Help me understand Manassas, Clifton, Fairfax Station (Burke, McLean: low income, crime rate)

[km41]

Hi Forum People,

I am trying to figure out why houses in Manassas are so much cheaper than similar (or seemlingly less nice) houses in nearby Clifton or Fairfax Station. What's the deal with Manassas?

Thanks for any insights you can provide!

VT girl

[smagid]

Overall Fairfax County home prices are higher than Prince William due to the distance from the major employment areas.

[michgc]

And the schools. Don't forget that. All else being equal, schools that have higher test scores have higher property values homes in their pyramid. Manassas schools do not have as good reputation as those in Fairfax Station or Clifton. And the crime rate is also higher in Manassas. Overall, Manassas is a lower-income area with a less-educated population than Clifton and Fairfax Station.

[smagid]

Crime is spotty no matter where you go whether it be in Prince William County or Fairfax. Prince William Crime statistics are showing a decline. http://www.pwcgov.org/docLibrary/PDF/14339.pdf Manassas is a huge area. Most people that think of Manassas only think of the area surrounding Sudley Rd however it goes far beyond that to neighborhoods with over 1 acres of land off of Hoadly Rd and almost to Dumfries. Prince William County Schools are still great and many have earned the Schools of Excellence awards..

[beatlecrazy]

There are very nice homes in Manassas. You just have to look in the right places. Certain areas are "bad", but most towns are like this no matter what the income level. When we were house hunting, we found 7 or 8 lovely homes in Manassas. All had the same general price, and I think it has to do with being farther from DC. I love it in Manassas, so much to do, and it's only a 10-15 min drive to Fairfax or other towns.

[tigger37708]

Originally Posted by michgc

Overall, Manassas is a lower-income area with a less-educated population than Clifton and Fairfax Station.

What?

We are less edumecated?
Dang

And Low income too.

I suggest all you smart high income people stay away from Manassas.
Because the VRE is crowded enough as it is.

[vermonter16]

I love Manassas as well. I do have to commute further to work but Manassas is so convenient for other things. People do think of Manassas as just off 234....Manassas has very beautiful areas where you don't even know you're in suburbia.

[JD984]

The OP wanted to know why Manassas was less expensive than Clifton and Fairfax Station, and the answers that were provided surely account for much of that.

I will say that Old Town Manassas has way more of a bona fide "small town" feel than places in Fairfax like Clifton (tiny), Fairfax Station (uber-suburban) or Vienna (mostly strip malls).

[michgc]

I didn't say Manassas was a "low-income" area. I said it was a "lower-income" area than Clifton and Fairfax Station, which it is. Vienna is a lower-income area than McLean, but it doesn't mean Vienna is low-income. Please do not put words in my mouth that I did not say.

And I didn't say there aren't smart people in Manassas. I said it is less educated, which it is. According to city-data, Manassas' adult population shows that 81% have a high school diploma, 28% have a bachelors, and 10% have a graduate degree. I could not find specific data for Fairfax Station. But Burke shows 94% with a h.s. diploma, 51% with a bachelors, and 27% with a graduate degree. Clifton shows 96% with a h.s. diploma, 55% with a bachelors, and 25% with a graduate degree.

The OP asked for help understanding the three areas in question and why property values are lower in Manassas. I answered her with differences among the three areas based on statistics from this site.

Originally Posted by tigger37708

What?

We are less edumecated?
Dang

And Low income too.

I suggest all you smart high income people stay away from Manassas.
Because the VRE is crowded enough as it is.

[SallyField]

Originally Posted by tigger37708

What?

We are less edumecated?
Dang

And Low income too.

I suggest all you smart high income people stay away from Manassas.
Because the VRE is crowded enough as it is.

Don't take it personally! I suspect michgc was just quoting comparative statistics -- i.e., "less" and "lower," not "un-" and "low." Obviously, Manassas is not "low" income or "uneducated." Like everywhere else around here, it's mostly populated with overachievers.

FWIW to km41 -- Fairfax Station and Clifton have beautiful neighborhoods. Both are too far away for me to consider them, but I love driving through them. Manassas has some good areas and some bad areas. We have friends who live there, in a beautiful home in a new-ish neighborhood. Their house is a lot larger than ours, but we're inside the Beltway and that's the tradeoff.