Are you moving to the Northern Virginia area? We are here to help with our comprehensive neighborhood guide to neighborhoods in and around Arlington Virginia.
No matter where you are moving from to work for Amazon (or another local tech firm), you need a trusted and knowledgeable real estate agent with an innate ability to recognize your unique needs and easily mesh with your individual personality. With a move to Northern Virginia to work in tech, there is a lot of data to digest. In all likelihood, if you are moving here to be a part of burgeoning tech scene you are going to want to live in or very near National Landing, but what does that mean exactly? Where are the prime locations?
Sure, there are plenty of realtors in Arlington Virginia, but if you really want to drill down and analyze the best places to live in and around National Landing, you need somebody that very specifically specializes in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church real estate because that is where the prime real estate is. Moreover, if you really want the best advice and knowledge, you need to work with an agent that was born and raised in the area. Okay, okay, yes, I was born and raised here and yes, I think I am your best bet in searching for real estate—but, it is because I can offer you something most realtors cannot: confidence. Confidence that you will enjoy your experience with me, confidence we will find you the very best home for your needs, and confidence that I will thoroughly look out for your best interests. If you want to confirm that and perform some due diligence (which you should), read my testimonials. Sure, sure, you hear that all the time, but you probably have not seen testimonials like mine. My clients tend to write personal, comprehensive, and lengthy letters of gratitude about their experience working with me because I gave them an authentic experience that was real and specific to their needs.
So, let us get down to business here. The Washington, D.C., metro area has a long history boasting a strong and stable real estate market, particularly in Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax, with Falls Church burgeoning in more recent years. The neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard in Northern Virginia are located in Arlington and Alexandria. National Landing is a developing, sophisticated and walkable neighborhood that encompasses Crystal City, east Pentagon City and northern Potomac Yard in Northern Virginia. Many of the neighborhoods in and around this area are well-developed and feature prime real estate, but National Landing itself is a development in progress with approximately 40,000 condos, townhomes, and apartments in the pipeline. Currently, nearby housing options include over 400,000 apartments, condos, townhouses, and houses located within a five-mile radius of National Landing in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., with the prime Virginia options being in North Arlington, Alexandria, and parts of Fairfax County. In terms of neighborhoods local to National Landing, we have listed some of the very best neighborhoods below in chronological order. However, “best” is a relative term depending on your own individual needs, but there are a few things all these neighborhoods have in common: they are highly desirable prime locations featuring excellent schools.
I am going to give you some insight knowledge about these prime Northern Virginia neighborhoods, but if you want the full shebang of my local knowledge, we are going to have to drive around together (or chat on the phone)!
How to Choose the Best Northern Virginia Neighborhood For You?
When choosing a neighborhood to live in, that decision is usually driven by what matters most to you such as proximity to Washington D.C., proximity to metro, and proximity to work (which for couples usually means a meeting in the middle, assuming you both work for different companies). There is also consideration for things like daycare and ease of access to simple things like grocery stores. There is a lot to consider! With that, let us start honing in on Northern Virginia neighborhoods.
National Landing Neighborhood Guide
Ballston
Ballston is a unique section of Arlington. It is an upscale-college-town-meets-urban-business-casual. It is low-key yet bustling, which is a unique combination given its proximity to several densely populated locations. Here you will find Marymount University and George Mason’s Arlington Campus as well as satellite hubs for many other colleges, plus a metro station and other public transportation. Additionally, Ballston is a science and technology hub because it is home to organizations like the National Science Foundation, DARPA, Accenture, Applied Predictive Technologies, the Office of Naval Research, Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency and more. Ballston is transient but maintains an urban-suburban pulse with local events, shopping, and popular dining spots like Rustico, Medium Rare, Earl’s Sandwiches, Buzz Bakeshop, and Big Buns Damn Good Burgers! In the heart of Ballston you will find a variety of condo options and just a few blocks north or south townhomes and single family homes.
