NoCal to NoVa :) Where to Live? (Centreville, Fairfax: home, neighborhood, elementary school)

[mlethemass]

Thanks for being on here. City-Data has helped us in so many ways over our 11 years of marriage (and moving).

We are looking to relocate for a job in Fairfax, near the Fair Oaks Mall. We have four kids in elementary school. Would look to spend around $350-450K for a 3/2 single family home w/ a decent yard. We don't mind "low-rated" schools since I am active in their schooling and actually prefer a diverse community. But we also have had it with break-ins and vandalism that come with living here in the Bay Area with the housing crisis + large homeless population. So safe, but not ....snobby? Ideally, we'd like a place where our kids can ride their bikes and play catch in the street, where there's maybe a neighborhood pool (is that a thing out there?) and a sense of community.

So where would you suggest we look? Also, is public transportation an option for commuting to work? Or is it only for going in and out of DC?

Thanks so much!!

Emily

[Ffxdata]

Fair Oaks has some buses but almost no one who has a car uses public transport to that area.

You could get a duplex in Fairfax City for that or a single family in Greenbriar (technically Fairfax postal code). Greenbriar has great schools and is quite the hidden gem in the area. Oddly, the whole community has no basements.

Centreville may be an option to consider. It lacks personality but is diverse with higher Hispanic and Asian populations.