Neighborhoods at a glance
Old Town Fairfax (City of Fairfax)
Walkable historic downtown, George Mason University nearby. The closest thing Fairfax has to a "downtown" feel. Heads up: the City of Fairfax runs its own school division, separate from Fairfax County Public Schools — verify by exact address.
Burke
Classic suburb — 1970s–80s colonials, strong community feel, VRE station for the DC commute. One of the most popular landing spots for families.
Fairfax Station
Wooded, large lots, next to Burke Lake Park. Quieter and pricier — the "I want land but still want Fairfax" choice.
Vienna / Merrifield (Mosaic)
Walkable pockets with real character — Vienna's small-town main street, Mosaic's modern mixed-use district. Dunn Loring Metro access.
Oakton
Quiet, wooded, residential. Near nature, with Vienna Metro access. For people who want calm without going rural.
Mantua
Tight-knit and civically active, near Vienna. The kind of neighborhood where people actually know each other.
Kings Park / Kings Park West
A relatively accessible entry point with good schools. Solid value for the county.
Tysons
Rapidly urbanizing — Silver Line Metro, major job center, high-rises going up. The "I want city life in the suburbs" option.
Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools consistently rank among the best in Virginia — a major reason people move here. But assignments are by exact address, and the City of Fairfax has its own separate school division. Always verify your assigned schools by street address before signing a lease or closing.
Commuting
- Driving: I-66, I-495, and Route 28 are the congested corridors. Fairfax to D.C. is ~14 miles — but drive your actual rush-hour route before choosing a neighborhood. Mileage lies; traffic doesn't.
- Metro: Silver and Orange lines via Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Dunn Loring, and the Tysons stations.
- VRE: Commuter rail from Burke and Manassas into D.C. — worth considering if you're near a station.
Getting oriented
- Explore the guides on this site — the dog parks, farmers markets, and weekend events pages are the fastest way to learn the county.
- Dog owner? Fairfax County is genuinely dog-friendly — 11 county dog parks, dog-welcome patios and wineries, and miles of leashed trails. Start with our dog-friendly patios guide.
- Fall is the best season here. Cox Farms, the Fall Festival, perfect hiking weather. If you moved in autumn, you timed it well.