Chain Bridge Forest
Do not let their website fool you, Chain Bridge Forest is one of the most highly sought after suburban neighborhoods in Arlington. Something of a serene-like-oasis amidst the metropolitan hustle and bustle, you will find a lush and hilly neighborhood with woody scenery, varying housing designs by renowned architects and builders, and spacious properties full of character with no two homes the same. Perfect for growing families, active adults, and retirees, Chain Bridge Forest is regarded as a premium Northern Virginia neighbor with most homes starting at over a million dollars. Additionally, Chain Bridge Forest does not have a Metro Station but is an easy jaunt to the Ballston-MU Metro on the Orange and Silver Lines.
Clarendon
Like much of Arlington, Clarendon is very urban-suburban! This walkable neighborhood features upscale businesses, chain stores, and locally owned shops, and in particular, many locals consider Clarendon just the right mix of what you need! And of course, there are great bars and restaurants like Copperwood Tavern, Northside Social, and Heritage Brewpub. With lots of trees and space there is a nice mix of parks and walkability too. A stand-out feature of Clarendon is the sense of community you feel there with a robust offering of local events. In addition to a multitude of housing options like single family homes, condos, and townhomes there are a number of public transportation options with close proximity to major hubs.
Del Ray
Nestled on the Northern side of Alexandria, Del Ray is a quaint and eclectic town comprised of thriving small businesses in a unique cottage-like neighborhood, with the popular Mount Vernon Avenue as the “Main Street.” It is the kind of neighborhood where locals feel lucky to live because it offers a small town feel just minutes from urban Washington D.C. This town is full of character and is walkable, bike and fitness friendly, and serves as home to a wide array of local shopping. You will also find lots of great restaurants and cafes in Del Ray like Stomping Ground and Northside 10. Homes styles include Cape Cods, bungalows, and brick colonials.
Dominion Hills
Dominion Hills is a comfortable and attractive historic neighborhood district featuring mature tree-lined streets, multi-use trails, and lots of green space including Dominion Hills Park, the greenery of Four Mile Run, and the beautiful gardens of Bon Air Park—and nearby Upton Hill Regional Park is popular too. What makes this historic district unique is the homes are exclusively two-story Colonial Revival style dwellings. An intimate community, the local civic association hosts numerous community events each year, and the large community pool and clubhouse is a major perk! Locals typically shop and dine in nearby Ballston and Clarendon enjoying easy urban access from a suburban setting.
Donaldson Run
When you are inside the Donaldson Run neighborhood it does not feel like you are three miles from Washington D.C.! Donaldson Run is unique because it has detached homes with larger lots sizes. It is an oasis in the city because the neighborhood is surrounded by green space and county parks, is filled with hiking trails, and features tree lined streets. We are not kidding about the parks! Nearby parks include Lee Heights Park, Zachary Taylor Park, Donaldson Run Nature Area, Potomac Overlook Regional Park and, George Washington Memorial Parkway. Named after a stream (Donaldson Run), this neighborhood also has character with lush and scenic undulating grounds creating a highly attractive landscape.
East Falls Church
East Falls Church is a great little diamond in the rough! An area staged for major revitalization and mixed use development, East Falls Church is home to many single-family homes that were built in the 1930s’-1950s’, many of which are prime for renovation. This established neighborhood is nice already but has great potential if you are looking to realize more benefits later. Close to the city of Falls Church, East Falls Church feels urban yet offers many of the comforts of a small town in a metropolitan setting. Nearby I-66 runs through the town and the East Falls Church Metro station is reachable on foot, however, most retail in East Falls Church is not reachable on foot.
Lyon Park / Lyon Village
You will likely hear Lyon Park and Lyon Village used interchangeably. This quiet and well-established neighborhood is very popular because this community features detached single family homes within walking distance of public transportation, which is unusual based on the density in Northern Virginia. In many cases, home owners enjoy easy one-to-two block walks to the metro station, which is a real premium perk! It is also easy to walk to one of the many outdoor eateries, Whole Foods for groceries and snacks, or the local coffee shop for a casual cup of Joe. Lyon Park also features three parks within its boundaries.
