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Loudoun County community
Living in Ashburn
Ashburn is eastern Loudoun County's largest suburb, built mostly since the late 1980s around planned communities, the W&OD Trail and, since 2022, the western end of Metro's Silver Line.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Ashburn?
Ashburn is an unincorporated community in eastern Loudoun County with no town government, so owners pay Loudoun County taxes only. Most homes are townhouses, stacked condos and single-family houses built since the late 1980s inside planned communities with mandatory HOAs. The Silver Line's Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway stations opened in November 2022. Ashburn is also the center of Loudoun's data center cluster, so checking nearby land use is part of buying here.
- Jurisdiction: Unincorporated Loudoun County, VA (no town tax)
- Metro: Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway (Silver Line)
- Typical homes: 1990s to today townhomes, 2-over-2 condos, colonials
- Major roads: Route 7, Route 28, Dulles Greenway (toll), Loudoun Co. Pkwy
- Trails: W&OD Trail; Reservoir Park at Beaverdam Reservoir
- Public schools: Loudoun County Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Ashburn
What it's like to live in Ashburn
Ashburn is a place you understand community by community. Ashburn Farm, Ashburn Village, Broadlands, Lansdowne and Belmont Country Club each have their own pools, trail loops, clubhouses and rules, and the shopping centers that serve them sit at the edges along Route 7, Ashburn Village Boulevard and Claiborne Parkway.
Newer, denser pockets have grown up around One Loudoun near Route 7 and around the Ashburn Metro station at Moorefield. Large data center campuses fill much of the land between Route 7, Loudoun County Parkway and Route 28.
The first question I hear from buyers touring Ashburn is how close the data centers are. It’s a fair question, and the answer changes from street to street.
Ashburn
Homes and housing types in Ashburn
Little of Ashburn predates 1990, so the trade-offs are about layout, lot size and HOA structure more than age.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family colonials | 1990s to 2010s homes with two-car garages and finished basements | Roof and HVAC replacement timing, HOA approval for decks and fences |
| Townhouses | Older front-load models and newer rear-load designs near transit | Master and sub-association dues, parking limits |
| Two-over-two condos | Stacked units that look like townhouses, common since the 2000s | Condo budget, reserves and FHA or VA approval status |
| Mid-rise condos and apartments | Newer buildings near One Loudoun and the Silver Line | Garage parking, amenity fees and resale history |
| Age-restricted communities | Neighborhoods operating under the federal housing for older persons rules | Age verification policies and what the HOA covers |
New construction continues in pockets, especially near the stations. My new construction tips cover builder contracts and inspections.
Ashburn
Getting around Ashburn
- Metrorail: the Silver Line extension opened in November 2022. Ashburn station, at the line’s western end, sits by the Dulles Greenway near Moorefield; Loudoun Gateway station is one stop east near Route 606. Both have county parking garages.
- Roads: Route 7 runs along the north side, Route 28 along the east, and Loudoun County Parkway and Belmont Ridge Road run north-south. The privately operated Dulles Greenway is a toll road that connects to the Dulles Toll Road.
- Airport: Dulles International is on the southeast edge, and its own Silver Line station is one stop east of Loudoun Gateway.
- Trails: the W&OD Trail crosses Ashburn on its 45-mile route from Shirlington to Purcellville, with a trail parking lot at Ashburn Road.
Metro works well for Reston, Tysons and Dulles trips. For downtown jobs, compare the train with commuter buses; my Silver Line guide covers both.
Ashburn
Parks, shopping and things to do in Ashburn
- W&OD Trail: the paved NOVA Parks rail trail, popular for biking toward Leesburg or Reston.
- Reservoir Park: a NOVA Parks site on the southeast side of Loudoun Water’s Beaverdam Reservoir with trails, boardwalks, a boat rental facility and a crew facility. Hours are seasonal, so check before you go.
- One Loudoun: a mixed-use center near Route 7 with restaurants, shops and community events.
- Neighborhood centers: grocery-anchored shopping in Ashburn Village, Ashburn Farm and Broadlands.
- Loudoun wine country: a short drive west; see my wine country guide.
Ashburn
Owning a home in Ashburn
Ashburn has no mayor or town council. Loudoun County sets your tax rate, which the Board of Supervisors held at $0.805 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026 when it approved the budget on April 7, 2026.
- HOAs are close to universal. Many homes pay a master association plus a townhouse or condo sub-association. Budget for both and read the resale packet during your review period.
- Data center land use: on March 18, 2025, Loudoun County ended data centers as a by-right use, so new ones now need a special exception approved by the Board of Supervisors. Some applications filed before that change were grandfathered, and the Board has since asked for legal analysis on ending those exceptions, so check the latest status. Look at aerial imagery and the county’s zoning map around any home, and read data centers and home values.
- Power lines and substations: ask about planned transmission projects near the property.
- Prices: vary sharply by community and home type. For current figures, see the Loudoun County market report or ask me for comparable sales.
A lender can help you compare HOA dues and tolls against your payment, and a Virginia real estate attorney can review association documents.
Ashburn
Is Ashburn a good fit?
If you want a newer home with pools, trails and clubhouses run by an association, Ashburn has many choices. If Silver Line access matters, focus on the sections near Moorefield and Loudoun Gateway. If you’d rather avoid HOAs or want a historic downtown, compare it with Leesburg.
Ashburn
Keep exploring Ashburn
Read more about Ashburn and the area
- Living in Ashburn, VA: Homes, Commutes and What to Know Before You Buy
- Ashburn vs. Leesburg: Choosing Your Loudoun County Home Base
- Data Centers Near Homes: What Northern Virginia Buyers and Owners Should Know
- Living Near Metro in Northern Virginia: What the Silver Line Changed
- Living in Brambleton and South Riding: Loudoun’s Planned Communities Compared
Run the numbers
- Affordability Calculator
- Mortgage Calculator
- Neighborhood Match Quiz
- Loudoun County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Loudoun County
Sources: Loudoun County: Data Centers, The Loudoun Story; Loudoun County: Data Centers, Land Use; Loudoun County: Current budget and tax rate; NOVA Parks: W&OD Railroad Regional Park; NOVA Parks: Reservoir Park; LCPS: School attendance zone maps. 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.
Ashburn FAQ
Questions about living in Ashburn
Is Ashburn VA a town or a city?
Neither. Ashburn is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, so there is no town government or town tax, and the county provides local services.
How many Metro stations are in Ashburn?
Two Silver Line stations serve the area: Ashburn, the western end of the line, and Loudoun Gateway, one stop east. Both opened in November 2022.
Can a data center be built next to my neighborhood in Ashburn?
Since March 2025, new data centers in Loudoun County need a special exception approved by the Board of Supervisors, though some earlier applications were grandfathered. Check the county zoning map and pending applications around any home you consider.
How do I find which schools serve an Ashburn address?
Use the Loudoun County Public Schools attendance zone maps and confirm with LCPS, since zones shift as new schools open. My guide at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ explains how to verify before you buy.
Let's Chat
Let’s find your place in Ashburn.
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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