Located in the Northern Virginia area, Fairfax County is one of the best places to live in that provides its residents a suburban feel. Fairfax County is also the first county in the United States to reach a six-figure median household income.
Just minutes away from Washington D.C., Fairfax County has many government agencies, several Fortune 500 companies, and the largest concentration of technology jobs of any major U.S. market.
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Fairfax County Median Sales Price
Now, you may be wondering what are the most affordable communities in Northern Virginia’s largest county, Fairfax County. Well, that could be quite a difficult question to answer.
For starters, the median home sales price in Fairfax County is about $546,000. At this price point, you’re more than likely going towards buying a townhome with a median sales price of over half a million dollars.
So, when talking about affordable homes in Fairfax County, what it generally means is a townhouse that costs between $400,000 to $500,000. Occasionally, there are some other areas where you can find a deal within this price range but for the most part, townhouses under $400,000 are few and far between.
Speaking of which, there are some communities where you can find a property for $500,000 or less but very few of them come on the market, so it just wouldn’t be worth mentioning.
Top 5 Affordable Places to Live in Fairfax County
If you’re looking to relocate to Fairfax County, Virginia, and still not sure where to start your search for a reasonably priced home in the area, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive right in.
#5: Burke
At number five, we have Burke, which is located about 19 miles southeast of Washington D.C. with a population of nearly 60,000 residents. Most townhouses in Burke were built between the early 70s and the late 80s.
Burke Median Sales Price
Using the Bright MLS, which is the agent system for uploading houses and emailing houses to clients, I have gathered that a townhouse with three-plus bedrooms in the area has an average sales price of $440,000 over the last 12 months.
On the lower end of a $400,000 budget, you’re probably looking at a three-level townhome with approximately 1,800 to 2,100 square feet.
Burke Commute Time
If you’re unfamiliar with the Northern Virginia traffic, let me warn you that it can be quite crazy.
From Burke, driving into Washington D.C. around the Capitol Hill area could take 35 to 60 minutes in the mornings, while the return trip during rush hour could take up to an hour or two, depending on traffic.
Commuting to other areas like Dulles Technology Corridor could be anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in the morning and 20 to 45 minutes in the evening.
When traveling to Tysons Corner, it should take between 10 to 30 minutes around 8 am and between 15 and 40 minutes returning home during rush hour traffic.
Like I said, traffic in the Northern Virginia area can be a beast. Hence, some Burke residents prefer to use the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which can get a little pricey with a cost of about $230 for a monthly pass.
Alternatively, you could also give the metro a shot since it’s pretty reliable and would reduce the commute time, but you’ve got to plan accordingly. The nearest metro station to Burke is the Franconia-Springfield Blue Line.
Burke Public Schools
Schools in Fairfax County are divided into a pyramid with a few elementary schools at the bottom, which feed into one or two middle schools that ultimately feed into a high school at the top of the pyramid. Areas with a high-rated high school at the top of the pyramid also have top-performing schools on the elementary and middle school levels.
Most homes in Burke feed to one of these two high school pyramids that both have pretty high graduation rates:
- Robinson Secondary School
Address: 5035 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032, United States
Phone: +1 703-426-2100
Robinson Secondary School has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 10th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Lake Braddock Secondary School
Address: 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015, United States
Phone: +1 703-426-1000
Lake Braddock Secondary School has an A-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 11th best public high school in Fairfax County.
Things to Do in Burke
When it comes to things to do in the Burke area, this place has something for everyone. If you’re the outdoorsy type, there’s the Burke Lake Park that you can visit. My family and I are partial to the walking trails but in all honesty, that’s probably the least exciting thing to do here.
The centerpiece at Burke Lake Park is a 218-acre lake where you can take your boat out on the water, assuming you have a boat. If you don’t have one, they also have boats for you to rent.
