Woodchoppers worked in Burke, Virginia, during the Civil War. Many escaped enslaved people living nearby in Alexandria cut trees along Burke’s railroad, and the wood was used for bridges or fuel. Because they were at risk of capture from working outside Union territory, federal cavalry and infantry troops were stationed nearby to protect them. Today, Fortune 500 companies and train stations leading to Washington, D.C., surround the Fairfax County community of about 44,000 residents. Many families are attracted to the area for its top-rated school system, its relative affordability for Northern Virginia and its location 20 miles from the nation’s capital. “People are drawn here for its proximity to jobs in the area,” says Realtor Phyllis Papkin with KW Metro Center, who lived in Burke for about 30 years. “Depending on where you are, it's only about 10 to 15 minutes to reach public transit.”
Burke offers a variety of charming home styles.
Burke offers traditional two-story homes that embody timeless architectural design.
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Homes on tree-lined streets
Sidewalks and dense tree canopies line residential areas in Burke, with homes sitting on curved suburban roads. Many streets end in cul-de-sacs or back up to a small body of water. A lot of the area’s Colonial Revival, split-level and ranch-style houses were built in the 1970s and '80s. “There’s almost no new construction,” Papkin says. Single-family homes typically feature four to five bedrooms and three to four bathrooms. Lots are usually a quarter of an acre. Burke's median single-family home price is about $870,000, more than twice the national figure. Many townhouse communities throughout Burke also feature the same tree-lined seclusion. The area’s median townhouse price is $613,944.
Split-level homes are a distinctive residential design found throughout Burke.
Bold brick single family homes are one of the styles you will see in Burke.
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Highly ranked Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools serve Burke, scoring an A from Niche, which rates the system as the sixth-best school district in Virginia. It educates nearly 180,000 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. Public high school students usually attend Lake Braddock Secondary School, which Niche gives an A-plus, ranking it as the second-best magnet high school in Virginia.
Cherry Run Elementary School faithfully provides education to Burke children.
Lake Braddock Secondary serves the community of Burke and beyond.
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Wandering Burke Lake Park and getting the kids into sports
Burke gets warm summers and winter snowfall. Burke Lake Park, a nearly 900-acre outdoor space with an over-200-acre lake at its center, is one of the community’s most beloved parks. When they’re not using the lake for fishing or boating, visitors can walk the nearly 5-mile trail loop that surrounds it. Families compete on the park’s mini- and disc-golf courses, ride on the bright red miniature train or circle around on the carousel. Burke Lake Park also hosts various programs and events throughout the year, from archery camp for kids to Campfire Saturdays, where participants look up at the night sky to learn about constellations. Many trails weave throughout Burke. The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, which runs 40 miles through Fairfax, cuts into Pohick Creek Stream Valley Park, a densely wooded park that offers a secluded outdoor experience. Just down the road, Burke Nursery & Garden Center hosts the popular Fall Farm Festival and Pumpkin Patch, where there are pony rides, apple cider donuts, and apples and pumpkins for picking on a weekend at the end of September.
Additionally, Papkin says, many residents with children enroll them in after-school activities. “We don’t have fun — we do kids’ sports,” she jokes. Kids can join the Braddock Road Youth Club’s softball, soccer, volleyball, football or cheer teams, while The Burke Athletic Club offers soccer, lacrosse and field hockey leagues for both children and adults. A clock tower marks the entrance to Pohick Regional Library, which has a Teen Gaming Center and many programs for residents.
Walking trails are available for Burke community members to enjoy.
Friends in Burke enjoy an afternoon by the scenic Burke lake.
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Near Tysons shopping and Fortune 500 companies
Strip malls and shopping centers throughout Burke have grocery stores, big-box retailers and restaurants. Papkin says many residents travel to nearby areas for larger shopping trips. “It’s only 15 minutes to Tysons,” she says. “That’s where I would do all of my shopping when I lived there.” For medical services, Burke Medical Center is on Burke Commons Road. Nearly a dozen Fortune 500 companies, spanning industries from technology to manufacturing and finance, are headquartered in Fairfax County. The federal government and Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington are also major employers. Burke also attracts military personnel, with residents commuting to nearby Fort Belvoir, Quantico and the Pentagon.
Spartans Family Restaurant is a popular destination for great food among friends in Burke.
Head to Chloez Cafe in Burke for refreshments and treats.
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Virginia Railway Express, the Metro and more
Virginia state Route 620 borders the neighborhood to the north and connects with Interstate 495, also known as the Capital Beltway, which leads drivers about 20 miles northwest to the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C., commuters can also utilize the area’s public transit. The Virginia Railway Express’s Rolling Road Station travels to D.C. on the Manassas Line. Rolling Road is also a park-and-ride spot where many locals carpool to work. The nearby Burke Center train station is also a stop on the Manassas Line, as well as a once-daily stop on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional train. For Metro service, the Franconia-Springfield station is about 8 miles away. The ride into D.C. from any station typically takes about 45 minutes. Many Metrobuses also run through the area, leading to locations like the Pentagon. For air travel, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with over 95 domestic and 5 international destinations, is about 20 miles away, and Dulles International Airport, with over 70 domestic and 60 international destinations, is about 24 miles away.
The Burke VRE Train Station keeps residents connected to popular destinations including DC.
Burke VRE Train Station connects Burke to important points of interest.
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Crime
According to FBI data, Fairfax County’s property and violent crime rates are consistently lower than state and national numbers.
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