your kids. Vienna schools have higher test scores, etc. while the Burke schools are also very good, and have the reputation of being a bit less stressful. But that's just a generalization--FCPS schools are large and your kids can find their own niche anywhere. But objectively, Vienna schools are more highly rated.

Location: Vienna is much better located for metro, Burke for VRE. VRE is nicer than metro, but your options in terms of where they run and how often they run are more limited. In terms of driving, most of Vienna is closer to the beltway. While certain parts of Burke are close to the Beltway, many areas are not. Overall, due to its proximity to Tysons and the fact that the western part of DC is more built up than the southern part, Vienna is usually considered a better location.

Amenities: Both the pro-Burke and pro-Vienna folks are right here. Vienna has more/better restaurants and places that people will want to visit. But that also means it's more congested than Burke. If you're fine with more of the family-friendly chains, it's pretty easy to get to those places in Burke. Vienna has better restaurants, but in general it's not going to be as convenient to just find a simple, quick place to eat with lots of parking, less traffic, etc. As for stores, Burke has more of the big box types with lots of parking, etc. Both areas have plenty of nice parks, trails, etc. A lot of this has to do with the fact that Burke is a much larger area than Vienna.

Community: Vienna is an actual town and those who live inside it like the community atmosphere of living there. Burke is larger and is more subdivided into separate communities. This is just my opinion, but I think Burke is more of your traditional suburban community, in a good way. Vienna is a bit more higher income with all the things that you may like or dislike about it. I think both communities are great, though. As for diversity, both areas are fairly diverse racially, but Vienna is a bit less diverse socioeconomically, which leads to:

Price: Without a doubt, Vienna is going to be more expensive. But consider both sides of the argument here. You're going to get more for your money in Burke. But Vienna is generally a better investment. I mentioned that Vienna has a better location for most people so the first three rules of real estate apply here. Since commute doesn't matter to you, you'll have to decide how important resale value is to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has more mean girl moms and kindergarteners who are 7. More kumins and prepping for the cogat

I;m 20:48 who is a new poster- but haha ha- yea, I do agree that stereotype may be prevalent in this area. We are in the process of moving to another part of Vienna to get away from the stuck up part (or so we hope) but we do really love Vienna- tons for families etc. At least the friends we have made that stick do stick..

I know this thread is old but this is very pertinent to the situation we are in. Can you please share what areas of Vienna are more laid back.

None, really. If you want laid back you need to move way out. Otherwise laid back is just an adjective people around here will use to try and differentiate themselves from others with more money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has more mean girl moms and kindergarteners who are 7. More kumins and prepping for the cogat

I;m 20:48 who is a new poster- but haha ha- yea, I do agree that stereotype may be prevalent in this area. We are in the process of moving to another part of Vienna to get away from the stuck up part (or so we hope) but we do really love Vienna- tons for families etc. At least the friends we have made that stick do stick..

I know this thread is old but this is very pertinent to the situation we are in. Can you please share what areas of Vienna are more laid back.

Vienna is not very diverse if that matters to you. We are an AA family and Vienna wouldn't work for us for that reason. We landed in West Springfield right on the Burke line.

OP, in one direction Burke is a veru quick drive up the parkway to all the restaurants in the Fair Oaks area. Accessing Fairfax via Guinea is very quick and easy, and then it is just a few minutes more to the Mosaic District.

In the other direction, all the new build up with Springfield Mall, Alexandria Wegmans, and Kingstowne are just minutes away.

Yes, there is not a ton of walkable restaurants in Burke, but accessing a ton of places in a very short drive is very easy to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Burke is huge and different areas have very different feels. Some of the townhome communities are super diverse full of children, others are newer and stuffier with out of control HOAs (which you can find anywhere, btw). Some neighborhoods are super chill and friendly, some are much more "private" with houses on huge lots land surrounded by trees. Some areas have lots of new construction, other areas are quite a bit older. There are plenty of chain restaurants, but certainly not as many as in Vienna. Lots of parks and green space. Burke Lake Park, Lake Accotink, Huntsman Lake, Hidden Pond Nature Center, Hidden Oaks Nature Center.... so much to do with little ones!

