East Centreville

If the name fits, wear it proudly. That’s what East Centreville has done since 1792. Although a lot has changed since Colonial times, the name is more appropriate than ever before as the area continues to evolve into a cultural epicenter for Northern Virginia. “It’s centrally located, has great schools and is very diverse,” says Realtor Jay Noh for Samson Properties, who has served the area for 19 years.

East Centreville sits just below Interstate 66 and is a mostly planned community of winding suburban streets accented with homes that largely came about in the early 1990s or later. The tangled nebula of long, curved streets, many ending in cul-de-sacs, is filled to the brim with post-90s town houses and midcentury ranch homes. The yards on which these homes stand can range from modest to massive, but most of them allow you to wave to your neighbor while still enjoying plenty of privacy. A single-family home in East Centreville usually sells around a median of $800,000, but many, especially town homes, start at or below $500,000.

Northern Virginia is widely known for its excellent public schools and the options in East Centreville are no different. Young students begin at either Powell or Centreville Elementary, the latter of which holds a farmer’s market in the parking lot every Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. until mid-November. After elementary school, students move on to Liberty Middle and Centreville High Schools, both of which earn an A- or higher from Niche.

Although less than 30 miles from one of America’s most culturally vibrant cities, residents do not have to hop on the numerous highways that run through town to find a fun night out. East Centreville has become a hotspot for dining and retail options from all over the planet, but there is an especially noticeable Korean influence. “Northern Virginia used to not have anything resembling a KTown, and now that exists in East Centreville,” Noh says. Among the popular options in East Centreville is Choong Man Chicken, a Korean chain whose snow onion chicken keeps locals coming back for more. But thanks to an H Mart location and several locally owned international markets, you can explore the cuisines of a different country from the comfort of your home, rather than hopping on the interstate to head into DC. That said, if you are looking to head into the city, you have your choice between a 24-mile drive or leaving the car at the Vienna Metro Station in Fairfax.

On rainy days, locals sit back in a comfy leather chair to pair cheeseburgers with matinees at the local Cinemark. But if the weather is nice, you can have your pick of outdoor activities in East Centreville. The area is littered with playgrounds, although many of these belong to neighborhood HOAs. Public options include Arrowhead Park to the north and Braddock Park to the south, which house soccer and baseball fields for rec leagues and general play. Braddock Park is also adjacent to Twin Lakes Golf Course, a public facility that offers lessons to players who want to learn how to play 18 holes, complete with a clubhouse and café. But if you would prefer a long walk without 10 pounds of clubs on your back, there are many nature trails in the area as well. Just a short drive down Interstate 66 is Manassas National Battlefield Park, where you can walk the paths of soldiers who served in the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War. After your hike, cool off by splashing around the Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run.

As Northern Virginia continues to grow, East Centreville sits confidently at the center of it all. It’s truly a melting pot of everything that makes owning a home in Northern Virginia so desirable.

Written By

Tom Jakob

Video By

Curtis Newkirk