Economy - 6/6/2007

Booming economy thanks to uncle sam and tech sector. Low rate of unemployment. High house prices to go with the economy.

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Overrated - 10/5/2006

Fairfax County is all about "looks" - They artificially inflate AP numbers so they get their schools in the Newsweek top 100 -it's a scam and all teachers in the county know it. Add this to the astronomical housing prices, traffic and it could be one of the worst places for moderate income families to live.

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Good Points, Bad Points - 9/15/2006

The Good Points: Clean, good schools (or so I've heard, I don't have kids) Mixed between Repubs and Dems, but almost universal disdain for the Bush Admin. New homes, lots of malls, churches, afterschool activities, bars, restaurants, etc etc. If you want arts, culture and museums, you can't do any better except for NYC. Crime? Some theft, but very low. Any homicides here are usually because of some nutcase. Unemployment almost non-existent. It is almost impossible not to have a job in Northern Virginia. Transportation is good, you've got buses all over. However there's only a smattering of train stops in the area. They were good for 10 years ago, but as population grew outward, you might spend an hour in traffic just getting to the train station, depending on where you live. The Bad: TRAFFIC. If you can live near your job, you really might want to think about it. HIGH RENTS/HOME PRICES: You will pay minimum $800 for a 1-bedroom. Houses are starting at $900,000 and that's for a fixer-upper. TAXES: As more people move here, more services are demanded. Fact of live. IMMIGRANTS: Yes, there are tons of illegal immigrants in the area. PEOPLE: Stuck-up, pompous, often rude, and can't drive. WEATHER: Only good months are April and September - October. Hot, sticky and humid in summer, and winter cold gets cold. I'm leaving in Sept but secure in the knowledge that if I need to, I can come back and find a job tomorrow.

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Everything I need - 7/25/2006

I've lived in Fairfax since 1998 and I can't think of a better place to live. I live right in the middle of three incredibly diverse and culturally mixed villages: Old Town Fairfax, Vienna, and Falls Church. I'm really close to DC if I want more "city" and Old Town Alexandria, if I want the Potomac and historical charm. The housing architecture here is a varied mix of open, contemporary floor plans, Frank Lloyd Wright, Craftsman, and the older traditional split levels, Cape Cods, and Dutch Colonials. Something for everyone! If you want the same thing everywhere, move to California and enjoy a ranch style home. Or go up to New York and pay quadruple the amount for 1/4 the space. My kids go to the best schools in the country and they're public. If I need a Metro, I walk or drive exactly 1 mile and I'm there. If I want a 5 star restaurant that would rival that in L.A., NYC, Paris, or Rome, I have choices within 4 miles. Parks, pools, tennis, horses, bike trails, shopping, bars... and more are at close reach. If I want to take my family to have fun, I don't have to strap them in a mini-van and drive them some place, we can walk or ride bikes. My career precludes me from having to deal with traffic much, but I know that's an issue. Meantime, the Metro is still under used. Go figure. I've lived in a lot of places and for suburbia, this place rocks.

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Pros and Cons for Fairfax, VA - 7/12/2006

I have lived in Fairfax all of my life. The pros are the great job opportunites and recreational activities. The city is within an hour of any type of activity and it is very close to Washington DC. The shopping centers and malls are plentiful and there are several resturants to choose from. Crime rate is fairly low. Unfortunately, the cons may out weigh the pros. There is way too much traffic! No matter what time of day or place, there is traffic. Drivers are very aggressive in this area too. In the last five years, the area has become very over-developed. There are apartments, condos and buildings everywhere. Housing is very expensive. I live in a two bedroom apartment for a little under $1600. Forget finding a nice house for under $500,000. In the wealthier areas like Reston and Great Falls, most houses start at $900,000 (and that is with very little private land) The area is also very diverse. Some areas are predominately Mexican and/or Asian. People are not very friendly and are too focused on their work and money. I am most likely moving in the very near future.

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Traffic Problem - 6/22/2006

This area is very bad for your health. The traffic is killing my back. I am trying to get out

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ugh! - 4/9/2006

I have lived in a lot of places, some great, some considered "armpits," but Fairfax is far and away the worst place you can ever choose to live. It is more expensive and traffic congested than Manhattan (I've lived there) and has nothing to offer culturally (unless you count stip malls). It can best be visuallized as one big swath of highway to DC with a bunch of ugly, overpriced homes lining the curbs... STAY AWAY!!

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djazzb - 3/1/2006

Living in Fairfax is great! The quality of life is hard to beat. Yes, housing is expensive, but everything else is competitive with rest of the country. If you are in your working years and raising children, the high standard of living that surrounds the Fairfax area is worth the extra housing costs.

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