Difference living in Fairfax Co. vs City (sales, real estate)

[Grsz11]

What are the differences as a resident living in Fairfax County vs City? Things like taxes, decals, personal property tax, schools, anything else noticeable you can think of.

[tysonsengineer]

I assume by city you mean DC.

RE taxes are lower in DC than Fairfax, so if you are a home purchaser, depending on the price of your home and your income level, you can actually end up spending less in income + RE taxes in DC than in Fairfax. The income tax is higher in DC. I believe sales tax is also higher. Overall cost of goods can be more costly in cities because of logistics of delivery as well as, they charge more because its a city and people have more money to spend. Gyms are a bit more expensive I've noticed, even for same brand comparisons.

Not sure on vehicle/property taxes what the difference is between DC and Fairfax.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

I assume by city you mean DC.

RE taxes are lower in DC than Fairfax, so if you are a home purchaser, depending on the price of your home and your income level, you can actually end up spending less in income + RE taxes in DC than in Fairfax. The income tax is higher in DC. I believe sales tax is also higher. Overall cost of goods can be more costly in cities because of logistics of delivery as well as, they charge more because its a city and people have more money to spend. Gyms are a bit more expensive I've noticed, even for same brand comparisons.

Not sure on vehicle/property taxes what the difference is between DC and Fairfax.

I read the post to refer to the difference between living in Fairfax County and living in the City of Fairfax.

And the only things I know that are relevant relate to the schools - the City of Fairfax owns four schools but contracts with FCPS to operate them, and Fairfax City residents are zoned for Lanier MS and Fairfax HS. When Fairfax HS got too overcrowded, Fairfax City insisted that FCPS move some County students out of the school.

[snowdenscold]

I'm pretty sure he meant Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County.

[Deluusions]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

I assume by city you mean DC.

RE taxes are lower in DC than Fairfax, so if you are a home purchaser, depending on the price of your home and your income level, you can actually end up spending less in income + RE taxes in DC than in Fairfax. The income tax is higher in DC. I believe sales tax is also higher. Overall cost of goods can be more costly in cities because of logistics of delivery as well as, they charge more because its a city and people have more money to spend. Gyms are a bit more expensive I've noticed, even for same brand comparisons.

Not sure on vehicle/property taxes what the difference is between DC and Fairfax.

No I'm pretty sure he meant Fairfax City...... How did you get DC? Are you aware there is a city of fairfax?

[Vectorhead]

Originally Posted by Deluusions

No I'm pretty sure he meant Fairfax City...... How did you get DC? Are you aware there is a city of fairfax?

That was certainly beneficial to this discussion.

[Deluusions]

Originally Posted by Vectorhead

That was certainly beneficial to this discussion.

What?

[Middlin]

Real estate and personal property tax rates are lower in Fairfax City. Not so much lower that it would influence me if trying to decide between the two and everything else being equal in terms of commute, house that suits me, price, etc.

[Mnseca]

Originally Posted by Deluusions

No I'm pretty sure he meant Fairfax City...... How did you get DC? Are you aware there is a city of fairfax?

I also thought he meant Fairfax city. I am always surprised how many people live in NoVa, but don't understand that there is Fairfax City, and Fairfax Not-City But Still Called Fairfax. Every time I tell people I live in Fairfax, they get confused and wonder whether I mean Fairfax City or just county and when I tell them neither, I have to explain the whole thing.

I guess that's one reason to live in Fairfax City - you won't have to explain that you live in Fairfax, but not Fairfax City, just Fairfax. Other than that, it's nice not to have to pay the extra taxes for the city or worry about decals or anything (I'm not even sure they have decals).

[Vectorhead]

Originally Posted by Deluusions

What?

Not sure what your point was except to say "Wow, are you stupid or what?" Maybe that's not what you meant but it's sure how it came across.