Argyle Heights

Fredericksburg is a rapidly growing city located at the furthest reaches of the D.C. and Richmond metro areas. Located along the heavily trafficked I-95 corridor, commuting has gotten easier since the express lanes were extended 10 miles into the area, though the area is known for heavy traffic. Its proximity to both capitals is a draw, but the city itself has become a destination for homebuyers looking for a discount from Northern Virginia prices. Argyle Heights is a sleepy little neighborhood tucked away minutes to the southeast. “Its proximity to Fredericksburg is a big draw here; it’s about five minutes away,” says Charlotte Rouse with Coldwell Banker Elite. “You’re five minutes from downtown, but you feel like you’re in the country.”

The real estate market in Argyle Heights is highly competitive for a few reasons, including a limited inventory. “We have a very high demand here because very few homes come on the market, and a lot of homes sell before they hit the market,” Rouse says. “The neighborhood is older and mature, so you have people who were born or raised here that grow up and tend to return.” An idyllic community set under a canopy of lush tree growth, the winding streets lack sidewalks, but the secluded location provides a level of safety for children riding bikes and playing in spacious front yards. Homes range in price from $450,000 on the low end to $700,000 on the high end. Architecture runs the gamut in Argyle Heights, with classic colonials, ramblers and split-levels set on generous lots. “There is the occasional new construction through local builders, and they sell really quickly,” Rouse says.

Families with children in Argyle Heights are served by Stafford County Public Schools, an above-average district with a B-plus from Niche. “This area is multigenerational partially because of the schools, which bring people back,” Rouse says. A walkable community school within the neighborhood with a B grade, Ferry Farm Elementary School has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, better than the national average of 17 to 1. Dixon-Smith Middle School is the fourth-best public middle school in Stafford County and gets an A in diversity from Niche. The school has diverse curriculum options in business, family and consumer science and digital art. With a B from Niche, Stafford Senior High School is an above-average high school that was rebuilt in 2015 and is set adjacent to a picturesque pond surrounded by trees. The school offers the Commonwealth Governor’s School, which provides gifted and highly motivated students with a challenging, differentiated, and interdisciplinary program.

Entirely residential and quiet by design, residents of Argyle Heights have easy access to downtown Fredericksburg to enjoy a little shopping or a night out. For stocking up on groceries and essentials, the Giant Food in Eagle Village off Emancipation Highway is a one-stop shop with a full-service pharmacy. For a morning java jolt, Agora Downtown Coffee Shop & Roastery is a charming, artsy coffeehouse with light fare. The quaint little shop sells secondhand books and gifts, and the private patio seating is a popular choice in the warmer months. William Street and Caroline Street are teeming with businesses and independent dining destinations. The Fredericksburg Area Museum features exhibits that span more than 10,000 years of history, ranging from Native American artifacts to Black Lives Matter posters. For a high-end meal, Foode is a farm-to-table restaurant that serves classic American fare like elevated chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits.

There is an abundance of natural beauty in and around Greater Fredericksburg, which is located between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east. Downtown is awash in dedicated green space and public parks, including scenic spots along the river. Old Mille Park is a public park on the water featuring a swimming beach, soccer fields and picnic areas. It’s a great place to take a relaxing walk along the river and admire the wildlife, though the area is prone to flooding when it rains. Closer to home in Argyle Heights, Lake Carroll is a reservoir popular with fishermen. The water is home to a variety of fish, including blue catfish, white perch, largemouth bass and bluegill. Right off Virginia State Route 3 is Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park, a grassy recreational area with baseball and soccer fields, an all-ages playground and a designated off-leash dog park.

Written By

Amber Steinmetz-Cole

Video By

Becky Gaskill