Fairfax County, Virginia

Living in Reston, VA

Among Fairfax County's 16 largest communities, Reston has the second-shortest average commute (26 minutes). With about 63,200 residents, it's Fairfax County's 2nd-largest community. Below: prices, housing and getting around, and how Fred works here.

Get the Reston market report Plan a tour

Median home value: $642K; Census, 2020–2024
Median rent: $2,231; per month
Own their home: 61%; of households
Nearest Metro: 0.4 mi; Wiehle-Reston East

At a glance

Homes, prices & getting around.

The median home in Reston is valued at $642K, slightly below the Fairfax County median of $733K — around the middle of the 16 Fairfax County communities compared on this site. Median rent is $2,231 a month (county: $2,276).

Housing here is a mix — 20% detached houses, 30% townhouses and 50% condos and apartments. Most homes are owner-occupied (61%, against 69% across Fairfax County). The typical home was built in 1984, about the same as the Fairfax County median of 1983.

The nearest Metro station is Wiehle-Reston East (Silver Line), under half a mile from the center of Reston. Of workers here, 6% take public transit (close to the Fairfax County rate of 5%) and 34% work from home.

Homes by type of building

Detached houses 20%
Townhouses 30%
2–9 unit buildings 15%
10+ unit buildings 35%

Residents: 63,226; 2020 Census
Homes: 30,032; 2020 Census
Typical home built: 1984; median year
Avg. commute: 26 min; one way
Transit commuters: 6%; of workers
Work from home: 34%; of workers
Price-to-rent: 24; Fairfax County: 27

Straight-line distance to major job centers

Dulles Airport: 6 mi
Tysons: 7 mi
Bethesda / NIH: 14 mi
Downtown D.C.: 18 mi
Fort Meade: 34 mi

As the crow flies from the community's Census center point; drive times vary with traffic — Fred can map your real commute.

Questions

Living in Reston: common questions.

Is Reston a city? What county is it in?

No — Reston is an unincorporated community (a Census-designated place) in Fairfax County, Virginia. It has no city government of its own; Fairfax County provides local services, and the mailing-address “Reston” area can be larger than the Census boundary.

What is the median home value in Reston?

$642K, based on owners' own estimates in the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey, compared with $733K across Fairfax County. These figures trail today's prices — request a valuation or a current Reston market report for recent sales.

Do more people rent or own in Reston?

61% of households own their home and 39% rent (ACS 2020–2024), compared with 69% owners across Fairfax County. Fred can run the rent-versus-buy numbers for a specific Reston home.

How far is Reston from downtown D.C.?

Reston is about 18 miles from downtown D.C. in a straight line. The average one-way commute from here is 26 minutes.

Which schools serve Reston?

Public schools are assigned by home address. Reston is served by Fairfax County Public Schools; check the district's boundary tools for any specific address.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Reston?

A rough guide is the price-to-rent ratio — the median home value divided by a year of median rent. Here it's about 24 (Fairfax County: 27); the higher it is, the more renting tends to win on monthly cost. It's only a starting point — taxes, rates and how long you'll stay matter more. Fred runs the real numbers for specific homes.

Are there first-time buyer programs for Reston?

Yes: Virginia Housing — the state housing agency's first-time buyer loans and down-payment assistance. Eligibility and limits change, so confirm with a participating lender — Fred can introduce one.

Can Fred help me buy or sell in Reston?

Yes. Fred Mohseni is a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. with The ONE Street Company at Samson Properties. Call (202) 704-5931 or send a note.

How Fred helps

Your Reston real estate agent.

Whether you're buying, selling, investing or relocating in Reston, you work directly with Fred — a Realtor® licensed in Maryland, Virginia and D.C., with an accountant's eye for the numbers.

Buying

Tours, offers and negotiation in Reston, with a patient, jargon-free guide from pre-approval to closing day.

Selling

Pricing from recent Reston sales, then preparation and marketing for the strongest possible offer.

Investing

Rent-versus-own math, cash-flow analysis and neighborhood selection from an accounting and finance background.

Relocating

New to the area? Fred compares Reston with nearby towns and runs remote tours before you arrive.

Nearby

Reston and its neighbors.

The closest places on this site, across county and state lines. Herndon is about 2.6 miles away, McNair is about 3.6 miles away, Oakton is about 4.8 miles away.

Community	Population	Median home value	Median rent	Own their home	Typical home	Avg. commute
Reston	63,226	$642K	$2,231	61%	Mixed	26 min
Herndon	24,655	$599K	$2,259	62%	Mostly houses	28 min
McNair	21,598	$596K	$2,287	25%	Condos & apartments	25 min
Oakton	36,732	$792K	$2,276	67%	Mixed	29 min
Sterling	30,337	$526K	$2,138	72%	Mostly houses	24 min
Sugarland Run	12,345	$577K	$2,685	85%	Mostly houses	28 min
Fair Oaks	34,052	$608K	$2,275	45%	Condos & apartments	27 min

ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. * = wide margin of error. “Typical home” is the most common kind of building. On smaller screens some columns are hidden; open on a laptop for population, home type and commute.

Next step

Thinking about Reston?

Ask Fred for a current Reston market report — recent sales, what's listed and what it means for your budget. Or call (202) 704-5931.

Request the Reston market report Compare Fairfax County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; D.C. Office of Planning neighborhood clusters and regional rail stations (D.C. GIS). Home values are owners' own estimates averaged over 2020–2024, so they trail today's prices. This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Data updated November 2026.