Falmouth is a quaint community near the amenities of Fredericksburg
Falmouth is a river city with a lot to love about living in the area, according to former Falmouth resident Anne Hupka, a Realtor with The Hupka Team. “The best part about living in that area is you’re literally less than ten minutes away from Downtown Fredericksburg, so you have all the parks, the farmers market, the Rappahannock River, all of the museums, the shopping on Caroline Street, and all the restaurants,” says Hupka. “It was a great place to take friends who were visiting in town to walk around, see the sights, eat outside, that kind of thing.”
Established homes on sizable lots and newer subdivisions
Homes in Falmouth were initially built on larger tracts of land, but in the last twenty years or so more formal subdivisions have sprung up with homes at all different price points. Single-family homes could start in the upper-$200,000s, which would likely afford you a small bungalow with two or three bedrooms, and could go as high as the mid-$700,000s for new construction with more than 3,000 square feet. Townhouses are easy to come by, too; a three-bedroom unit in an older building can be found in the low-$200,000s, while newer construction with updated finishes closer to the river may go for somewhere in the upper-$400,000s.
Local schools earn at least a B-minus on Niche
Students attend Stafford County Public Schools, like Falmouth Elementary School, Edward E. Drew Jr. Middle School, and Stafford High School, all of which are graded a B or B-minus by Niche. Students at Stafford High can expand their education by applying for the Commonwealth Governor’s School, a half-day program for motivated students who wish to challenge themselves with a differentiated program of core academic subjects.
Outdoor recreation along the Rappahannock River
For residents looking for some outdoor activity, Falmouth offers a cluster of parks along the Rappahannock River, each with unique amenities. River Road Park, walkable from many homes, is situated on the river's sandy beaches and is great for fishing and dipping your toes in the water. For the more athletically inclined, St. Clair Brooks Park has a skatepark, and John Lee Pratt Memorial Park has tennis and pickleball courts and an 18-hole disc golf course. Also, according to Hupka, “The YMCA is a big amenity for people who live in Falmouth because it has a really cool water park that’s open to the public, in addition to the indoor pool and tennis court and all the other things the YMCAs offer,” she says.
Shopping along Route 17 or heading into Fredericksburg
Much of the commerce in Falmouth is concentrated along Route 17, and it’s there you’ll find major retailers, grocers, and chain restaurants. Hop across the river to Downtown Fredericksburg for more mom-and-pop joints like Orofino, headed up by Sicilian-born chef Danilo Orofino, or Carl’s, which has been a purveyor of frozen custard since 1947. More serious shopping can be achieved just 5 miles away at Spotsylvania Town Center and Central Park Plaza, which collectively have more than 250-plus retailers and restaurants. Hupka points out that a major advantage to living in Falmouth is being east of Interstate 95, which means you’re able to access these shopping destinations by taking back roads instead of having to get on the highway — a major time-saver when traffic isn’t ideal.
Photography Contributed By
Caleb Jones
