2021 Best Suburbs to Live in Virginia

Stone Ridge

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.26 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I Have lived in Stone Ridge for the past 3 years and it's a great place to raise a family and live without worry. There is a lot of growth and progress and many professionals that love living in the area. The trip to DC is not too bad as you have the Dulles toll road, routes 50 and 66. There is a bit of traffic but it's worth the travel. ...Stone Ridge safety is amazing and very happy to live here!Read 19 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 14,220 Population

Cascades

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.36 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here all my life. Granted, that is not a very long time in the grand scheme of things. However, I do not believe I would have wanted to live anywhere else. This town is so welcoming. The high school is phenomenal, and the community is so loving. There are so many places to have fun, as well. I love to go to Cascades Overlook with my friends, even if the restaurants are closed, we love the atmosphere of that area and feel safe there. This town is very family friendly. There are so many different types of living areas such as traditional family houses, townhouses, and apartments. In every neighborhood I have seen in this area there is a nice park or playground nearby. I love being so close to Algonkian park. It is a staple when visiting this area. I bring friends from outside the area to the river. It is so nice to be so close to such an amazing regional park. I am so grateful to have lived here all my life and would not want it any other way...Read 14 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 11,389 Population

Innsbrook

• Suburb of Richmond, VA
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: I love the weather, the lakes, the flowers and gardens, its pristine and manicured. Great restaurants a and places to play. Amazing schools, awesome weather. Transplant from Seattle. It's so much better here than there. Lots of water here. Gorgeous. Lots of paths to walk on, parks to use. Shopping here is a breeze. Gorgeous shopping. Ponds, fish. Access to tons of jobs. Diverse, more of a richer area. Easy access to the freeways. International airport is not far. The gorgeous white sands at Virginia beach and otter banks are just right there. I'd say maybe 2 hours away drive tops. The costs of housing is more affordable here than Seattle that is for sure...Read 3 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 8,888 Population

Arlington

• City in Virginia
• Rating 4.53 out of 5  241 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Arlington for almost 18 years, and I really love it. It's the perfect mix of urban and suburban. There is plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. We are pretty close to the Capitol, so there is a lot of activity going on. There's many opportunities for entertainment and exercise in the area. It's a very wealthy area, so our government funded establishments are very strong and hold a wealth of resources for the community. Commuting to and from work is not super tedious. I know plenty of people who can easy walk, metro, or bike each day. I do believe that there is something great for everyone here, and there is always something new to explore!...Read 241 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 233,464 Population

Short Pump

• Suburb of Richmond, VA
• Rating 4.04 out of 5  49 reviews

Current Resident: Short Pump is friendly and a beautiful area to live in. It’s a peaceful and safe town to start a family and make friends. There are great quality schools from elementary to high schools. In addition, Short Pump is a lively community filled with a mixture of enjoyable activities, distinguished restaurants, and well-known stores. Most, if not all, neighborhoods are very family-friendly and have extremely low crime rates. If I had to name one flaw of the town it would be the lack of diversity; its, not the best place for meeting a variety of people and witnessing different aspects of life. However, Richmond City is only about a 20-minute drive from Short Pump, and the city is a growing area with an abundance of diversity. Overall, I enjoy living in Short Pump and there is never a dull moment...Read 49 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 28,328 Population

Broadlands

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.42 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Community, landscaping are beautiful ,good public schools , have nice entertainment area , overall environment is really good for a family friendly atmosphere!Read 19 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 13,576 Population

South Riding

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.23 out of 5  71 reviews

Former Resident: We lived in South Riding for a time and if we ever moved back to the metro DC area we would choose South Riding again. Excellent pediatrician, close by to two hospitals and many other medical centers, great playgrounds scattered around, half of the properties on lining the South Riding golf course, two excellent daycares (Goddard and Primrose), Food Lion, Harris Teeter, and Giant to grocery shop at, excellent library close by in Stone Ridge, and good HOA. My only complaint is many of the properties are the biggest house you can get with almost no yard. ...Extremely diverse neighborhood, even within our little townhouse square, all neighbors were very friendly. The housing cost of this area is going up. We cannot afford the townhouse we sold a few years ago!...Read 71 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 31,515 Population

Franklin Farm

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.1 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: The best neighborhood. Kids are constantly out playing. Very family friendly. Big trees and many ponds. LOVE IT!Read 20 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 18,321 Population

Lansdowne

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.1 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Landsdowne is a great neighborhood with excellent schools, home owners facilities, great town center in proximity and more.Read 10 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 12,354 Population

Wakefield

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Wakefield is very small but it is quiet. You have to drive 30 minutes to get into the city. Everyone here is very friendly, when they driver by they honk their horns, smile, and wave. There is also no crime, everyone knows just about everyone...Read 7 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 11,554 Population

Oakton

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.96 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: The community in Oakton is very welcoming, and I feel thankful to have lived and grown up here for my entire life. Even if you don't know everyone within your neighborhood, it still feels like a tight-knit family that you're a part of. The residents of Oakton truly support each other whenever they can in an incredible way...Read 48 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 36,997 Population