As for those who enjoy playing golf, you can check out the Burke Lake Golf Center, which has a golf course and driving range. There’s also the Burke Lake Disc Golf that offers rides like a carousel and kiddie train.
#4: Fairfax
At number four on the list is Fairfax, which is not to be confused with Fairfax County and Fairfax City or the City of Fairfax. Yes, you heard it right. These are three different locations that share the same name.
So, Fairfax is located about 20 miles to the west of the White House and has a population of just under 25,000 residents. Most townhouses in Fairfax were built in the 70s and 80s, but there are also some homes that were built as recently as the early 2000s.
Fairfax Median Sales Price
Townhomes in Fairfax have an average sales price of $455,000. At this price point, you can expect to find a three-bedroom townhouse between 1,700 and 2,300 square feet.
Fairfax Commute Time
From Fairfax, the commute time to Washington D.C. is usually between 60 to 75 minutes, while it takes 50 to 60 minutes when going to The Pentagon, depending on the route taken. The return trip from both could take at least 75 minutes during evening rush hour traffic.
Driving to and from Tysons Corner usually takes between 15 to 35 minutes each way regardless of what time you’re commuting.
If you’re traveling to Dulles Technology Corridor, you can expect to spend up to 25 to 50 minutes in the morning, and the return trip around 5 pm could take about 30 minutes to an hour.
Fairfax residents can either take the interstate or U.S. Route 50. The nearest metro station to Fairfax is the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Orange Line.
Fairfax Public Schools
When it comes to schools, you may be surprised to learn that although Fairfax is less than half the size of Burke, it actually has four different high school pyramids. The high school pyramids that serve the area include:
- Chantilly High School
Address: 4201 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151, USA
Phone: +1 703-222-8100
Chantilly High School has an A-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 6th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Robinson Secondary School
Address: 5035 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032, United States
Phone: +1 703-426-2100
Robinson Secondary School has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 10th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Fairfax High School
Address: 7850 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046, United States
Phone: +1 323-370-1200
Fairfax High School has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 5/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 13th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Falls Church High School
Address: 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042, United States
Phone: +1 703-207-4000
Falls Church High School has a B-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 2/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 21st best public high school in Fairfax County.
Things to Do in Fairfax
When I think of Fairfax, the first thing that comes to mind is Mosaic District, which is an urban shopping center located in the heart of Fairfax.
In Mosaic District, there are a lot of national and local shops along with boutiques, salons, spas, restaurants, cafés, and bars. It’s a cool trendy place that has a really nice open space to hang out or enjoy a meal.
Additionally, Fairfax is also home to Fair Oaks Mall, Cinema Arts Theatres, Army Navy Country Club, and the NRA National Firearms Museum.
#3: Alexandria
At number three, we have Alexandria, which should not be confused with the City of Alexandria. It’s important to differentiate between the two because although they are neighboring communities, they belong to two different municipalities.
Thus, when I say Alexandria, I’m referring to the area located in Fairfax County. Alexandria is approximately 17 miles from the White House with a population of about 167,000 residents.
As the largest area on the list, Alexandria is made up of the most diverse display of townhomes built from the 50s all the way up to 2006. With such a large range between when these homes were first built, there are more differences in the layouts and sizes of the properties.
Alexandria Median Sales Price
Townhomes in Alexandria have an average sales price of $449,000. With this price point, you’ll be able to find townhouses that can range from as little as 1,100 square feet for two-level townhouses up to 3,200-plus square feet for three-level units.
Surprisingly, at $450,000, you can find townhouses of pretty much every size, which has to do with Alexandria being a large area. Specific neighborhoods in Alexandria can vary quite a bit, so homes in more desirable locations will fetch a little more money with less space and fewer updates.
Alexandria Commute Time
From Alexandria, driving to Washington D.C. could take about 45 to 55 minutes. Depending on which area in Alexandria you’re commuting from, you can add approximately 10 minutes on the return trip, which means it could take 55 to 65 minutes returning back to the area.
