Vienna and Leesburg make list of ‘Best Places to Live’

Published August 14, 2013 by Robert Powell, III

Vienna and Leesburg have made the list of CNN Money’s 2013 list of the “Best Places to Live” in the U.S.

Vienna ranked third among the 50 communities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. Leesburg was 35th.

The rankings are based on median family income, median home prices, job growth, school test scores, crime rates, commute times and other factors.

The list shows Vienna with a population of nearly 16,300. Its median home price last year was $550,000.

Leesburg was listed with a population of more than 46,000 and a median home price in 2012 of $322,500.

Of Vienna, CNN Money writes, “Unlike other cookie-cutter suburbs in Northern Virginia, Vienna offers walkability, a historic center and unique businesses that give Vienna an identity all its own.”
Writeup also mentions the Concerts on the Green summer series, 45-mile bike path and park built on the roadbed of a former railroad.

However, the article cautions, “All that comes at a cost: Real estate prices and taxes are among the highest in the county. A typical three-bedroom can sell for $600,000 — and bidding wars are the norm. Then there's the traffic, though that's just a fact of life for anyone near the nation's capital.”

About Leesburg, CNN Money said, “Leesburg's charming downtown dates back to 1758, and the community has made a point of preserving the historical architecture. Other perks include the town's proximity to the Virginia wine country and an award-winning farmers' market.

“Homes in the area have a median sale price a bit under $400,000 — not cheap, but reasonable for the region. There aren't many large employers in town, so most residents commute 40 miles to D.C., or to a major AOL office, just 15 miles away.”

Other towns in the top 10 on the list are: Sharon, Mass.; Louisville, Colo.; Chanhassen, Minn.; Sherwood, Ore.; Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Mason, Ohio; Papillion, Neb.; Apex, N.C., and West Goshen Township, Pa.