Torn between Falls Church City or Del Ray

[reeze]

Originally Posted by JEB77

There's no question that the schools in the 22043 and 22046 zip codes generally have higher test scores than those in, say, 22003, 22041 or 22042, if that's what you mean. Do the teachers or administrators do a better job in those areas? I'm not so sure about that.

I assume a Lake Barcroft house would be more expensive if it were in 22043 or 22046, but it's a somewhat hypothetical exercise because there's no similar body of water in those areas, which is but one reason why Lake Barcroft might be more desirable to some people than, say, the City of Falls Church or some place in the Haycock district (not to mention Pimmit Hills). Some posts make it sound like the least attractive property in 22043 or 22046 is more desirable than the most attractive property in the other zip codes, and that's simply not the case.

I never said teachers or administrators do a better job, but nevermind the higher test scores, there's less crime and gang activity at the 22043 and 22046 zip codes also. Without that, it would be a more conducive environment for learning.

The hypothetical exercise was when you compared parts of 22043 and 22046 to 22041, 22044 etc. where you said that the latter had more expensive, and more desirable homes compared to the former. Here, you didn't even specify a "lake" vs. "no lake" reason. This comparison shouldn't be made.

Originally Posted by JEB77

For example, parts of 22041 (such as Lake Barcroft and Barcroft Woods), which border other parts of Fairfax County with Annandale or Alexandria mailing addresses, are undoubtedly more expensive, and probably more "desirable," than anything further north in 22042 and many parts of 22043. Same is true for a good portion of the Sleepy Hollow communities in the 22044 zip code.

The hypothetical exercise also included your statement where you're pretty much comparing apples to oranges. A family getting more house in 22041 and 22044 isn't going to have the same house in 22043 or 22046. This comparison shouldn't really be made either.

Originally Posted by JEB77

There are many people living in 22041 and 22044 (further south) who could easily afford to live in 22042 or 22043 (further north) or 22046 (Falls Church City) and made a different choice.

Since the suburban growth was so incremental in this area, and took place over a lengthy period, generalizations tend to have many exceptions.

[NYmama2dallas]

Del Ray is a lot of fun but we know two families who had their single/young married fun in Old Town and Del Ray and then moved to Falls Church City for the schools when their oldest kids were K-aged. The FC City elementary schools have a much better reputation than the Alexandria City elementary schools (because the demographic is much more upper middle-class, with very few poor kids while the reverse is true of the Alexandria schools). Also Del Ray is not really a working class area--it is educated white professionals mixed in with low-income immigrants and African American families that have been there forever. But most of the white professionals opt out of the schools.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by reeze

I never said teachers or administrators do a better job, but nevermind the higher test scores, there's less crime and gang activity at the 22043 and 22046 zip codes also. Without that, it would be a more conducive environment for learning.

The hypothetical exercise was when you compared parts of 22043 and 22046 to 22041, 22044 etc. where you said that the latter had more expensive, and more desirable homes compared to the former. Here, you didn't even specify a "lake" vs. "no lake" reason. This comparison shouldn't be made.


The hypothetical exercise also included your statement where you're pretty much comparing apples to oranges. A family getting more house in 22041 and 22044 isn't going to have the same house in 22043 or 22046. This comparison shouldn't really be made either.

Hmm. You might want to brush up on your reading skills. I didn't suggest that the 22041 and 22044 zip codes generally have "more expensive, and more desirable homes" compared to the 22043 and 22046 zip codes. I only noted that there are some houses in the first two zip codes that are nicer than some properties in the last two zip codes. It's not exactly a novel observation, but one that I think that is occasionally worth making, since the City of Falls Church/"McLean part of Falls Church" cheerleaders on C-D so frequently denigrate other parts of Falls Church that lie in Fairfax County and try to steer people away from those areas.

[reeze]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Hmm. You might want to brush up on your reading skills. I didn't suggest that the 22041 and 22044 zip codes generally have "more expensive, and more desirable homes" compared to the 22043 and 22046 zip codes. I only noted that there are some houses in the first two zip codes that are nicer than some properties in the last two zip codes. It's not exactly a novel observation, but one that I think that is occasionally worth making, since the City of Falls Church/"McLean part of Falls Church" cheerleaders on C-D so frequently denigrate other parts of Falls Church that lie in Fairfax County and try to steer people away from those areas.

I think you should take some of your own advice.

Originally Posted by JEB77

Emphasis here on the "generally."

For example, parts of 22041 (such as Lake Barcroft and Barcroft Woods), which border other parts of Fairfax County with Annandale or Alexandria mailing addresses, are undoubtedly more expensive, and probably more "desirable," than anything further north in 22042 and many parts of 22043. Same is true for a good portion of the Sleepy Hollow communities in the 22044 zip code. There are many people living in 22041 and 22044 (further south) who could easily afford to live in 22042 or 22043 (further north) or 22046 (Falls Church City) and made a different choice.

Since the suburban growth was so incremental in this area, and took place over a lengthy period, generalizations tend to have many exceptions.

You're basing your arguments on a select few examples which doesn't mean anything, even though you use words such as "good portion."

It would be akin to me basing an argument on a few homes in the town of Vienna being more expensive than a few homes in Great Falls.

Whoopeee.

Those who try to steer others away from the other parts of Falls Church are basing their recommendations on schools (which you don't deny), crime/gang activity, etc. which are a few of the main factors most people consider when buying a home.

If people came on this blog and just requested a large expensive home by the lake, I don't think anyone would be steering them towards the City of Falls Church/McLean part of Falls Church.

[marie5v]

I would go with Falls Church because of the schools. I like Del Ray and the surrounding areas, but I wouldn't send my child to one of the schools there (and I used to be a teacher in Alexandria). The thing is, private school is just so expensive around here - 20K/year for some of the good ones.