Commuting to other areas like Tysons Corner could take 45 to 60 minutes during rush hour in the mornings and evenings.
In addition, Alexandria residents can also catch the Blue Line or Yellow Line at the area’s metro stations, namely Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn Street, and Huntington.
Alexandria Public Schools
Similar to Fairfax, Alexandria is part of four different high school pyramids. The high school pyramids that serve the area include:
- Edison High School
Address: 5801 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310, United States
Phone: +1 703-924-8000
Edison High School has a B-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 4/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 16th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Hayfield Secondary School
Address: 7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315, United States
Phone: +1 703-924-7400
Hayfield Secondary School has an A-minus overall rating on Niche.com and a 5/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 17th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- West Potomac High School
Address: 6500 Quander Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307, United States
Phone: +1 703-718-2500
West Potomac High School has a B-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 3/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 23rd best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Mount Vernon High School
Address: 8515 Old Mt Vernon Rd, Alexandria, VA 22309, United States
Phone: +1 703-619-3100
Mount Vernon High School has a B-minus overall rating on Niche.com and a 2/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 25th best public high school in Fairfax County.
Things to Do in Alexandria
Alexandria, specifically Mount Vernon, was the home of George Washington. George Washington’s Mount Vernon is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Northern Virginia. When you visit the estate, you can tour its grounds, mansion, and garden where you can enjoy the view of the Potomac River.
#2: Springfield
Coming in at number two is Springfield, which is a large suburban area about 14 miles west of the White House. Springfield is broken up into four sections, namely Newington, Central Springfield, North Springfield, and West Springfield.
With all these areas combined, we’re looking at a population that exceeds 100,000 residents. Since Springfield is a vast area, we’re going to focus more on West Springfield because it’s known for its high-ranking high school.
Most townhomes in West Springfield were built between the tail end of the 60s and the early 90s.
Springfield Median Sales Price
West Springfield is responsible for about a quarter of all townhouse sales in Springfield, and the area has an average sales price of $456,000 over the last 12 months. At this price point, you can expect to find a three-bedroom townhome somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet built in the mid-80s.
Springfield Commute Time
From Springfield, driving into Washington D.C. could take between 50 to 70 minutes during rush hour traffic in the mornings, while the return trip could be anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.
Traveling to other areas like Tysons Corner could take about 30 to 45 minutes in traffic, while commuting to and from the Dulles Technology Corridor could take approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day.
Another option that Springfield residents have is taking the Franconia-Springfield Blue Line metro, which is a little bit more costly. It can cut your commute time down to roughly 35 minutes, but you can expect it to take a little longer on the return trip home, especially during peak hours.
In the evenings, you also have access to a couple of options. If you’d rather not drive into the city, you can park your car at the Saratoga Park and Ride and head to the Lorton VRE. However, it’s going to cost you a little over $200 a month, and timing your trips is going to be your main concern.
Springfield Public Schools
If you’re a parent looking for homes in Fairfax County, it’s highly recommended to check out the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Boundary Locator System where you can input a property’s address and easily find out what school it is zoned for at all grade levels.
So, Springfield has four high school pyramids, which are all rated differently. The high school pyramids that serve the area include:
- West Springfield High
Address: 6100 Rolling Rd, West Springfield, VA 22152, United States
Phone: +1 703-913-3800
West Springfield High has an A-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 9/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 9th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Lake Braddock Secondary School
Address: 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015, United States
Phone: +1 703-426-1000
Lake Braddock Secondary School has an A-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 11th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- South County High
Address: 6540 Franconia Rd, Springfield, VA 22150, United States
Phone: +1 703-924-8300
South County High has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 6/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 14th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Lee High School
Address: 6540 Franconia Rd, Springfield, VA 22150, United States
Phone: +1 703-924-8300
Lee High School has a B overall rating on Niche.com and a 3/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News ranks them as the 24th best public high school in Fairfax County.