Vienna has a lot of new construction, which Burke hasn't seen since the mid to late 90s. The vast majority of Burke seems to have been built between 1965 and 1990/

Vienna may have more chain restaurants than Burke, but it certainly has more non-chain restaurants as well. Even those who like Burke generally admit the restaurant options there are limited.

The green space in Burke is nice, and worth the trip to explore, but on a daily basis I'd rather have the W&OD trail running through, as in Vienna, which allows you to bike all over NoVa.

Not that poster, but Burke has a trail system that runs through the neighborhood and up the ffx county pkwy along I believe the whole length. Is that the same trail thay the Vienna trail hooks onto? The bike path along the pkwy is quite extensive.

OP, if you are looking for newer construction on beautiful lots, the houses in the South Run neighborhood are nice on very large wooded lots. New construction, spacious, and all a little different which makes it seem like it is not a cookie cutter or tear down neighborhood. They feed into Sangster which is an exceptional school whether your child is AAP or not.

There are also some very nice new houses in Middleford which feed into Orange Hunt, and medium newer houses in the neighborhoods around St Raymonds church. Those feed into Sangster and Hunt Valley.

The neighborhood around LB that feed into Kings Park/Glen has a lot of families, trails and access to the Lake. The lots are all wooded and nice sized.

Since Burke was built up a little later, the roads are designed to support modern traffic patterns. Aside from the stretch of Old Keene Mill Road from approximately Rolling Road to the mixing bowl, traffic is very light in the area because the roads and neighborhoods are well planned. That makes daily living very nice.

Folks in the area are very laid back and fun. In most areas, you will know your neighbors by name, have things like impromptu bbqs and happy hour in the front yard. While the kid ls hang out and play together. It is a nice area for families. Most people choose it specifically for thay reason so you end up with similar levels of neighborliness.

The W&OD that passes through Vienna is its own trail that runs from Arlington all the way to western Loudoun. It doesn't "hook into" any trail off the Fairfax County Parkway; if anything, it would be the opposite with a trail off the Parkway hooking into the W&OD in Herndon or thereabouts.

South Run, as far as I can tell, is in Fairfax Station, not Burke. Is there a South Run in Burke?

There is less congestion in Burke because there's just less there that draws people to the area besides residences. It doesn't have a lot to do with when Burke saw the majority of its construction. Hell, Loudoun was built up even later and is a traffic nightmare, because there's so many people there using a limited road network to get to jobs further east.

The "neighborliness" you describe in Burke is appealing, but far from unique. You're describing life in most area suburbs, whether it's Arlington, Vienna or Burke.

Actually, South Run is technically in West Springfield, just overlapping into Burke.

Was OP looking for an up and coming area? I missed that. If that is the case, I wouldn't look at either location. I'd aim for Del Ray or Pimmit Hills.

Schools tend to be better in Burke compared to Vienna. if food is really important to you, Vienna has a lot more restaurants to offer. If food isn't a big part of your life, you might appreciate the slower pace of Burke. It all comes down to what sort of vibe you prefer.

Anonymous wrote:PP, your anger towards Burke is a little bizarre. It is totally ok to prefer the feel of one area over another. We would never have considered moving to Burke before we had kids. We ate out a lot, went to concerts, enjoyed live music, night life, etc.

After having kids, we honestly don't eat out very often at all. If we do, it is usually at Spartans or some other local family restaurant. If we have a date night, driving farther out for different restaurants is part of the fun.

We like the ultra safe small neighborhood feel. I love that my 5 year old can leave in the morning and play outside with his friends for hours and hours without having to worry about his safety. I like knowing my neighbors' names, and the names of all their kids.

I'm sure there are other neighborhoods like this. Maybe even some parts of Vienna. But it isn't for everyone. It makes you seem a bit off kilter to have so much hostility towards a neighborhood. You know it isnt an attack on you when others make different decisions, right?

