Arlington VA (Vienna, Lake Barcroft, Wakefield: 2014, rentals, crime)

[smileysme]

Hello,


What's the general review on Arlington? Is it safe to raise kids? I have found the schools have good ratings on usanews and niche. Are these relevant wrt other VA schools? For the workplace being at Arlington what other safe areas can be considered?

[Bigfoot424]

Might want to post in the Northern VA board for more responses.

[brava4]

I've lived in Arlington for 40yrs and it once was super safe. Now, in the last 5yrs it has had more crime creeping in to it.


I can't speak from experience about the schools but have heard they are pretty good.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by brava4

I've lived in Arlington for 40yrs and it once was super safe. Now, in the last 5yrs it has had more crime creeping in to it.


I can't speak from experience about the schools but have heard they are pretty good.

I'd be curious to see the numbers. While no area is crime free Arlington is accustomed to a lower rate of crime compared to many areas in VA. I think it was 2014 they only saw one homicide and most years it's not a high number.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by smileysme

Hello,


What's the general review on Arlington? Is it safe to raise kids? I have found the schools have good ratings on usanews and niche. Are these relevant wrt other VA schools? For the workplace being at Arlington what other safe areas can be considered?

Depends on your housing budget . . .

[Hal Roach]

The schools are somewhat segregated by housing costs, which is typical of liberal cities. About a million for a SFH in Yorktown or Washington and Lee. The riff raff go to Wakefield. Generally a big difference in North Arlington and South Arlington, but there are some very high rents in South Arlington, too. Vienna might offer better value for families, and without kids Lake Barcroft area might seem !ike a bargain compared to North Arlington, and is an almost pleasant commute to DC. I would look in NW DC, with lower property taxes, but schools and income tax are troubling.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by brava4

I've lived in Arlington for 40yrs and it once was super safe. Now, in the last 5yrs it has had more crime creeping in to it.


I can't speak from experience about the schools but have heard they are pretty good.

Been in Arlington since 2012. I haven't noticed a rise in crime. Lived on Columbia Pike in two different parts (yes the lower income part of Arlington), now in Ballston. Not crime free but I feel pretty safe here.

I would say as someone who went to school in Southern and Northern VA. The worst schools in Arlington are still pretty ahead of mediocre-decent schools in other parts of Virginia.

[smileysme]

Thanks

[smileysme]

We are moving from an area that has million dollar homes, But at this point we are looking for rentals. Schools where we live are some of the best in the country. I find Yorktown High has a pretty high ranking on USA News website, but bad ratings on Great Schools. Don't understand this rating discrepancy. The profile of Yorktown High is pretty similar to the high school my kids would have been going to, if we stayed in our current area.


What other areas would be close to stay from Ballston area, with good schools?

[Mike from back east]

Moved to NoVA forum where it belongs.