SperlingViews - Vienna, Virginia

Vienna is a wonderful town that tries to give a small town atmosphere to a wealthy suburban town. Vienna is just outside the beltway that goes around Washington, DC. Many people feed off our government (taxpayers dollars) and it is quite a feast. Consequently, the cost of living here is quite high. Energy is not too bad since Dominion VA Power using a lot of nuclear generated power. But food, housing, and transporation are very high. For people moving here from a lower cost of area, it can be quite a culture shock. But it is a clean and safe place to live with lots of family activities to enjoy. [read more...]

The traffic is getting out of hand. It takes forever to get anywhere including weekends.[read more...]

Vienna VA is right outside Washington DC but has a small town feel to it. Great sense of community![read more...]

There is a larger area called Vienna, but I am speaking of life within the Vienna town limits. Vienna is a conservative town (the largest town in the country, I believe). They have strict rules about zoning, how many colors a business can have on its sign, limits on the use of neon, etc. They see themselves as a family town, and they strive to keep it that way. They have been leaders in recycling trash, probably more for the financial benefits than for ecological ones. They are fiscally vary responsible and know how to pinch a penny. This said, they also are willing to turn down federal funding for road improvements if it means they have to cut down too many mature trees! Those trees are part of what makes it an exceptionally attractive community. They have several parks and have put legislation in place so that there is no possibility of selling that valuable land in the future. The parks will stay! And they are well-used. You pay an extra Vienna tax, but you get what you pay for in terms of services like twice a week pickup (garbage and recycling), superior snow removal and street cleaning, etc. The crime rate is pretty low. We rarely have a murder we can call our own. Once very few years, maybe. I love this town for its quirks and despite its quirks. As someone once said in a local newspaper, "Why would anyone want to leave Vienna?" The school system (Fairfax County) is excellent. My kids had to work hard, but they got a great education and were well prepared for college. But...traffic congestion is an increasing problem. I don't see it going away. Older homes are being torn down to make way for big, new "monster homes." I'm not sure how attractive it will be when these behemoths are crammed together on lots designed for smaller homes. And, young families on a budget are being priced out of the market. The gentrification of Vienna has begun. We couldn't afford to buy here, now. When we retire, we most likely won't be able to afford to stay here.[read more...]

For those of you that like to be close to a major metro area, Vienna is great. The community is very tight, the schools are ranked very high, there are tons of sports and recreational opportunities and the close proximity to DC and the numerous beltway bandit companies makes for a very strong job outlook. If, however, you're not looking to live close to a major metro area, I'd suggest looking elsewhere because Vienna sits about 2 miles outside of the DC beltway.[read more...]

Pro: Great small town close to the Tyson's Corner metropolis and Washington DC. The beautiful Shenandoah mountains are within an hour and 1/2 drive to the west. The Shore and beaches are all within 2 hours or so (with traffic). Terrain is beautiful. NYC is only 5 hours away. So much to do and the area reaks with history. Best schools and medical facilities. Con: Traffic and the high prices of homes.[read more...]

Excellent lifestyle![read more...]

Area has very heavy traffic and cost of living is extremely high[read more...]

Vienna is a perfect place to live. The people are very friendly and it is hard to go anywhere without seeing someone you know. There are many festivals and events that take place in vienna that bring the community together in that small town way. Being so close to Washington, DC and part of Northern Virginia, it is hard to believe that a paradise like this one exists.[read more...]

Yes traffic is terrible in and around Vienna but it is no worse than the rest of the Washington metro area. If you hate traffic, stay away from Washington DC.[read more...]

Traffic on the main artery through Vienna (route 123) and surrounding roads is often horrendous due to an ever-expanding metro area rush area that now runs from at 6:00 am to 9:45 am and 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The advantage of having all the attractions of D.C. close by is negated by the amount of time it takes to get there if traveling during those hours.[read more...]