Things to Do in Springfield
Springfield is a true suburban area but like most of Northern Virginia, it still offers some entertainment options. There’s Springfield Town Center for all your shopping needs and Springfield Country Club, which is a venue for special events.
On top of that, there are a lot of walking trails and parks as well as a wide variety of national international markets and specialty shops in the area.
One of my favorite parks in Springfield is the Hidden Pond Nature Center, which is a really great place for hiking. Another attraction in the area is the Go Ape Zipline Adventure Park that offers an outdoor adventure experience where people can enjoy zipping through the forest.
#1: Centreville
Finally, at number one is Centreville, which is a D.C. suburb located about 20 miles west of the nation’s capital with a population of 74,000 residents. Out of everything on the list, Centreville has some of the newest homes that were built between the mid-80s and early 2000s.
Centreville Median Sales Price
Centreville has the most townhouse sales within the $400,000 to $500,000 price range, and the area has an average sales price of $433,000 over the last year. With this price point, you can expect to find a townhouse that is between 1,600 to 2,100 square feet built in the early 90s.
So, not only is there a greater number of townhouses sold in Centreville, but it also has the lowest average sales price among the list. There are also a surprising number of newer homes built in the area with as few as 1,100 square feet up to 3,000 square feet.
Centreville Commute Time
From Centreville, you’re looking at a relatively short morning commute to the Dulles Technology Corridor with only a 20 to 30-minute drive, which may be ideal for someone working there. Although, with the heavy traffic on the way back home, that time can easily be doubled.
Driving to and from other areas like Tysons Corner usually takes between 20 to 45 minutes during rush hour. On the other hand, traveling to Washington D.C. could take about 45 to 75 minutes during rush hour and no less than an hour drive back home in the evenings, depending on traffic.
Centreville Public Schools
Centreville has three high school pyramids. The high school pyramids that serve the area include:
- Chantilly High School
Address: 4201 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151, USA
Phone: +1 703-222-8100
Chantilly High School has an A-plus overall rating on Niche.com and a 7/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 6th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Centreville High School
Address: 6001 Union Mill Rd, Clifton, VA 20124, United States
Phone: +1 703-802-5400
Centreville High School has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 5/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 12th best public high school in Fairfax County.
- Westfield High School
Address: 4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151, USA
Phone: +1 703-488-6300
Westfield High School has an A overall rating on Niche.com and a 4/10 summary rating on GreatSchools.org. U.S. News rates them as the 15th best public high school in Fairfax County.
Things to Do in Centreville
Centreville is a great location because it’s just as close to Loudoun County as it is to D.C., which opens up a number of entertainment and shopping options for you to try.
If you’re looking for something to do locally, you can never go wrong with visiting the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which includes exhibits from groundbreaking flights.
For wine lovers, Centreville is also home to one of Virginia’s top wineries, The Winery at Bull Run, where you can arrange private tastings and picnics. It’s a great place to relax on the weekends, especially if you like live music.
Like most areas in Fairfax County, Centreville is a great place to live. If you enjoy the outdoors, there are miles of walking trails in the area, including the Bull Run Regional Park, which is a perfect place for a nice hike or camping in the spring. During summers, you can also visit Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run to go swimming.
As for new and experienced shooters or gun enthusiasts, there’s the Bull Run Shooting Center, which is a public shooting range facility that offers exciting shooting games such as trap, wobble trap, skeet sporting clays, and five stand. This place even has a Festival of Lights Show during the holidays.
If you’re interested in working with us, fill out our Perfect Home Questionnaire, and we’ll schedule a time to meet online and answer any questions that you have about moving to the Fort Belvoir area.
Hopefully, when you’re searching for properties online, you’re using our website as well.
Conclusion
Overall, you have learned about some of the most affordable communities in Fairfax County.
Which area were you most interested in?
We’d be more than happy to accommodate you.
