Ashburn

Locals in Ashbrook appreciate the convenient design features of a 2000s-era suburb, built with walking paths that snake around backyards and connect to the Russell Branch creek that borders the planned community to the south. Directly north are restaurants, clinics and two supermarkets, just on the other side of Russell Branch Parkway. “But then, in the other direction, you have multiple wineries and hiking trails, like the W&OD trail, just a short ride away,” says Tanya Kerr, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty. “So you can experience both, and that's what's really nice. A lot of times when you're in closer to Fairfax, you don't get the western side of Loudoun County, which offers that real special touch.” Popular with first-time homebuyers, the developments are well-planned, with a sidewalk on at least one side of each street, consistent tree cover in yards, and plenty of parking, whether it’s in an attached garage or the back alleys of townhouses. Some sections of the neighborhood are new developments, but most were built around 2005. There are Craftsman and New Traditional single-family homes, and Colonial-style townhouses, ranging in price from $580,000 to over $1 million, depending on square footage and lot size. According to Kerr, a townhome of about 2,400 square feet in this area sells for a median price of $600,000, whereas single-family homes average around 3,500 square feet with a median price of $900,000. Central Park is a neighborhood green space east of Ashbrook, filled with trees and paved walking paths for a leisurely jog or dog walk. Ashbrook Homeowners’ Association manages the neighborhood’s outdoor pool, open during the summer months. Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park is a 3-mile drive north for locals to take in sweeping vistas of the Potomac River while hiking the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Indoor attractions can be found at One Loudoun, including Topgolf Loudoun, a driving range that offers drinks and pub grub. There’s also iFLY Indoor Skydiving, with wind tunnels for folks to learn simulated skydiving. 3 miles south is the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, a 45-mile pedestrian path that runs from Purcellville to Alexandria, for hikers and cyclists. On the west side of the neighborhood, Ashbrook Commons and newly renovated Ashbrook Marketplace Plaza shopping centers offer dining and grocery options. Locals can get their meat and produce from Harris Teeter and Lidl or sample house special rolls at Akira Sushi. East of Ashbrook is One Loudoun, a retail, dining, and entertainment destination for the whole county. One Loudoun’s free Fitness on the Plaza series hosts events like outdoor Zumba classes, while chain spots like South Block offer healthy smoothies and acai bowls. The plaza also hosts summer concerts, and folks can enjoy dinner and a movie at Alamo Drafthouse year-round. Students in the neighborhood attend Loudoun County Public Schools, recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as a School Division of Innovation. Young scholars south of Russell Branch Parkway may attend Ashburn Elementary, Farmwell Station Middle School, and Broad Run High School, which all get A-ratings from Niche. While residents north of the parkway are zoned for Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, with an A-minus, Belmont Ridge Middle, rated an A, and Riverside High, an A-plus school ranked 19th in the state by U.S. News & World Report. “You do get easy access to places like Tysons and D.C., and there’s amazing commuter opportunities with buses and with the metro,” says Kerr. The Washington Metro’s Silver Line opened in 2021, granting Loudoun County residents greater access to D.C. Locals can drive to the Ashburn station just 6 miles south and can take the train about an hour to reach the nation’s capital. Leesburg Pike is just north of Ashbrook and is Loudoun County’s main avenue, running west to Winchester and east to Tysons Corner Center, the largest mall in the D.C. – Baltimore region. Locals are also less than 10 miles from Dulles International Airport, which offers domestic and international flights.