Anonymous wrote:

Sorry for my ignorance on the matter; what makes the VRE nicer than the metro?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

Anonymous wrote: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:I live in Vienna and like it, but if commute were no issue I'd likely live in Burke where DH grew up. I feel you get more for your money and the schools seem less high strung. I find both difficult to get around: Vienna is congested but small and pretty much a grid; Burke is maybe less congested (depends) but sprawling with few direct routes to anywhere. [/quote

I see mixed responses; what make Vienna better for commute over Burke? ]

Closer to 495, 66, Dulles Toll Road, Lee Highway, Leesburg Pike, and Metro, and Dulles Airport

You could not pay me to live in Burke - way too boring and nothing but chains.