Anonymous wrote:We recently moved from Del Ray, Alexandria to Falls Church. City of Alexandria has a lot more character and Del Ray has a unique, small town, laid back friendly atmosphere. It was a really wonderful place to live. It was a difficult decision but we left because the flooding is really, really awful and not limited to Del Ray - a lot of blocks in Rosemont, Old Town, and even hilly areas on Russell Rd and Warwick Village have flooding issues even after investing in French drain systems, etc. Many drainage contractors won't even work in Del Ray because they know there isn't anywhere to direct the water, that the systems will fail.

The Falls Church, Fairfax County neighborhoods that zone to Haycock/Longfellow/McLean schools are really good values - you get a nicer house than in FCC or City of Alexandria neighborhoods and excellent schools, plus good metro or driving commute options. There are some really beautiful established neighborhoods around Sleepy Hollow and other Falls Church, Fairfax County areas but the schools aren't ranked as well and you don't have as close access to the metro compared with FCC or the Haycock area.

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria, hands down. Much better accessibility and quality of life. That is, if you're talking about Alexandria City and not the Fairfax County "Alexandria."

- better restaurants, walkability, access to most major roads (495, 66, GW Parkway, 395, 270, etc), access to waterfront parks and trails, close to airport, etc.

Anonymous wrote:FCC is not "10 square blocks" it's two square miles.

It's also not a fall back location from n Arlington. I grew up in Arlington, partly in N. Arlington and partly in S. Arlington. I deliberately chose FCC over Arlington to raise my kids and have zero regrets on that.

Most people with families who move to FCC do it because of the schools. Most who move to City of Alexandria do it in spite of the schools.

Anonymous wrote:Getting to dc or metro is way harder in Alexandria.

Falls church city is like 10 square blocks. It is tiny.

Both areas are fall back locations from n Arlington so pick your poison and what works for your commute.

If I were looking in NOVA it would be n Arlington or suburb in Woodson school district or farther out. Alexandria and falls church are not dc centric and not suburban. They are densely populated but not Arlington level commute or access to dc.

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria > FCC.

Anonymous wrote:
Alexandria has 4 metro stations with a 5th one coming, how could getting to metro be harder in Alexandria? You have 395/beltway to 295 access, and GW parkway, which could be just a couple of traffic lights until you're at 14th street bridge. It might be not north arlington but its not that far off. It's more central than Mcclean and anywhere else in Fairfax.

With falls church you're next to 1 station and have to use 66, which is always backed up. Alexandria wins by a mile.

Anonymous wrote:Getting to dc or metro is way harder in Alexandria.

Falls church city is like 10 square blocks. It is tiny.

Both areas are fall back locations from n Arlington so pick your poison and what works for your commute.

If I were looking in NOVA it would be n Arlington or suburb in Woodson school district or farther out. Alexandria and falls church are not dc centric and not suburban. They are densely populated but not Arlington level commute or access to dc.

Anonymous wrote:Getting to dc or metro is way harder in Alexandria.

Falls church city is like 10 square blocks. It is tiny.

Both areas are fall back locations from n Arlington so pick your poison and what works for your commute.

If I were looking in NOVA it would be n Arlington or suburb in Woodson school district or farther out. Alexandria and falls church are not dc centric and not suburban. They are densely populated but not Arlington level commute or access to dc.