5 Things Every Home Buyer Wants to Know Before Moving to Reston, VA

🌄 Introduction: Why Reston, VA Is One of Northern Virginia’s Most Unique, Forward-Thinking, and Desirable Places to Live

Reston, VA isn’t just a community — it’s a vision. Founded in the 1960s as one of the first modern planned communities in the United States, Reston was designed around the idea that people should be able to live, work, and play in the same place. Today, that vision has grown into a vibrant, nature-rich, amenity-packed town that attracts home buyers from all over the country.

Reston still embodies the principles it was built on:

• Preserving natural landscape

• Creating connected neighborhoods and pathways

• Offering diverse housing options

• Providing access to recreation, culture, and community services

• Encouraging walkability and quality of life

Buyers love Reston for:

• Its greenspace (55 miles of trails + 1,300+ acres of open space)

• Lakes, golf courses, and recreational amenities

• Village centers and local shops

• Thriving restaurants and nightlife at Reston Town Center

• Two Silver Line Metro stations

• A strong job market nearby in Reston, Herndon & Tysons

• Great schools and family-friendly neighborhoods

Reston offers something nearly impossible to find elsewhere in Northern Virginia: a true suburban oasis with urban convenience. It’s a lifestyle — and once people move here, they rarely want to leave.

Here are the five things every buyer needs to know before moving to Reston, VA.

1. Lifestyle & Local Vibe

Reston’s lifestyle is shaped by its natural beauty, walkability, recreational amenities, and active community spirit.

🌳 Nature is Everywhere — And That’s by Design

Reston’s founder, Robert E. Simon, insisted that every resident should be within walking distance of parks and green space.

The result?

• More than 1,300 acres of open space

• 55+ miles of walking & biking trails

• Four beautiful lakes (Anne, Thoreau, Audubon, Newport)

• Forested neighborhoods

• Lush common areas

• Playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, and athletic fields

It’s one of the greenest, most scenic communities in the D.C. metro area.

🏙️ Urban Convenience Meets Suburban Calm

Reston offers a perfect hybrid lifestyle:

• Live on a quiet wooded street

• Walk to a trail, lake, or park

• Drive or Metro to Tysons, Arlington, or D.C.

• Dine at trendy restaurants at Reston Town Center

• Enjoy concerts, shopping, and events

• Access major employers minutes away

It’s the best of both worlds.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Lives in Reston?

Reston attracts a wonderfully diverse population:

• Tech professionals (Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Oracle )

• FAA, government, and contractor employees

• Families seeking parks and top schools

• Empty nesters wanting walkability

• Young professionals

• Long-time residents who love the community feel

• Outdoor enthusiasts

• People seeking condo/townhome options close to Metro

Reston has a place for everyone — and that’s one of its biggest strengths.

🎉 Community Culture & Activities

Residents enjoy:

• Reston Farmers Market (Lake Anne Plaza)

• Outdoor concerts and festivals at Reston Town Center

• RA pools and tennis courts

• Community events at Lake Anne

• Holiday tree lighting

• Reston Multicultural Festival

• Jingle on Lake Anne

• Fourth of July fireworks

Reston has more activities and cultural events than most towns three times its size.

🚣 Recreation Options Are Endless

Here’s what locals love:

• Kayaking on Lake Anne

• Paddleboarding on Lake Audubon

• Biking along the W&OD Trail

• Running through Reston’s wooded paths

• Joining community swimming pools

• Playing tennis or pickleball

• Hiking at Walker Nature Center

If you enjoy being active, Reston is essentially a playground.

2. Schools & Education

Reston is part of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) — consistently one of the nation’s top school districts.

🏫 Public Schools Serving Reston

Elementary Schools

• Sunrise Valley Elementary

• Terraset Elementary

• Lake Anne Elementary

• Forest Edge Elementary

• Dogwood Elementary

• Hunters Woods Elementary (STEM & fine arts magnet)

Middle Schools

• Hughes Middle School

• Langston Hughes (main feeder for South Lakes HS)

High Schools

• South Lakes High School — Reston’s flagship pyramid

• Herndon High School (some western areas)

South Lakes is well known for:

• International Baccalaureate (IB) program

• Strong arts offerings

• Diverse student body

• Competitive sports

• High graduation rates

🌟 Why Families Love Reston’s Schools

• Innovative programs (IB, STEM, fine arts)

• Active PTAs

• Inclusive, community-driven culture

• Beautiful, modern facilities

• Close-knit school communities

🎓 Private School Options Nearby

• Reston Montessori School

• Ideaventions Academy for Math & Science

• Browne Academy

• Bishop O’Connell HS (Arlington)

• Flint Hill School (Oakton)

🏆 School Impact on Property Values

Homes in the South Lakes or Langley/Oakton-adjacent borders tend to appreciate consistently due to strong demand.

3. Real Estate Market & Home Styles

Reston offers one of the most diverse housing markets in Fairfax County — perfect for buyers of all lifestyles and budgets.

