Master-planned community with nature in Northern Virginia
Reston got its name from the initials of Robert E. Simon Jr., the town’s developer who envisioned a suburban community focused on aesthetics and shared spaces. Simon purchased the land that would become Reston in 1961, when it was just woods and farms 20 miles west of Washington, D.C. Now a thriving town of over 60,000 people, Reston has focused on smart growth with dense, multi-use developments in Reston Town Center and a new Metro station that opened in 2022. The town’s tech employers and spectrum of housing options anchor residents, and community events, expansive recreation options and shopping centers mean they don’t need to leave for entertainment. “People who live here are proud of the history,” says Claudia Viana, Realtor at Weichert Realtors in Reston. “People try to get into the area from all kinds of places. It’s very competitive because the ones here stay for many years. They love it.”
Reston Town Square Park is a public space in Reston Town Center.
Reston offers a calming lake side living a short dive from Reston Town Center.
Reston Town Center is a beautifully laid out neighborhood with an abundance of amenities.
Tall Oaks/Uplands is near metro stops that take residents right to the heart of DC.
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Outdoor recreation on bike trails and lakes
Nature sprawls across Reston, with bike and walking trails snaking through subdivisions, single-family homes tucked among dense trees and dozens of recreational areas. “Robert E. Simon was a big proponent of letting nature do its thing,” Viana says. “His vision was to have homes for people that wanted to be close to nature.”
The area's HOA, the Reston Association, maintains more than 1,350 acres of open space, 55 miles of trails, 15 pools and 16 tennis courts. Residents who aren’t part of the Reston Association can purchase a recreation pass and still enjoy the amenities. Golf enthusiasts can also tee off at Hidden Creek Country Club and Reston National Golf Course. Four manmade lakes offer opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming, and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail passes through Reston and continues for 45 miles across Northern Virginia.
For those looking to take their bike onto a rugged trail, Tall Oaks/Uplands has you covered.
Lake Anne is known for its beautiful lakeside homes.
Picturesque golf courses and Reston Town Center are a short drive away for Lake Anne residents.
Tall Oaks/Uplands is home to the massive recreation area of Lake Fairfax Park.
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Events, shopping and dining in Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Plaza
Reston Town Center has upscale shopping and dining among mixed-use office and residential buildings. Reston Town Center also hosts community events like outdoor concerts and movie nights. Locals bring out lawn chairs and blankets to watch summer concerts under the covered pavilion, and in the winter, the pavilion is transformed into an outdoor skating rink.
Lake Anne Plaza is a shopping promenade around one of Reston’s manmade lakes; it has local cafes and restaurants, boutiques and the Reston Museum. The plaza is also home to events like the Reston Farmers Market. Reston has smaller shopping plazas throughout for daily errands, with stores like Target, Wegmans and Whole Foods.
The Multicultural Festival in Reston Town Center unites with music and crowd participation.
Tall Oaks/Uplands residents enjoy Reston Town Center's bustling restaurants for good food.
Visit the Coffee House and Wine Bar at Lake Anne for tasty beverages with loved ones.
Lake Anne is a short drive to Reston Town Center where there and many shops and restaurants.
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Fairfax County Public Schools earn A’s
Students in Reston attend Fairfax County Public Schools, which Niche awards an overall A grade and names its No. 6 pick for best school district in Virginia. The district is one of the largest in the county, serving more than 182,000 students and operating more than 200 schools and centers. Several A-plus-rated private schools are in the area, including Ideaventions Academy for Math and Science and Veritas Collegiate Academy.
South Lakes High School serves the community of Reston.
Langston Hughes Middle School offers quality education to those living in Reston.
Rachel Carson Middle provides education to the students of McNair.
Lake Anne School provides quality education to kids living in Reston.
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Apartments, condos and single-family homes throughout
Reston has a wide range of housing options and prices, from one-bedroom condos in the $200,000s to multi-million-dollar estates. The median home price is $600,000, and buyers can expect to pay about $371 per square foot.
By design, all of Reston’s neighborhoods have parks, shopping and other necessities close to home. Some neighborhoods have distinct identities that attract certain buyers over others, like Reston Town Center’s more walkable, urban layout or North Reston’s tranquil, wooded surroundings.
The town has seen several new apartment developments in recent years, particularly within walking distance of the Reston Town Center Metro Station and Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. These apartments often have high-end amenities like rooftop swimming pools and landscaped courtyards. “Some of the apartments even have rooftop parks just for pets,” Viana says.
Residents of Lake Anne take pride in their landscaping and views of the lake.
Gorgeous landscaping with lush lawns grace the streets of Tall Oaks/Uplands.
Tall Oaks/Uplands offers newly built townhomes and condos.
Condos by the water with shops below make for a pampered lifestyle in Lake Anne.
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Areas of future investment
A revised Reston Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2023 and serves as the guiding document for land use and development decisions. The plan aims to continue to uphold Simon’s original vision for the area while addressing more modern logistics. Highlights of the plan include maintaining affordable housing options in both new and existing developments in Reston, preserving Reston’s environmental features and enhancing the transit corridor.
Art is on display at Reston Town Center from sculptures to murals.
Luxury high rise condos are walking distance from Reston Town Center.
Everyone can participate in Chalk Fest in Reston, VA.
Tall Oaks/Uplands locals love Wiehle-Reston Metro.
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Getting to D.C. from Reston Town Center Metro station
The Reston Town Center Metro station opened in November 2022, expanding the Silver Line into D.C. from Reston. “Nothing really stops you if you have to go to the metro. Traffic really flows, and it’s easy to get to the parking buildings,” Viana says. Many residents living in Reston Town Center can walk to the station, and bike racks are available. Alternatively, commuters can drive the 20 miles east into D.C. via the Dulles Access Road.
Although commuters can ride into Washington, D.C., on the Silver Line, Reston is home to several major employers itself. These include branches of tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Oracle Corporation. Reston Hospital Center also employs more than 1,200 people in the Reston Town Center area.
Dulles International Airport is about 5 miles west of Reston. “You can jump on the Metro and get to Dulles or drive there in 10 minutes,” Viana says.
Crime and weather in Reston, Virginia
Reston is served by the Fairfax County Police Department, which reported a 5.5% increase in property crime and a 12.5% increase in crimes against persons in the county between 2022 and 2023.
Northern Virginia experiences four seasons with hot, humid summers and mild winters. “We do have snow here sometimes, but it usually goes away after a couple days and people keep moving,” Viana says.
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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