Best places to live in Northern Virginia

If you're looking for a new place to live, you might want to consider Northern Virginia.

It's a terrific place that is a family-friendly community with excellent schools and is also a good location for young people who want to live in an exciting city.

Northern Virginia offers a vibrant community, a growing local business sector, and a thriving regional employment market.

Additionally, Northern Virginia has many lovely suburbs where there are lots of different people from different cultures, ways of life, occupations, and incomes.

Jobs Market

Located on the edge of the country's capital, Northern Virginia has big city amenities, a booming economy, and friendly neighborhoods.

If you're interested in living in an area where there's a good chance you'll be able to get a decent job, then you might want to consider moving to Northern Virginia. It has a lively job market, a strong economy, and a high quality of life.

Suburban but Tranquil

Various cities in Northern Virginia which are near Washington, D.C., offer an ideal mix of suburban tranquility and urban energy.

If you're looking for a place where you can enjoy nature, technology, art, music, culture, and so much more, then Virginia is the place for you, so keep reading.

Best Places to Live in Northern Virginia

Now that you know more about the area and when deciding where to move, check out these top picks for the best places to move to in Northern Virginia.

Whether you've been living in Virginia for years or have never set foot in the state, you'll be able to enjoy yourself in these top Northern Virginia towns, and cities.

Arlington County

Arlington County is located at the southern tip of Virginia. It has been consistently ranked among the top places to live in America for years. And, it's not hard to understand why people love living here.

There aren't too many complaints about living in Arlington County, Virginia. It has good school districts, a low violent crime rate, and lots of fun stuff to do, including a lively nightlife, outdoor activities, and a healthy and fit population.

There’s no doubt that Arlington County is one of America's most desirable places to live. It has excellent public schools, tons of trendy stores and eateries, quaint neighborhoods, and gorgeous tree-lined streets.

Median home values are currently at $643,300.

Old Town of Alexandria

The Old Town of Alexan­dria along the Potomac River is one of the most sought-after areas for working, living, and playing. Visitors travel from far away to experience its history and beauty.

It was named among the top 10 best small cities in America by Conde'Nast magazine readers' choice awards, and the most beautiful city in the South by Southern Living magazine.

Full of charm and steeped ​​in ​its ​rich ​history, ​the ​Old ​Town ​of ​Alexandria ​welcomes ​you ​to a heavenly place.

Alexandria City

Among the best neighborhoods in Alexandria is Alexandria City, located near Rose Hill Park, Del Ray, Old Town, and Rosemont.

A stroll through these neighborhoods provides an easy commute into downtown Alexandria and Alexandria City has some excellent public schools, as well as the world-famous Torpedo Factory Art Gallery.

Its median property value is roughly $860,000 currently. It has a median house price of about $856,00.

Fairfax County

Fairfax City in Fairfax County, Virginia is one of America’s best cities for people who want to raise their kids. It has an overall score of A+ from the online site Niche.com.

Located in the popular suburb of Washington D.C., Fairfax offers a diverse range of activities for its citizens including a thriving nightlife, a lively arts scene, and an abundance of local dining options. Additionally, low crime rates, a high-quality education system, and affordable housing are among the benefits enjoyed by Fairfax’s locals.

If you're looking for affordable housing in Fairfax County, neighborhoods like the Town of Vienna are perfect for you.

This neighborhood has a strong sense of community and regularly hosts annual events for the 4th of July and Halloween. It's part of a great school system.

The median home value is approximately $500,000 currently.

Prince William County

Prince William County has several great neighborhoods, including Brae­mar, which offers plenty of nature, sports, and swimming pools.

It has a  good school district, and it has a relaxed suburban vibe despite being just 10 minutes away from the local train station. Home values currently average $358,300.

Loudoun County

Loudoun County has communities like Willowford, which is located near 300 acres of farmland and features lots of open spaces. Loudoun County also includes Ashburn Village, an area filled with shopping centers, parks, and places to eat.

It offers both condominiums and single-family houses and currently, Home values average about $450,000.

Loudoun County has a lot to offer for people who enjoy living in an urban environment but also want to experience country life. There are lots of fun activities to do, including visiting historical sites, enjoying local cuisine, and attending exciting events.

Loudoun County has some of the best wineries in the country, a wide variety of outdoor activities, beautiful scenery, and interesting landmarks. It's a great destination for a short trip or long vacation. You'll find that there's plenty to love about Loudoun Country, Virginia.

Chantilly

Located along the Potomac River, just north of Washington D.C., Chantilly is a culturally rich community where the local economy is thriving. It has an average employment level of 2.5% and ranks among the top 100 safest cities in America.

There are several other rankings where Chantilly claims a spot at the No. 1 position including the best private and public schools, the best cities to retire in, the most popular cities to visit during vacations, and one of the 10 best cities on the brink of greatness (as per Sperling's ranking).

Falls Church

According to 24/7 Wall St., Falls Church was ranked No. 1 for "best county" to reside in the U.S. in 2018. It was determined by its overall quality of life. Falls Church provides residents with a high quality of living and much more.

Fairfax County has one of Virginia's lowest unemployment rates and an average life span of 82 years.

However, the benefits of living in Falls Church aren't free. Homeowners spend an average of almost $720,000 on their homes. And, people who live there report a higher-than-average median income of about $1,200 per month.

Walking Abounds

If you're a walker, you're in luck as there's plenty of walking to do in Northern Virginia.

Neighborhoods' or cities' "walker friendliness" is a measure of how well they're designed for walking. Factors include the presence or absence of traffic, sidewalk conditions, road conditions, and pedestrian/bicycle facilities.

A "walking score" is a method for analyzing hundreds of walking paths to determine how accessible an area is.

Neighborhoods are rated according to their proximity to various amenities and the number of people who live there. Walk scores consider roads and traffic patterns to determine how safe walking through neighborhoods is.

The higher the number of points a community receives for each activity, the better. Activities that take less time get more points, whereas activities that take longer receive fewer points. Many of Northern Virginia's towns and cities are a walker's paradise.

Here is a breakdown:

90 to 100: Walker's Paradise — You don't need a car to run daily errands.

70 to 89: Walkable — You can walk most errands on foot.

50 to 69: Slightly walkable — You can run some errands on foot.

25 to 49: Most chores require a vehicle.

0 to 24: Most errand needs a car

Source: retirepedia.com

Crime Rate

The crime rate is defined as the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people and police statistics are usually broken down by types of crimes – for example, violent crimes.

Northern Virginia has a relatively low crime rate compared to other parts of Virginia and other parts of the United States. It ranks among the safest cities in the country.

Lots of Growth

Northern Virginia has accounted for almost half of the state’s total growth since 2010. Diversity is a result of growth.

As a result, Northern Virginia is home not just to many different nationalities but also to many different languages spoken by these people.

Affordability and Standard of Living

Compared to major cities like New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Baltimore, Washington DC, Portland, and Seattle, Northern Virginia has lower rents.

Get Ready

Since the founding of the United States, Virginia has been known for its beautiful scenery and diverse landscape.

Virginia has a strong economy, an excellent college system, and a rich history. These are just some of the reasons why Virginians enjoy living here.

And if you're looking for a place to move to, consider living in Northern Virginia. It offers everything from beautiful mountain views to beachfront property.

Be sure to seek a professional realtor who can help you find the best community for you in Northern Virginia to call home sweet home!

‍