Moving to NOVA-is Reston or McLean better (Arlington, Alexandria: middle-class, apartment)

[nodumblonde1]

I am a single professional female moving from CA and unsure about where to live. I work from a home office so commute is not an issue. Is Reston a better place to live or is McLean? I rented a place in Reston but now am unsure. Any thoughts?

[FrannyBear]

Originally Posted by nodumblonde1

I am a single professional female moving from CA and unsure about where to live. I work from a home office so commute is not an issue. Is Reston a better place to live or is McLean? I rented a place in Reston but now am unsure. Any thoughts?

I believe you would be happier in Reston. There is a large contingency of late 20-ish professionals in Reston. Try to live within walking distance to the Reston Town Center -- lots of restaurants and bars and a movie theater and shopping. It is quite busy on weekends. Reston also has a lot of green space and the bike path if you like to run or walk or bike. Dulles airport is also close by. McLean is very nice but much more family suburban -- not much for young folks.

[musincy]

Originally Posted by FrannyBear

I believe you would be happier in Reston. There is a large contingency of late 20-ish professionals in Reston. Try to live within walking distance to the Reston Town Center -- lots of restaurants and bars and a movie theater and shopping. It is quite busy on weekends. Reston also has a lot of green space and the bike path if you like to run or walk or bike. Dulles airport is also close by. McLean is very nice but much more family suburban -- not much for young folks.

I agree with the above, especially regarding living close to Reston Town Center. McLean is closer to Arlington, however, which is a great place for young adults in their 20's--lots to do!

I would judge based on where you will work and your commute. If you already rented in Reston, I'd stick with it. You'll probably enjoy it. If not, a year goes fast and you can move when your lease is up!

[CaseyMac]

When the lease is up, head down to Old Town Alexandria! A great riverfront, wonderful restaurants, multiple parades throughout the year and the feeling when walking down cobblestone streets of "I could not experience this in just anywhere!"

Reston is not bad at all. Very safe and has great walking/biking trails. It's just that there is a Reston in every major city so you may desire something more unique and closer to DC (part of the plus of living here), so keep your eyes on Arlington and Alexandria.

Good luck in your move and keep warm in our winters--you will notice them being from CA.

[ScranBarre]

I'm a 22-year-old professional and live in Reston and wish everyday that I could have afforded to live closer to Washington, DC. The Reston Town Center, which is right next to my apartment, has a few bright spots for me like an awesome running store and the fun events (Reston Festival, farmers' markets, ice skating rink, concerts, etc.), but overall it is mostly comprised of chain stores and chain restaurants, a movie theater with CRAMPED theaters (I had the worst experience ever watching The Proposal the other night in a theater I could barely breathe in), and many 30-year-old singles tooling around in their BMWs on Friday nights, wearing too much cologne/perfume, and trying to score with a member of the opposite-sex. The town center is really only enjoyable if you're upper-middle-class as otherwise you can't really afford to patronize it much. I spent over $50 the other night for dinner for two for a VERY "mediocre" dinner at Jackson's---a place I thought had better food considering it is always packed whenever I walk by it.

Perhaps things will get better once the Metro gets to Reston and our community really takes off with a lot more transit-oriented development as opposed to our current pattern of suburbanization, but overall as of right now I'm probably moving inside the Beltway in a couple of years when my finances permit me to do so. Most people fresh out of college up to around 28 seem to live in Ballston, Clarendon, Court House, and other well-planned, transit-oriented Arlington neighborhoods, normally with a roommate. From the late-20s-mid-30s a lot of people flock to Reston as a hybrid between a "bar scene" and a "family scene" as they try to score a mate and start to seriously consider raising a family (at which point many seem to move further out to places like Ashburn or Leesburg to buy a home).

Having grown up in the suburbs I was really hoping to have been able to find the "city," and sadly while Reston is inarguably the most "urban" part of NoVA outside of the Beltway (I don't even count the car-oriented failure of Tyson's Corner as being on the same level) it still feels VERY suburban. I love my new church in Reston, but sadly I stick out like a sore thumb as a single male in a pew. I love running on the trails, but sadly I stick out like a sore thumb running alone amid a sea of couples and packs of speed-cyclists. I feel like I'm an anachronism here, and I can't wait to move to Dupont Circle, Arlington, Old Town, or another well-planned area the first chance I get.

[Denton56]

Ignore Negative Nellie. Reston Town Center is great, PACKED with young people having fun. You will too.

[mwruckman]

If you can afford it McLean is better but if you can't Reston is ok.

[live_strong28]

Originally Posted by nodumblonde1

I am a single professional female moving from CA and unsure about where to live. I work from a home office so commute is not an issue. Is Reston a better place to live or is McLean? I rented a place in Reston but now am unsure. Any thoughts?

If I were you, I'd move to Arlington. It may be a bit more expensive than Reston, but it's a bit more vibrant and closer to DC.

Even living in McLean is closer to DC and you'll be closer to better shopping options.

Which part of CA are you from?

[nodumblonde1]

I am really feeling like Reston will be so far out. Any thoughts about Crystal City area of Arlington?

[terrence81]

Personally I find Crystal City to be just as expensive as DC. If you don't work in the area why not get a place in DC. I love Clarendon though. I'd recommend that over Crystal City.