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Fairfax County community
Living in Reston
Reston is the planned community Robert E. Simon started in the 1960s: village centers, four lakes and a web of footpaths, now with two Silver Line stations and a downtown at Reston Town Center.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Reston?
Reston is an unincorporated planned community in northwestern Fairfax County, Virginia, laid out in the 1960s around village centers, lakes and walking paths. Housing ranges from 1960s modernist townhouses at Lake Anne to cluster townhomes, single-family neighborhoods and high-rise condos near Metro. Most properties belong to Reston Association, which set a 2026 assessment of $890. Wiehle-Reston East and Reston Town Center stations put the Silver Line within reach of much of the community.
- Jurisdiction: Unincorporated Fairfax County, VA
- Metro: Wiehle-Reston East and Reston Town Center (Silver Line)
- Community association: Reston Association, 2026 assessment $890
- Typical homes: Cluster townhomes, single-family, mid- and high-rise condos
- Major roads: Dulles Toll Road, Fairfax County Parkway, Reston Parkway
- Public schools: Fairfax County Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Reston
What it's like to live in Reston
Reston was designed so that you could walk from your front door to a lake, a pool or a village center without touching a major road. That idea still shapes daily life. Paths run behind houses and through woods, and many neighborhoods are organized as clusters around shared green space.
There are two centers of gravity. Lake Anne Village Center, which opened in 1965, is the original waterfront plaza with apartments above shops. Reston Town Center, near the Dulles Toll Road, is the denser downtown with offices, restaurants, a winter skating pavilion and high-rise living.
When I show homes here, I ask clients which they picture themselves using more: the lakes and trails or the Metro and Town Center. The answer narrows the map quickly.
Reston
Homes and housing types in Reston
Reston’s housing was built over six decades, so the same community holds very different products and fee structures.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Modernist townhouses and condos | 1960s designs around Lake Anne | Historic overlay review for exterior work, condo or cluster finances, older systems |
| Cluster townhomes | 1960s to 1990s groupings around common green space | Cluster fee on top of Reston Association, reserve study, roof and siding replacement plans |
| Single-family homes | Colonials, contemporaries and split-levels on wooded lots | Design review rules for decks, fences and paint, tree and drainage issues |
| Mid- and high-rise condos | Near Reston Town Center and Wiehle-Reston East | Condo fee coverage, parking, rental rules, distance on foot to the station |
Prices vary more by type and location than by any single median. For current numbers, see my Fairfax County market report or ask me to pull recent Reston sales.
Reston
Getting around Reston
- Metro: Wiehle-Reston East opened with the first Silver Line phase in 2014. Reston Town Center opened with the extension on November 15, 2022, according to Fairfax County. Dulles Airport station is three stops west of Reston Town Center.
- Bus: Fairfax Connector routes feed both stations from the neighborhoods.
- Roads: the Dulles Toll Road runs along the north side, with Fairfax County Parkway, Reston Parkway, Wiehle Avenue and Route 7 handling local trips.
- Trails: the W&OD Trail crosses Reston, linking to Herndon, Vienna and Arlington, and the internal path network ties into it.
My post on what the Silver Line changed covers how station distance plays out in values.
Reston
Parks, shopping and things to do in Reston
- Four lakes: Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, Lake Audubon and Lake Newport, owned and managed by Reston Association.
- Walker Nature Center: Reston Association’s wooded preserve with trails and nature programs.
- Lake Fairfax Park: a Fairfax County park with a lake, campground and seasonal water features.
- Reston Town Center: shops, restaurants and a pavilion that turns into an outdoor ice rink each winter.
- Village centers: Lake Anne, Hunters Woods, South Lakes and North Point cover groceries and daily errands.
- Reston Community Center: classes, performances and an indoor pool, funded in part by a local special tax.
Reston
Owning a home in Reston
County tax plus two Reston districts. Reston is not a town, so there is no town government or town tax. Owners pay Fairfax County real estate tax, plus the Reston Service District ($0.021 per $100) and the Reston Community Center district ($0.047 per $100) for 2026, per the county’s tax rate page. The Dulles Rail districts apply only to commercial property.
Reston Association. Membership is mandatory for most properties. The board adopted an $890 assessment for 2026, up from $848, as FFXnow reported. Many townhomes and condos add a cluster or condo fee.
Design review. Exterior changes such as decks, fences, paint and windows typically need Reston Association approval. Lake Anne Village Center is also a county historic overlay district reviewed by the Architectural Review Board.
Read every layer of the resale packet, and talk with a Virginia real estate attorney or CPA about tax or legal questions.
Reston
Is Reston a good fit?
- If you want to walk or bike to a lake, pool or trail every day, the path system is the reason to choose Reston.
- If you want Metro and Dulles Airport on the same line, both stations deliver that.
- If you dislike association rules or layered fees, compare carefully with nearby Herndon.
- If you prefer a downtown setting, look at condos near Reston Town Center.
For a deeper walkthrough, read my full article, Living in Reston, VA.
Reston
Keep exploring Reston
Read more about Reston and the area
- Living in Reston, VA: A Local’s Guide to Homes, Trails and Daily Life
- Reston vs. Herndon: Which Silver Line Town Fits Your Life?
- Living Near Metro in Northern Virginia: What the Silver Line Changed
- Fairfax County’s 2026 Assessments: What Owners Should Check Before the Appeal Deadline
- HOA and Condo Fees: What They Cover and 7 Red Flags to Watch For
Run the numbers
- Mortgage Calculator
- Affordability Calculator
- Sell First or Buy First?
- Fairfax County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Fairfax County
Sources: Fairfax County: 2026 real estate tax rates; Fairfax County: Silver Line extension opening; Fairfax County: Lake Anne historic overlay district; FFXnow: Reston Association 2026 budget. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
Neighborhood Advice
Not sure which neighborhood fits?
Book a call and I’ll help you compare neighborhoods around your commute, budget and lifestyle, and figure out where you’ll be happiest living.
Reston FAQ
Questions about living in Reston
Is Reston, VA its own town?
No. Reston is an unincorporated community governed by Fairfax County. Owners pay county real estate tax plus two small Reston special district taxes.
How much is the Reston Association fee in 2026?
The 2026 annual assessment is $890, up from $848 in 2025. Many cluster and condo owners pay a second association fee on top of it.
What schools serve Reston homes?
Reston is served by Fairfax County Public Schools. Confirm assignments for any address with the FCPS Boundary Locator, since boundaries change. My guide at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ explains how to verify.
How many Metro stations does Reston have?
Two, both on the Silver Line: Wiehle-Reston East, which opened in 2014, and Reston Town Center, which opened in November 2022.
Can I build a deck or fence without approval in Reston?
Usually not. Reston Association's design review covers most exterior changes, and a cluster or condo association may have its own rules as well.
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Let’s find your place in Reston.
Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or investing, tell me what worries you most. We’ll talk through your goals and build a clear plan, with no pressure and no obligation.
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