Need opinions on possible move from FFX County to Berryville (Arlington: low income, transplants)

[jk22]

Wife and I, and 3 kids, are getting tired of the Fairfax County scene. Lots to love, but high mortgages and congestion are getting old, especially as the kids near college age. We're considering a move to Berryville. But it seems like all I read are negative articles about the schools and about things such as the lack of broadband access. Am curious what life is like there and if there are other such transplants. What are the pros and cons of Berryville? I work in Ashburn half the year and at home the other half. Wife must work 1-2 days in DC. How treacherous would her commute be? Keep in mind it often takes more than an hour and we live near 66.
Basically, what we want are: lower mortgage, more elbow room, a real community, better opportunities for our kids. We like Purcellville but wonder if in a few years it'll be like what we want to leave now.

Thanks!

[saganista]

Well, Berryville is 50+ miles and 60+ minutes from Tysons no matter what route you take, and that's not figuring in for any weather or traffic issues that might arise. The commute from there to downtown DC would certainly not be for the squeamish. It is very anti-Fairfax, though. Quiet, lovely little town nestled into gently rolling, unspoiled, and generally lovely as long as it isn't covered in snow countryside. Close to the Shenandoah is a plus, but personally, I had to mark the place down considerably when the Main Street Bistro closed. That was pretty much the highlight of downtown, but now it's gone. Comcast and FIOS are both available, I believe...

[SallyField]

It certainly is the anti-Fairfax. There are others there who have moved to get away from NoVA. I like it out there, but I could not handle the drive. To follow up what saganista mentioned about cable and FIOS, I'm fairly sure (from friends) that there are places in Berryville that have neither cable nor FIOS Internet... then again, maybe I'm thinking of a little south of Berryville, in Millwood and Boyce. In any case, I like all of those towns, just not the commute.

If you move there, expect to be able to buy much more house (of course). On the flip side, it will take longer to sell your home if you decide to move. Trip to Ashburn probably will take about 45 minutes each way. I don't know much about the schools.

[Riley09swb]

I don't think that Purcellville will be anything different that what it is now in a few years. So far it's a great place to live (we've been here since Nov and our friends have lived here for 6 years).

Berryville is one heck of a hike. We know someone that moved out there and then commuted to Sterling (off of 28) everyday. She ended up quitting because the commute was to much and eventually moved to Hamilton. I have seen the price of houses and they seem very reasonable and plus there are a couple of foreclosures there as well. It's really small be prepared to have to go to Winchester or Purcellville for groceries.

I think her commute to DC would be awful even 1-2 days a week. There is a bus that she could take that leaves from Franklin Park in Purcellville. It's $7 or $8 each way. Though she will still have to drive 20 miles to get to Purcellville. My office is in Reston (near RTC) and it takes me at least an hour to get there using Rte 7 and if I take the Greenway/Toll Road about 30-40 minutes though that's $5.50 one way.

[arielmina]

much as I like Berryville, and I do...I'd look for something east of "the mountain". You do not want to be crossing the mountain in the winter in bad weather to get to work. The commute 1-2 days per week to DC will be hell on wheels. I'm in Round Hill, just west of Purcellville, but before "the mountain" and during rush hour I don't even want to think about how long it woudl take me to get to DC. On the weekends, it's 60 mins with no traffic. Rush hour? yuck. No can do.

I'd look at Hamilton, Purcellville, Bluemont, Lovettsville and Round Hill if I were you and you were ok with a long hike of a commute to DC. No need to go as far as Berryville. The schools are apparently terrible there, and I've heard this from a teacher who lives there I realize that your kids are college aged so it doesn't affect you, but resale of homes is an issue, hence the significantly lower cost. You will have to drive into Winchester for all your shopping needs (or Leesburg but it's farther away)

Yes there will be some development here but it's a very anti development climate right now in Western Loudoun county and there is a new restriction on building lots (1 house per 10 acres min). Yes there are some developments that were approved prior to this that will be going in, but it's a completely different world that Fairfax county.

[jk22]

Thank you... Great input... What is Loudoun Valley HS's reputation? Looks like Purcellville is a wealthier area; what is the atmosphere like in the high school?

[LynchburgLover]

There are two high schools in Western Loudoun. Loudoun Valley and Woodgrove, which opened about a year ago. Loudoun is a wealthy area -- but certainly no more than most of Fairfax/Arlington/Falls Church etc. -- it's just more spread out on small acreage lots.

LVHS has a good reputation, high scores (not sure if it's still highest in the county but they're good -- I am sure you can get than info from LCPS web site) and very active/successful sports teams. Neither of them has significant drug, gang, ESOL or low income student issues and they're both predominately white. Woodgrove, being brand new, has all the bells and whistles of a new building, while Valley is smaller and older (circa 1970s??). Woodgrove's test scores should be very similar to LV because it draws from the same area.

You'll just have to check on the exact boundaries and demographics for the two schools depending on where your house is located. Again, LCPS web site should have that info.

Good luck!