It makes you seem very insecure when you call posters angry or hostile when they merely express their opinions. Nothing is directed at particular individuals, so stop acting like you've been personally attacked if some of us happen to find Burke boring. If you like it, that's great, but that doesn't mean others can't express a contrary view.

Anonymous wrote:Vienna has more mean girl moms and kindergarteners who are 7. More kumins and prepping for the cogat

I;m 20:48 who is a new poster- but haha ha- yea, I do agree that stereotype may be prevalent in this area. We are in the process of moving to another part of Vienna to get away from the stuck up part (or so we hope) but we do really love Vienna- tons for families etc. At least the friends we have made that stick do stick..

Vienna has more mean girl moms and kindergarteners who are 7. More kumins and prepping for the cogat

Anonymous wrote:PP, your anger towards Burke is a little bizarre. It is totally ok to prefer the feel of one area over another. We would never have considered moving to Burke before we had kids. We ate out a lot, went to concerts, enjoyed live music, night life, etc.

After having kids, we honestly don't eat out very often at all. If we do, it is usually at Spartans or some other local family restaurant. If we have a date night, driving farther out for different restaurants is part of the fun.

We like the ultra safe small neighborhood feel. I love that my 5 year old can leave in the morning and play outside with his friends for hours and hours without having to worry about his safety. I like knowing my neighbors' names, and the names of all their kids.

I'm sure there are other neighborhoods like this. Maybe even some parts of Vienna. But it isn't for everyone. It makes you seem a bit off kilter to have so much hostility towards a neighborhood. You know it isnt an attack on you when others make different decisions, right?

NP here I think prior PPs have the impression that Burke isn't the up an coming area like Vienna is. Vienna has movement/new stores/ restaurants and its very close to tysons - a lot of new stores and restaurants there. Dining options are better near Vienna- you just won't find that many reasons to detour to Burke for good food.It's the same situation for anywhere closer to DC- in general there are more options. Hence- why it costs more to live here and a reduced commuting time vs Burke. Frankly, if I could work from home from anywhere, I would just go elsewhere - not Vienna (though great for kids) nor Burke. But overall, I would try to tailor where we live based on commute time to reduce it.

PP, your anger towards Burke is a little bizarre. It is totally ok to prefer the feel of one area over another. We would never have considered moving to Burke before we had kids. We ate out a lot, went to concerts, enjoyed live music, night life, etc.

After having kids, we honestly don't eat out very often at all. If we do, it is usually at Spartans or some other local family restaurant. If we have a date night, driving farther out for different restaurants is part of the fun.

We like the ultra safe small neighborhood feel. I love that my 5 year old can leave in the morning and play outside with his friends for hours and hours without having to worry about his safety. I like knowing my neighbors' names, and the names of all their kids.

I'm sure there are other neighborhoods like this. Maybe even some parts of Vienna. But it isn't for everyone. It makes you seem a bit off kilter to have so much hostility towards a neighborhood. You know it isnt an attack on you when others make different decisions, right?

I don't live in either, but I go to Vienna frequently for the restaurants, Viva Vienna, Tysons, Wolf Trap, etc.

Apart from an occasional trip to Burke Lake, I can't think of anywhere I'd want to go in Burke. Maybe some places are nicer places to live in than visit, but when does someone who doesn't live in Burke ever say "wow, let's go hang out in Burke tonight" or "I can't wait to try that new restaurant in...Burke!"

I live in Vienna and it is the right choice for us, but our friends who live in Burke have tons of kids in the neighborhood, more reasonable housing prices, a neighborhood pool, and walking paths that I envy.

In Vienna, I like the older feel, the mix of properties, how easy it is to get to any part of the DMV, and the easier access to neighborhood shops and restaurants.

Vienna poster, why so upset about Burke? No one is criticizing Vienna, just talking about what they know as being positive about Burke.

You don't appear to know very much about Burke, so it seems strange that you are so vehemently expressing such non existant issues with Burke.