we are thinking of purchasing a new single family home in either oakton or vienna. We would appreciate comments with respect to the "pros" and "cons" of each area. Also, which is best for real estate investment?

Vienna has closer to access to the new metro line...both a plus and a con.

Oakton is trying for that country-weaalthy atmosphere. Vienna is more snotty city.

Both are stuck up areas to raise kids in. But then, it's hard to find an area in FAirfax that isn't.

Drive through the neighborhoods you are considering on a nice weekday evening and on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. See the people, get familiar with the schools, decide what will work for you and your family. Keep in mind your commute time to wherever you work.

Good luck

As for investment value...check out the real estate assessments... you can check the rise and falls of values. THough some real estate agent could probably give you an idea as well. Both are good places.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2011 10:40AM by Shadow.

Move to Fairfax City. They have by far the lowest real estate tax rate in all of Northern Virginia, hands down.

Depends on where you're often going to / commuting as well.

Vienna has a pretty significant cut in the middle due to the O&D trail - so where you need to get to affects which side you would want to be on. See map below on how once you leave 123 you can't get from one side to another w/o going way out of your way.

Also, northern Vienna will get you much closer to Tysons, and you can avoid 123 through town which can suck at times.

If you go to the southern end / Oakton, you have better access to 66 (and thus 495) from Nutley or 123. Also you'd be near the Vienna metro.
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The notion of Oakton is quite expansive (just like Vienna). You could be in Oakton (near Oakton HS) which is convenient to everything or you could be in Oakton (Vale Road/Fox Mill area) which is convenient to nothing.

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"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

Agreed...the Fox Mill area of Oakton feels like you are in the middle of Reston or Herndon - not close to much of anything. Being near Vienna Metro, shopping, 66, and Oakton HS is important. Thus, we are focusing closer in Oakton - near the Oakton Shopping Center which is certainly convenient to everything but with a drawback from Rt123 and Hunter Mill Rd traffic. We are also looking at Town of Vienna but it appears to be congested (compared to Oakton), taxes are a bit higher, and it appears that you get less for your $$.

The other option would be 22182 Vienna which is not ToV and can be quite close to Tysons.

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"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

In that case there's some nicer areas off Old Courthouse, Sutton, etc. between 123 (Oakton side) and Nutley. Metro anywhere from 0.5 to 1.25 miles away, and probably in walking distance of Oakton HS.

Reppin that 22182!

Well, if you move to Oakton (assuming you have children), then your children would go to Oakton instead of Madison. That should be reason enough. Some Vienna neighborhoods are real nice, but traffic in Vienna tends to be much worse than it is in Oakton, especially if you don't know the back roads.