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Loudoun County town
Living in Leesburg
Leesburg is an incorporated town and Loudoun's county seat, with a walkable historic downtown, the W&OD Trail and neighborhoods spreading out along Route 7 and Route 15. There is no Metro stop in town.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Leesburg?
Leesburg is an incorporated town that serves as Loudoun County's seat. Homes inside town limits pay a town real estate tax on top of the county rate, get water and sewer from the town, and follow town zoning, including historic district review downtown. Housing ranges from 18th and 19th century buildings on King and Market streets to subdivisions built since the 1980s. Commuters rely on Route 7, Route 15, the Dulles Greenway and commuter buses.
- Jurisdiction: Town of Leesburg, within Loudoun County, VA
- Real estate tax: County $0.805 + town $0.1774 per $100 (2026 rates)
- Metro: None in town; nearest is Ashburn (Silver Line)
- Typical homes: Historic downtown homes, 1980s to today subdivisions
- Major roads: Route 7, Route 15 and Bypass, Dulles Greenway (toll)
- Public schools: Loudoun County Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Leesburg
What it's like to live in Leesburg
Downtown Leesburg is the draw that most Loudoun suburbs can’t copy. The courthouse square, brick sidewalks and restaurants along King and Market streets give the town a center you can actually walk to, and the W&OD Trail cuts right through it.
Beyond the historic core, Leesburg looks like a growing suburb: subdivisions with pools and trails on the north, south and east sides, shopping along Route 7 and the Route 15 Bypass, and an outlet center on the east side. Farms and wineries begin just past the edges.
The thing I explain on almost every Leesburg tour is the boundary. Plenty of homes with a Leesburg mailing address, including Lansdowne and River Creek, are outside town limits, and that changes taxes, utilities and rules.
Leesburg
Homes and housing types in Leesburg
Leesburg has the widest age range of housing in Loudoun, from colonial-era buildings to townhouses finished this year.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Historic downtown homes | 18th and 19th century brick and frame houses and townhouses, often on small lots | Historic district approval for exterior work, older systems, lot lines |
| Mid-century houses | Ramblers, split-levels and Cape Cods near downtown | Electrical, plumbing, drainage and renovation permits |
| 1980s to 2000s subdivisions | Colonials and townhouses with HOA pools and trails | HOA rules, roof and HVAC age, deck condition |
| Newer construction | Townhouses, condos and some single-family homes near Route 7 and the Bypass | Builder warranty, HOA startup budget, final inspections |
| Just outside town | Large planned communities and estate lots with Leesburg addresses | Jurisdiction, well and septic, private roads |
If you’re looking at a rural lot near town, read my guide to well and septic inspections.
Leesburg
Getting around Leesburg
- Route 7 runs east to Ashburn, Sterling, Tysons and the Beltway, and west to Purcellville.
- The Dulles Greenway is a privately operated toll road linking Leesburg with Route 28 and the Dulles Toll Road.
- Route 15 heads north toward Maryland and south toward Route 50; the Route 15 Bypass skirts downtown.
- Transit: there is no Metro in Leesburg. The Silver Line’s Ashburn station is the nearest, and Loudoun County Transit runs commuter buses toward Metro and the D.C. area.
- Airports: Dulles International is to the southeast; Leesburg Executive Airport serves general aviation.
- Trail: the 45-mile W&OD Trail passes through town on its way between Shirlington and Purcellville.
For a side-by-side look at commute trade-offs, read Ashburn vs. Leesburg.
Leesburg
Parks, shopping and things to do in Leesburg
- Downtown Leesburg: restaurants, breweries and independent shops around the courthouse.
- Morven Park: a historic estate with grounds, trails and equestrian events.
- Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park: a NOVA Parks Civil War site with trails above the Potomac.
- Ida Lee Park: the town’s recreation center, pool, courts and fields.
- Leesburg Premium Outlets: an outdoor outlet center on the east side of town.
- Annual events: the town’s Flower and Garden Festival fills downtown each April, and Parks and Recreation runs a busy calendar through the year.
- Wine country: a short drive west; see my Loudoun wine country guide.
Leesburg
Owning a home in Leesburg
Inside town limits you deal with two governments. Loudoun County’s rate is $0.805 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026, approved April 7, 2026. The Town Council kept the town rate at 17.74 cents per $100 in the FY 2027 budget adopted March 24, 2026. Homes outside the limits pay only the county rate.
- Town utilities: most in-town homes get water and sewer from the town, which said its FY 2027 rates raise the average residential bill 4.1%.
- Historic districts: in the Old and Historic District, all exterior alterations need a certificate of appropriateness, even in-kind replacement. Staff can approve minor items; the Board of Architectural Review hears additions, decks, window replacements and demolition. The Gateway and H-2 Corridor districts also require approval for most exterior changes.
- HOAs: common in subdivisions, rare downtown.
- Prices: vary widely between downtown, subdivisions and outside-town communities. See the Loudoun County market report or ask me for current comparable sales.
For tax questions on a specific property, a CPA or Virginia real estate attorney is the right resource. My overview of Northern Virginia property taxes shows how town and county rates combine.
Leesburg
Is Leesburg a good fit?
If you want to walk to dinner downtown and still have a yard, Leesburg is one of the few Loudoun options. If you plan to renovate an older home, budget time for historic review. If a daily Metro ride is non-negotiable, compare Ashburn first.
Leesburg
Keep exploring Leesburg
Read more about Leesburg and the area
- Living in Leesburg, VA: Historic Downtown, New Neighborhoods and Real Trade-offs
- Ashburn vs. Leesburg: Choosing Your Loudoun County Home Base
- Loudoun Wine Country for New Residents: How to Plan a Weekend
- Northern Virginia Property Taxes: Rates, Real Bills and What Newcomers Miss
Run the numbers
- Mortgage Calculator
- Closing Cost Estimator
- Neighborhood Match Quiz
- Loudoun County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Loudoun County
Sources: Town of Leesburg: FY 2027 budget adopted; Town of Leesburg: Certificates of Appropriateness; Loudoun County: Current budget and tax rate; NOVA Parks: W&OD Railroad Regional Park; NOVA Parks: Ball's Bluff Battlefield; 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.
Leesburg FAQ
Questions about living in Leesburg
Do you pay town taxes in Leesburg VA?
Only inside town limits. Those homes pay the town rate of 17.74 cents per $100 for FY 2027 plus Loudoun County's $0.805 rate for tax year 2026.
Is Lansdowne in the Town of Leesburg?
No. Lansdowne uses a Leesburg mailing address but sits in unincorporated Loudoun County, so it pays only county real estate tax. Check the county property record for any address.
Does Leesburg have a Metro station?
No. The closest station is Ashburn at the western end of the Silver Line, and Loudoun County Transit commuter buses serve Leesburg.
Do I need approval to replace windows on a historic Leesburg home?
In the Old and Historic District, yes. Window and door replacement goes to the Board of Architectural Review, so check with town preservation staff before you plan the work.
How do I check which schools serve a Leesburg home?
Leesburg is in Loudoun County Public Schools. Verify the address with the LCPS attendance zone maps and confirm with the school division, as explained at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/.
Let's Chat
Let’s find your place in Leesburg.
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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