Occoquan Virginia (Richmond, Woodbridge, Chester: condos, low crime, how much)

[Va83]

Can someone please tell me more about this town? I've stumbled across pictures of it and a website but would like to hear from people who live there. Is it expensive? Is it safe, diverse,sleepy...? What about the schools?

[Bigfoot424]

Nothing sleepy about Occoquan. The pics make it look romantic and quaint and its location is in a busy area. I like the town and worked in and around it for 30 years but it's not as quaint as the pics show. It's a low crime area with a couple outlying areas having a few problems. Down in the town is fine though. Heavy crowds on nice weekends with people shopping and just plan on staying home or leaving during the big craft shows which used to be twice a year but not sure anymore. Easy access to I 95 if that's important.

[johnsonkk]

Eclectic is the definition I've heard for Occoquan. It's as Bigfoot describes. It's got quite a few small shops and smaller restaurants. Overall there can't be much house inventory because of its small size but don't let that slow you down. But I wouldn't pay $600k-$850k that many of the townhouses and SFH cost in the immediate " downtown" Occoquan. Even if you buy somewhere else, surely you'll visit there once in a while.

[ChristineVA]

I think there is a premium price tag on some of the properties in Occoquan due to the "town" aspect of it. It's is cute little town and, as said above, the proximity to I95 can't be beat.

As for schools though, you will end up using the Woodbridge schools, so there's that. They are just okay. Not sure where you're zoned there in Occoquan for elementary but it could be over on the Rt. 1 side, which is iffy.

But I wouldn't mind living there. They have some wonderful new development there of townhomes/condos.

[Bigfoot424]

In my opinion the worse thing about the town is the water. It just doesn't live up to the hype as far as appearances go.

[NOVA_guy]

I like Occoquan. It's a nice town. Nothing in NoVa is "sleepy" though so I wouldn't use that word but it's a nice place.

The only complaint you'll probably hear is that a lot of the traffic from nearby Woodbridge feeds into Occoquan which can be a problem during rush hour and weekends.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

The only complaint you'll probably hear is that a lot of the traffic from nearby Woodbridge feeds into Occoquan which can be a problem during rush hour and weekends.

Yep! A lot of commuters cut through Occoquan to avoid the Old Bridge/Rt. 123 back-up.

OP, have you visited Occoquan? I find it's a nice place to spend the afternoon but I'm not sure that there is any real benefit to living there.

[Va83]

No I haven't visited yet. I'll be in DC for the cherry blossom so I may cruise through then.
From the pictures I had a vision of like the Dennis the Minnis movies where it's a smaller town with tons of kids playing everywhere and you turn the corner and end up in the city. Or maybe like a posh little town with little shops and boutiques but everyone knows each other... like a mini Denver. Anyway that's what I was day dreaming about.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Va83

No I haven't visited yet. I'll be in DC for the cherry blossom so I may cruise through then.
From the pictures I had a vision of like the Dennis the Minnis movies where it's a smaller town with tons of kids playing everywhere and you turn the corner and end up in the city. Or maybe like a posh little town with little shops and boutiques but everyone knows each other... like a mini Denver. Anyway that's what I was day dreaming about.

Nope, it's definitely not that!

[Va83]

So it's just another extension of Woodbridge? I don't know how much y'all know about Richmond. But should I equate Occoquan to Chester Virginia?