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Much of bustling Fairfax County feels like it was built last week. Not Vienna, a much prized piece of ground in the Civil War. An active historical society is run out of the antebellum Freeman House, which served as a makeshift Civil War hospital and later as a post office, a general store and a train depot. Kids can even attend a summer history camp.

Today, Vienna is valued for its jobs and schools. Median income is more than $110,000, and IBM, Capital One and AOL are among dozens of big-name companies with large operations in the area. And D.C. and federal employment are just 12 miles away.

Unfortunately, jobs outnumber houses. Result: Over the past five years, the median home price in Vienna has nearly doubled. Older homes can be had for $500,000, but new construction goes for north of $700,000. On the plus side, property taxes aren't bad and the local high school consistently ranks among the country's best.

Music, dance and opera run year round in both indoor and outdoor theaters at Wolf Trap, the nation's only national park for performing arts.

Everyone shares one complaint: traffic on Maple Ave. Driving the two-mile main drag can take up to 25 minutes during rush hour. But families like the Namdars swear the hassles are worth it. "We like the sense of neighborhood," says Mark. "And it's safe. The kids can be independent without our having to worry."