🏡 Types of Homes You'll Find in Reston

• Condos near Metro

• Lakeside condos and townhomes

• Modern townhomes

• Mid-century architecture (Lake Anne area)

• Single-family homes (1960s–1990s builds)

• Newer luxury homes and infill construction

Reston’s design prioritizes:

• Privacy

• Architecture that blends with nature

• Varying price points

• Community living

This is not a cookie-cutter community.

📍 Popular Reston Neighborhoods

• Lake Anne — historic, mid-century modern, waterfront

• North Point — family-friendly, quiet, excellent amenities

• South Lakes — lake access & beautiful trails

• Reston Town Center area — urban condos + walkability

• Hunters Woods — affordable homes near conveniences

• Tall Oaks — mix of condos and updated townhomes

Each area feels distinct — you can choose the lifestyle that fits you.

💰 Typical Price Ranges (current market conditions)

• Condos: $300,000–$600,000

• Townhomes: $550,000–$900,000

• Single-family homes: $900,000–$1.4M

• Luxury homes near lakes: $1.4M–$2M+

Reston offers more affordability than Vienna or McLean, yet high-end options rival any community in Northern Virginia.

📉 Is It a Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?

Reston is typically a seller’s market, especially for:

• Lakeside properties

• Updated townhomes

• Walk-to-Metro homes

• Single-family homes under $1.2M

Inventory tends to move quickly.

4. Commute & Connectivity

Reston is one of the most connected and transit-accessible communities in Northern Virginia.

🚇 Silver Line Metro Access

Reston has TWO Metro stations:

• Wiehle–Reston East

• Reston Town Center

These connect directly to:

• Tysons

• Arlington

• D.C.

• National Landing (Amazon HQ2)

• Dulles Airport

• Ashburn

🚗 Major Roads Nearby

• Dulles Toll Road (Route 267)

• Reston Parkway

• Fairfax County Parkway

• Route 7 (Leesburg Pike)

• Sunset Hills Road

These offer quick access to every major job market.

⏱️ Typical Commute Times

• Tysons Corner: 8–12 minutes

• Herndon: 5–10 minutes

• Arlington: 20–30 minutes

• Washington, D.C.: 30–45 minutes

• Dulles Airport: 10–15 minutes

• Reston Town Center: 2–7 minutes

Reston is extremely popular among tech professionals due to proximity to Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn job corridors.

🛍️ Shopping & Convenience

You’re minutes from:

• Reston Town Center

• North Point Village Center

• South Lakes Village Center

• Hunters Woods Village Center

• Plaza America

• Costco (Sterling)

• Whole Foods, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, Trader Joe’s, Giant

Everything you need is close.

🏥 Healthcare

• Reston Hospital Center

• INOVA Emergency Care – Reston

• Kaiser Permanente Reston

5. Things To Do & Local Hot Spots

Reston has some of the best restaurants, outdoor amenities, nightlife, and cultural attractions in Northern Virginia.

🍽️ Local Favorite Restaurants

• Barcelona Wine Bar (Reston Town Center)

• North Italia

• Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food

• Ariake Japanese Restaurant

• Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (Lake Anne)

• Café Montmartre

• Mon Ami Gabi

• True Food Kitchen

☕ Coffee Shops & Cafés

• Lake Anne Coffee House & Wine Bar

• Weird Brothers Coffee

• Starbucks (multiple locations)

• Peet’s Coffee

🍺 Breweries & Nightlife

• Lake Anne Brew House

• Aslin Beer Co. (nearby Herndon)

• Crafthouse

• Reston Town Center bars and lounges

🎭 Arts, Culture & Entertainment

• Reston Community Center

• Art galleries at Lake Anne

• Outdoor concerts

• Reston Town Center festivals

• Reston Chorale

• Community theater groups

🌳 Parks, Trails & Outdoor Attractions

This is where Reston shines:

• Lake Anne Plaza

• Lake Audubon (kayaking, paddleboarding)

• Walker Nature Center

• Reston Association trails

• W&OD Trail

• Stratton Woods Park

• Reston National Golf Course

🛍️ Shopping & Leisure

• Reston Town Center boutiques

• Village Center shopping

• Tysons Corner is 10 minutes away

💎 Local Hidden Gems

• Sunset views at Lake Anne

• Craft markets at Reston Town Center

• Kayak rentals at Lake Audubon

• Live jazz at Café Montmartre

• Secret trails behind South Lakes Drive

Reston is full of surprises — and residents love exploring every corner.

🏁 Conclusion: Is Reston, VA the Right Place for You?

If you're looking for:

• A community built around nature

• Endless outdoor recreation

• Walkability and convenience

• Top-tier Fairfax County schools

• Metro access

• Beautiful townhomes, condos, and single-family homes

• A vibrant restaurant and shopping scene

• Strong long-term property value

• A peaceful lifestyle with every amenity nearby

…then Reston, VA should absolutely be on your home shopping list.

Reston offers a one-of-a-kind living experience — a blend of nature, culture, convenience, and charm that’s unmatched anywhere else in Northern Virginia.

💬 Ready to Explore Homes in Reston, VA?

“Ready to see what life in Reston VA could look like? Explore the latest homes for sale or connect with a local real estate expert who knows every lake, trail, village center, school pyramid, café patio, and hidden gem in town.”