A growing town with generational ties in Northern Virginia
With a population of just under 25,000, Herndon is a relatively small town in the Northern Virginia area just 25 miles from Washington, D.C. The former railroad town is known for its walkable downtown area that prioritizes locally-owned shops and restaurants, and its streets are dotted with homes and other buildings as old as the mid-1800s. Realtor Brett Selestay of The Selestay Group describes Herndon as a cozy small town that has been consistently growing over the years. “It’s interesting — I grew up here. I was born and raised here. In fact, I do not live far from where I grew up,” he says. “As a kid, it was much quieter. Over the last 35 years, it has kind of exploded. We’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth in terms of appreciation, social activities and new businesses.”
Selestay says that compared to other areas around, Herndon is the place where he most commonly hears of people who grew up in town returning in adulthood. “I had a great childhood here — it’s a safe place with great schools, and there’s a lot of diversity in the area in terms of food and culture,” he says. “I think a lot of people had a great experience being raised here, too, and want to give their kids a similar experience.” It certainly helps, he adds, that Herndon is also a little more affordable than neighboring areas, which makes homeownership possible for many who have been priced out elsewhere in Northern Virginia.
Herndon residents love the community and historical feel.
Herndon is welcoming and an ideal place to settle down.
Learn all about Herndon's history and what the town has to offer.
Enjoy a nice walk on the W&OD Trail in Herndon.
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New builds and historic homes with character
According to Selestay, there are many types of houses for buyers in Herndon. “There’s definitely some character-driven houses downtown with a lot of really cute old school charm, as well as new construction custom-built homes that are on the more expensive end of things,” Selestay says. However, the area also has subdivisions of Colonial Revivals on quiet, tree-lined streets. Herndon's median listing price as of 2024 was $690,000, which is higher than the state median of $410,000 and the national median of $430,000.
Gorgeous homes stand tall in Herndon.
Many varieties of homes styles are present in Herndon.
Grand two-story homes are common finds for locals to reside in Herndon.
Inviting homes with lush green yards are among the sites that you will see in Herndon.
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Shopping and dining in and around Herndon
Most people head to Herndon’s downtown for shopping and dining. Bars and breweries make up the bulk of Herndon’s nightlife, and residents gather here on the weekends for the weekly farmers market. In 2019, the town announced a redevelopment project for the downtown area, with plans to add a mixed-use space containing apartments, more retail, an arts center and a parking garage. The project has been in limbo in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently paused by the builder.
Many shoppers drive to nearby towns for more retail options. “A lot of people from Herndon go meet up at the Reston Town Center and have lunch and get coffee, shop and bar hop at night. There’s an ice skating rink and a movie theater, too,” Selestay says. Reston is 2 miles from Herndon. “In the other direction, there’s something called One Loudoun, which is a similar type of town center with restaurants, movie theaters and all sorts of things happening." Loudon is about 9 miles away and also home to several rolling green hills of wine country.
Jimmy's Tavern, where all the locals hang out in Herndon.
Check out the latest movie at the local AMC Theater in the Worldgate Plaza in Herndon, VA.
Zeffirelli Ristorante Italiano, where they treat you like family in Herndon.
Aslin Beer Company is great place for the beer enthusiasts in Herndon.
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An arts district and plentiful railroad history
Herndon has roots as a railroad town, and residents get glimpses of that heritage all over the area, from public murals to the iconic caboose located at the entrance to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. The historic train depot still stands in the downtown area, although it now serves as the Herndon Depot Museum and home of the Herndon Historical Society. Also located downtown is a special arts district with nonprofits like Arts Herndon, which features a gallery, studio and performance space.
Murals show off the artistic talents and designs of the local artists in the Herndon, VA area.
Murals along the sides of buildings depict a glimpse of the history of Herndon, VA
Music at Arrowbrook Centre Park
HometownCelebration
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The Washington and Old Dominion Trail and other outdoor activities
Herndon’s Department of Parks and Recreation maintains 11 neighborhood parks, as well as a golf course and community center. Frying Pan Farm Park highlights what farm life was like in the early-to-mid 1900s, offering kids the chance to meet farm animals or take horseback riding lessons. One of Northern Virginia’s most significant outdoor features runs through Herndon. The historic Washington and Old Dominion Trail, which was built on former railroad tracks, is 45 miles long and connects Herndon residents to the neighboring towns of Reston and Sterling.
Enjoy a nice ride with your buddies on the W&OD Trail in Herndon.
Bring a skateboard and try out the skatepark within Trailside Park.
Take a trip to Herndon's historic town hall.
Work on your swing with fellow members at the Herndon Centennial Municipal Golf Course.
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A convenient D.C. commuter location
Herndon is located along the Dulles Toll Road and just a few miles from Route 7, both major commuter roads to locations like Tysons Corner or Washington, D.C. Residents and commuters can hop on the Silver Line of the Metro at Herndon Station to be in D.C. within about 45 minutes. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation provides bus service around the area; new, more efficient routes were rolled out with commuters in mind following Herndon Station’s opening in November 2022. When it’s time to get out of town, Dulles International Airport is just 3 miles from the center of Herndon and offers nonstop flights to 74 domestic and 60 international destinations.
Herndon students attend the large Fairfax County School district
Students in Herndon are served by Fairfax County Public Schools. Niche awards the district an overall A grade and names it as their No. 6 pick for Best School Districts in Virginia. Serving more than 182,000 students and operating nearly 200 schools and centers, it’s one of the largest districts in the county. As one of the largest employers in Virginia, the district has 25,175 full-time employees. According to Selestay, many folks carefully consider the zip code of the house they’re looking at in Herndon — either 20170 or 20171 — because they are zoned for specific schools in the district.
The Hutchinson Elementary School is named after the late E. Barbour Hutchinson.
Herndon High School provides a nuturing enviroment for students to thrive near Herndon.
The Herndon Middle School serves grades 6-8 to students in and near the Herndon, VA region.
Herndon Elementary School is a public, accredited, primary school in Herndon, VA.
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Crime and weather trends in Herndon
According to FBI statistics, violent crime rates in Herndon are similar to state and national averages, but property crime rates are lower than state and national averages. The town experiences all four seasons, including hot and humid summers and chilly winters, though snowfall isn't very common.
I am detailed oriented and a tenacious negotiator! Licensed in Virginia & Maryland with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, I have sold real estate in Northern Virginia and Maryland since 2004, having been involved in over 200 transactions. Interests: I enjoy golf, traveling, the beach, reading a good book and also appreciate a good wine at the local vineyards.
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