Busy residential community 15 miles outside of D.C.
Franconia was once part of a 191-acre homestead, but today, it's a booming residential community with more than 18,000 residents. Neighborhoods of condos, townhouses and single-family homes mingle with busy shopping centers and Metro stations along major arterial roads. And its prime location, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C., makes it a popular choice for city commuters. “It’s a great commuting location,” says Erin Jones, a Realtor with KW Metro Center. “It’s 20 minutes from D.C., close to Springfield and Kingstowne, another busy shopping area.” The community is also home to a couple of small parks and a history museum, but for more amenities D.C. and Old Town Alexandria are just a short drive away.
Franconia is a neighborhood full of history in Virginia.
Franconia's Kingstowne Towne Center: Where local charm meets shopping convenience.
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Wildlife, historic homes at nearby Huntley Meadows Park
There are two small sports parks in Franconia: Manchester Lakes Park and Grove Point Park. Both feature large open fields regularly used for youth league soccer games, and Grove Point has several ball fields used by little leaguers. To access more extensive outdoor spaces, residents will need to visit neighboring communities, like Hybla Valley, home to the 1,500-acre award-winning Huntley Meadows Park. Nature lovers regularly flock here to observe wildlife in various natural habitats, ranging from forests to wetlands to wildflower meadows. History buffs can also explore former Alexandria Mayor Thomas Francis Macon's historic home, tucked in the woods on the east end of the park. Another popular outdoor space is Franconia Park, which caters to kids with a whimsical playground and spray pad inspired by the legend of Chessie, the Chesapeake Bay sea monster.
With many amenity in the neighborhood, Franconia residents can enjoy staying active.
Situated in Franconia, Huntley Meadows Park have a lot of wildlife habitat a
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Kingstowne Farmers Market runs from May through October
Franconia is about 15 miles from Washington, D.C., where there are dozens of national science, art, and history museums. However, residents looking to stay closer to home also have several options, including the one-room Franconia Museum, with exhibits highlighting how the community has evolved. Residents can learn more about Franconia's past by taking a private walking tour led by Franconia Museum Vice President Nathaniel Lee. A popular nearby reoccurring event is the Kingstowne Farmers Market, held in Kingstowne Towne Center every Friday afternoon between May and October. The community is also home to over a dozen houses of worship, including one mosque.
More than 100 stores, eateries in Kingstowne Towne Center
Kingstowne Towne Center is Franconia's central shopping center, housing over 100 stores, restaurants and service-related businesses. Large retailers in the center include Walmart, Safeway, HomeGoods, World Market and more. The restaurants here are primarily national chains like CAVA, which serves classic Mediterranean dishes in a fast-casual environment, and &pizza, known for its long and narrow personal gourmet pies. One standout local spot is Pho Ngon, a family-run spot serving traditional Vietnamese pho. Across town, residents can find Hilltop Village Center, an outdoor shopping mall with a Wegmans grocery store, LA Fitness, and several regional and national chain eateries.
World Market in Franconia offer a wide variety of products from all around the world.
Franconia residents enjoy going to Kingtowne Town Center to enjoy a movie, shopping and dining.
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Midcentury ranches to modern mansions
Franconia has a wealth of architectural styles and housing options, ranging from midcentury ranches to contemporary mansions and luxury condos. While there are a handful of craftsman and colonial-inspired new builds on the northern end of town, most homes were built between the 1930s and '80s in Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival, ranch, and Colonial-inspired modern styles. They often sit on more spacious lots, harkening back to Franconia's rural beginnings. Smaller, older dwellings start at around $500,000, while estate-sized homes can go for over $1.2 million. New builds have a smaller price range, selling for between $880,000 and $1.2 million. Homes on the southern half of town tend to be newer, having been built post-WWII and into the early 2000s. The styles largely remain the same, with ranches, Colonial Revivals and colonial-inspired modern builds dominating the landscape. They tend to sell for between $650,000 and $1.1 million. Condos and townhouses are another popular option here. Homebuyers can find everything from older one-bedroom units for $270,000 to new three-bedrooms for just under $1 million.
You can find many ranch style split-level houses in Franconia.
Colonial single family house in Franconia are new and beautiful.
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Two nearby Metro stations
Franconia's location next to U.S. Interstate Highways 495 and 395 makes commuting to nearby cities, like D.C. and Arlington, easy. Also close by is U.S. Interstate Highway 95, which runs north to south from Maine to Florida. Public transit is readily available here, with Fairfax County Department of Transportation buses running throughout the community and Metro trains picking up at the Franconia-Springfield Station. “Franconia’s between two Metro spots. And in some of the neighborhoods, there are Metro paths, which is nice,” Jones says. For longer trips, residents can head to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about 13 miles away, or Dulles International Airport, about 30 miles away.
Fairfax County Public Schools offer specialized STEM programs
Franconia is served by the Fairfax County Public School District, which supports 199 schools and centers, making it one of the largest districts in the U.S. It received high marks in college preparation, clubs and activities and academics, and Niche ranked it the No. 6 best school district in Virginia. One particular pipeline students can follow includes Franconia Elementary School, graded a B on Niche; Twain Middle School, graded an A-minus; and Edison High School, graded a B-plus. Edison High has several specialty academic pathways, including its Global STEM Challenges Program, a three-year program that aims to equip students with advanced math, science, technology and engineering skills.
Hayfield Elementary in Franconia have a over B+ rating on Niche.
Hayfield Secondary School is a highly rated, public, magnet school located in Franconia.
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Crime
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, between 2021 and 2022, the number of property crimes in Franconia rose by nearly 28%, while reported violent crimes dropped by over 9%. Franconia has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, placing it below the countywide score of 4.
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