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Fair Oaks vs Reston

Fair Oaks, Virginia versus Reston, Virginia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Fair Oaks

Mixed · objective livability43/100

Reston

Mixed · objective livability45/100

Fair Oaks and Reston score about the same overall (43 vs 45 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorFair OaksReston
Affordability
Median Household Income$119k$136k
Cost of Living$76k$76k
Home Value$553k$592k
Monthly Rent$2k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$3k$3k
Property Tax Rate1.04%1.04%
Income Tax5.80%5.80%
Sales Tax5.77%5.77%
Estimated total tax burden12.56%12.25%
Unemployment5.9%4.3%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)35°F35°F
Summer Temp (Jul)79°F78°F
Annual Precipitation46.4 in46.4 in
Annual Snowfall18.5 in18.5 in
Sunny Days181 days181 days
Summer Humidity65°F65°F
Comfortable Days77 days76 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk7.59.1
Air Quality50 AQI48 AQI
School Quality74.174.1
Violent Crime1310/100k1310/100k
Property Crime2664/100k2664/100k
Community
Population35,13062,339
Median Age34.340.1
Racial Diversity0.640.55
Male/Female Ratio0.970.94
Political LeaningD+39D+39
White (%)47.9%58.9%
Black (%)10.1%9.5%
Hispanic (%)10.7%14.1%
Asian (%)27.4%11.5%
Other / Multiracial (%)3.9%5.9%
Getting Around
Commute Time31 min28 min
Walkability12.9/2013.8/20
Airport Distance8 mi6 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access97.3%96.1%
Amenities Nearby152.8667.85
Park & Nature AccessLimitedModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fair Oaks or Reston more affordable?
Reston has the lower cost of living: its index is $76k, compared with Fair Oaks's $76k and Reston's $76k. Median rent is $2k in Fair Oaks versus $2k in Reston.
Is Fair Oaks or Reston safer?
Reston has the lower violent crime rate. Fair Oaks reports 1310/100k and Reston reports 1310/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Fair Oaks or Reston?
The median home value is $553k in Fair Oaks and $592k in Reston, so homes are more affordable in Fair Oaks.
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