Brambleton

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.36 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Brambleton. It's a beautiful community decorated with landscape, but also has a modern hint to it. The houses range in vast building styles. There's a town center filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and even dentist offices. The people in Brambleton look out for each other, and are friendly and connected. There are multiple events, such as the fall fest, and farmer's market. The town center even decorates for Hanukkah and Christmas. Something I would like to change is bringing back the dog park and community garden. A couple of years ago, it used to be there, but people didn't use it a lot. Now, the land is being used for more houses. I would like to designate another area for dogs and a community garden, because I think it ties people of all ages together. Also, Brambleton's population has increased significantly, meaning more people will visit those areas if they were there. Overall, I love living in Brambleton with my family and friends...Read 22 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 21,358 Population

Ashburn

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.13 out of 5  277 reviews

Former Resident: It was a wonderful town to live in! I lived in Ashburn from a very young age up until my teenage years. I had a lot of friends growing up and all my neighbors were very friendly. The town itself started to become very developed in the year 2016, and there were more facilities and housing subdivisions added in making it a very crowded place to live. It has a city like feel to it with some traffic, though it is still a suburb. My school environment was typical. All my teachers cared about teaching their given subjects and truly provided valuable life lessons to our class along the way. Most fellow students were kind and friendly as well. As a member of the orchestra, Stone Hill Middle School's music department gave me the chance to grow as a musician. I really enjoyed my time in Ashburn, and I will always be grateful for all the adventures and opportunities provided to me...Read 277 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 49,848 Population

Wyndham

• Suburb of Richmond, VA
• Rating 3.82 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: Right outside of Richmond, incredible public school system as well as multiple private school options, very safe, good place to raise a family, more expensive housing options, mostly Caucasian, about 20 minutes from downtown Richmond and 5-7 minutes from Innsbrook...Read 38 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 10,578 Population

McNair

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Niche User: Ever since I moved here, I have stopped worrying about dangerous activities ensuing in the environment. The crime rate here is low an unfrequent. I moved from West Virginia, where drug activities are substantially higher. In Virginia, the police have a stronger authority and are generally more respected for doing their jobs properly. It is overall peaceful and more active, as the first thing I noticed was the amount of people jogging and playing outdoors. The citizens are friendly, and potential crime threats are minimum...Read 9 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 21,485 Population

Merrifield

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Niche User: There are many stores and restaurants, even a movie theater, within walking distance. The biggest drawback is the cost of housing in this area. Also, my former residence had more green spaces nearby. However, if you want the convenience of metro access, and a wide variety of shopping and entertainment options super close by, this is a terrific area!...Read 5 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A minus

• 18,291 Population

Dunn Loring

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.81 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: Centrally located and accessible. Great schools, best walking trail, and surrounded by great neighborhoods and TysonsRead 21 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 9,158 Population

Reston

• Town in Virginia
• Rating 4.3 out of 5  101 reviews

Current Resident: Reston is a wonderful place to live. Multiple green spaces, walking paths connect neighborhoods across the area. One of Virginia's best rated Farmers market, quick access to DC's sites via public transportation provide a diverse set opportunities. Bike trails, community recreation facilities including pools and tennis enable all to stay fit! The area has a diverse population and offers a wide range of dining options for the foodies!...Read 101 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 61,147 Population

Long Branch

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Great experience overall. Very nice place to live. Only criticism is that nightlife is virtually inexistent.Read 3 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 8,381 Population

Fair Lakes

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Fair Lakes for 18 years and it has been the best experience. The community is so kind and giving all houses and shopping centers are up to date and modern. There is a wide range of age groups. There are many paths to walk and ride bikes on. I got a great education from the Fairfax county public Schools. I have never felt unsafe growing up here...Read 2 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 8,399 Population

Belmont

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.86 out of 5  21 reviews

Niche User: I grew up in this area, and have watched it developed from quiet, rural suburbia to progressively up-and-coming town. It'll be interesting to see how the Ashburn, Virginia, area ends up in 3-5 years.Read 21 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 6,632 Population

Mantua

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mantua for 23 years. It is a great neighborhood for all stages of life. It is easy to meet people through social media, the swim and tennis club, the parks or just by taking a walk! There are Bunko groups, bridge groups, tennis groups for all ages, gardening groups, the list is unending. The elementary school, middle school and high school are all within biking distance and walking distance for some. I feel like we are in a sweet spot for commuting as well. We are close to 66 and 495 and there are two Metro stations within 3 miles. As you can see, I highly recommend the neighborhood!...Read 5 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 7,342 Population

Loudoun Valley Estates

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A+

• grade A

• 8,020 Population

Vienna

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 4.37 out of 5  119 reviews

Current Resident: I've called Vienna my home my entire life, and I am proud to do so. Situated 30 minutes away from the Nation's capitol, there are seemingly endless opportunities, both in town, and just a car ride away. The public schools are phenomenal, and my experience has set me on a path of academic success and achievement. As for the organizations in Vienna, there is literally an organization for everyone – gardening, history, finances, sports, you name it! And if there isn't one, you can make it. In sum, I've had a great childhood experience, and I attribute a lot of my good memories to living in Vienna...Read 119 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 16,489 Population

Idylwood

• Suburb in Virginia
• Rating 3.75 out of 5  12 reviews

Niche User: Great location within 10 miles of DC (jobs, culture, nightlife) Diverse population, beautiful natural landscape, mild winters.Read 12 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• 18,273 Population