A upscale master-planned community in Loudoun County
Brambleton is a modern planned community in northern Virginia that removes the seclusion that sometimes accompanies suburban living. With a walkable shopping center, a network of paved walking trails and green community spaces, the neighborhood provides a supportive, well-connected environment. “People like that it feels like a little city despite being in the suburbs,” says Kelly Ettrich, a real estate agent at Century 21 Redwood Realty who lives in Brambleton. “There are so many different ways to get to know your neighbors.” Monthly HOA fees, which average about $200 to $300, give residents access to landscaped grounds, recreational facilities and community gatherings. Commuters can travel 32 miles to downtown D.C., and children are zoned to some of the best schools in Virginia.
Swim, skate, fish and jog through Brambleton
Between the manicured walking trails, outdoor pools, athletic courts and manmade ponds, Brambleton has options for nearly every recreational interest. The neighborhood has 18 parks with playgrounds and picnic pavilions and over 18 miles of walking trails that connect residents to green spaces and shops. Among the largest is Hall and Bernie Hanson Park, which boasts over 250 acres and has an 18-hole disc golf course, splash pad, skate park, playground and fishing pier. There are volleyball and basketball courts at Legacy Park, along with walking trails and several playgrounds. In the summer, locals have four pool complexes to swim laps or lounge in the wading pool — the Stratford Landing Pool even has a water volleyball and basketball court and a water slide. Golfers can play rounds on the Brambleton Regional Park and Golf Course, which is a public 18-hole course. For a more relaxing afternoon, locals can spend time reading, crafting or recording a podcast at the studio at the Brambleton Library, a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2018.
Wine pairings and elevated American dishes
“Brambleton has one of the best shopping centers in the area, with an amazing brand-new library that’s to die for,” Kerr says. “That’s also where they have a summer concert series and a farmers market and movie theater, so that’s really where people commune.” A wide variety of chain restaurants and regional eateries are packed in Brambleton Town Center. Mornings can start on a healthy note with a smoothie bowl from Rush Bowls, and residents can order pad thai from My Thai or a burrito from California Tortilla for lunch. Ahso is a favorite spot for an elevated evening out, serving creative five-course meals with wine pairings in a trendy, modern environment. Other services in the shopping plaza make running errands simple, including hair salons, dentist offices and regional supermarket Harris Teeter. If they want to shop for home goods or apparel, the nearest shopping mall is the Potomac Run Plaza, which is 9 miles northeast and has a Target, HomeGoods, Ross and more.
Contemporary townhouses and New Traditional homes
Brambleton has neat subdivisions of condos, modern townhouses and striking single-family properties. Development began in the area in 2001, but over half of the homes were built after 2010. “Since they’re newer, you’re going to get more open-concept homes,” says Tanya Kerr, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, who has served the area for 12 years. “There tend to be bigger homes on smaller lots in Brambleton, but they accounted for that with nice common areas.” Newly built condos in sleek contemporary buildings cost between $450,000 and $700,000. Modern townhouses, including some in Brambleton’s 55-plus community, are usually priced between $550,000 and $1 million. Striking single-family homes appear in Colonial Revival and New Traditional designs with neutral or brick facades. Prices start around $1 million and rise to $1.9 million.
Students attend top-rated schools
The highly rated schools in Loudoun County draw families to the area. Kids can begin at Legacy Elementary and advance to Brambleton Middle — both schools earn A ratings from Niche. Independence High, which earns an A-plus and is ranked the second-best high school in Virginia, serves older students. High school students can begin earning college credit through dual enrollment programs and Advanced Placement courses.
Movie nights, pool parties and trivia nights in Brambleton
Brambleton’s HOA fosters community with frequent events, like comedy, trivia and bingo nights hosted at the Barn at Brambleton, the neighborhood event space. Family races, like the Mother’s Day 5K, keep the people active, and the neighborhood kicks off summer with a pool party. There’s also a movie night at the pool and a neighborhood campout in the summer, and the community ushers in the colder months with a fall movie night in October and pictures with Santa in November. The EatLoco Farmers Market, where residents can buy fresh bread, crisp vegetables and handmade items from local vendors, operates year-round.
Commuters drive to the Ashburn metro station
While all residents can access walking trails, only those living centrally can easily walk to stores. “Brambleton is over 18 miles, so most homes are a bit too far to walk to the town center,” Kerr says. Loudon County Transit and Commuter Services operate bus stops at the neighborhood's perimeter, so most will drive personal vehicles instead. Commuters can drive northeast to connect with the Dulles Greenway and link with Interstate 66 to travel about 30 miles to Washington, D.C. They can also travel about 4 miles northeast to park at the Ashburn Metro station before boarding the Silver Line to D.C. The Dulles International Airport is about 7 miles east of Brambleton, so residents may hear planes flying overhead, as the neighborhood is in the Airport Impact Overlay District, according to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.
Photography Contributed By
David MacNeill