Maywood
Maywood is a great little Arlington secret! The Maywood Historic District is one of Arlington’s oldest residential districts and is full of character! This charming neighborhood is serious about historical preservation and features an assortment of architectural styles including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival with a number of homes enjoying a modern farmhouse style. Here you will find lots of beautiful front porches and gable roofs and even a small mini park called Maywood Park. This neighborhood also has great proximity to Washington D.C.!
McLean
Part of Fairfax County, McLean is a larger wealthy community located between the Potomac River and Vienna. Don’t be surprised to find lots of diplomats, members of Congress, and high-ranking government officials living in the area, mainly due to its vicinity to Washington, D.C., Langley, and the Central Intelligence Agency. McLean is bustling and known for its high-end, luxury homes and its nearby upscale shopping destinations such as Tysons Corner Center and the Tysons Galleria. You’ll also find plenty of outdoor activities including Claude Moore Colonial Farm, Clemyjontri Park, Colvin Run Mill, Turkey Run Park, Great Falls National Park and Riverbend Park.
National Landing
National Landing is Northern Virginia’s newest developing walkable neighborhood that encompasses Crystal City (Arlington), east Pentagon City (Arlington) and northern Potomac Yard (Alexandria) in Northern Virginia. An up-and-coming tech hub for young, educated and tech-centric workers, National Landing is home to Amazon’s new HQ2, Booze Allen Hamilton, Lyft, PBS and many more. In a prime location right off the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., National Landing is will offer affordable office space, a variety of housing options, an interconnected transportation network, and plenty of open green space. National Landing will also be anchored by a massive retail space including Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a specialty grocer, restaurants, bars, amenities and more. If you travel a lot, this is an ideal location because of its vicinity to three Metro stations, a station on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter line, Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport. Nearby housing options include condos, townhomes and single family homes with North Arlington and Alexandria being some of the most highly desirable places to live.
Old Town Alexandria
Arguably the gem of Northern Virginia, Old Town Alexandria is considered one of the South’s Prettiest Cities 2018 by Southern Living Magazine and boasts elegant 18th and 19th century townhomes. Today, this Potomac River waterfront community is home to over 200 independent restaurants and shops. On any given day, you will find live music, street acts, colorful artwork on display and more. Known for its cobblestone streets and red brick sidewalks, the popular downtown King Street attracts visitors from all over the world. Favorite activities include the free King Street Trolley, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, shopping, or just a strolling along the waterfront.
Shirlington
Known as the urban village, Shirlington is situated in the valley of Four Mile Run, a tributary of the Potomac River. Fun fact, the word “Shirlington” is a combination of “Shirley” and “Arlington!” Located in South Arlington, Shirlington is considered Arlington’s Arts and Entertainment District. This eclectic neighborhood offers an array of shopping, restaurants, and theaters with a pedestrian friendly promenade, and is mainly an urban mixed use neighborhood with lots of high rise apartment buildings and condominiums. Local favorites include Signature Theatre, New District Brewing Company, Shirlington Dog Park and more.
Westover
Westover has a tight knit community of locals! Formerly known as Highland Park, Westover is a historic neighborhood in Arlington nestled atop Washington Boulevard between North McKinley Road and North Longfellow Street. Considered a great place to raise a family, Westover is a walkable neighborhood between Ballston and East Falls Church metro stations with a small town feel, lots of green space, plenty of shops, work, and public transportation. This neighborhood is home to a combination of single family homes, duplexes, and garden style apartments. Popular local spots include the Westover Shopping Center, Westover Market, Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream & Coffee, Lost Dog Café, Westover Farmers Market and more.
Williamsburg / Yorktown
Williamsburg and Yorktown are youthening neighborhoods with an old history in Arlington. These tree-lined neighborhoods feature nice, detached single family homes on spacious lots. The area has seen a surge of home restoration in recent years and features colonials, Cape cods, ramblers, and more, many of which are renovations. These neighborhoods are not walkable in the sense that Starbucks is next door, however access to shopping and dining are within a few minutes’ drive–though walking is not off the table if you are motivated!
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