The Best Places to Live in Northern Virginia for a Family

Northern Virginia is typically considered Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and the city of Alexandria. It is located close to Washington, D.C. and several of its counties, according to Forbes magazine, are among the top 25 richest counties in the United States, with Loudoun and Fairfax often topping that list. Northern Virginia has a mix of beautiful rural open spaces, suburban and urban areas. It is an area rich in history, and is the site of a number of important Civil War and Revolutionary War sites.

Reston, Virginia in Fairfax County

Reston, Virginia is a well-maintained, planned community located in Fairfax County. It was designed so that, for every 1,000 residents, there is 10 acres of green space, giving it a woodsy appeal. Reston's Town Center is home to a number of fine retail stores, upscale restaurants, a movie theater and an outdoor ice rink. In addition, Reston has an indoor hockey rink, many parks and miles of bike trails. Reston has a number of highly-rated elementary schools and, in 2008, Fairfax County redistricted the high schools that serve the community to create more equal learning environments.

Ashburn, Virginia in Loudoun County

Ashburn is located in Loudoun County and is made of a number of planned communities including Ashburn Farm, Ashburn Village, Belmont Country Club and Broadlands, as well as some independent neighborhoods. It is a very family-oriented area and is home to a number of children's sports leagues, an ice rink, parks and bike trails. Ashburn's schools score high in state standardized testing, and its high schools have brought home a number of state championships, including those in football, cheerleading, soccer and softball. The area is home to several different shopping centers, has a number of family-friendly restaurants and is approximately 10 miles from two different malls.

Great Falls, Virginia in Fairfax County

Great Falls is named after the roiling waterfall and for the national park of the same name that borders the community. Although Great Falls is dotted with many mansions set on large acreages, there are also mid-size and smaller, older homes in Great Falls. The community boasts a number of sports leagues for kids and its schools are among the best in Fairfax County. Great Falls National Park and nearby Riverbend Park have miles of hiking and horse-riding trails that overlook the Potomac River. While Great Falls appears semi-rural, it is only about 15 miles from Washington, D.C. and about five miles from upscale shopping and dining in Tysons Corner.

Bristow, Virginia in Prince William County

Bristow is an area in Prince William County with a number of planned communities including Foxborough, Victory Lakes, Kingsbrooke and some independent neighborhoods. It has a wealth of shopping centers and is home to Jiffy Lube Live, a popular concert venue. Bristow has many parks, trails, and its schools do well on standardized testing. It enjoys easy access to I-66 for easier commutes to D.C. Additionally, Bristow is close to Manassas and its historical Civil War battlefields. More importantly to kids, there is a large water park in Manassas.

References

• University of Maryland: Planned Communities
• Great Schools: Reston Public Schools
• Washington Post: Great Falls
• Great Schools: Bristow, Virginia