Mount Vernon is a historic property turned tight-knit community
Originally the residence and plantation of George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon along the Potomac River is now a suburban community known for its preserved past. When developers began subdividing the area’s rolling terrain in the 1950s, the president’s 18th-century mansion and a few other buildings were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, George Washington’s Mount Vernon is open to the public, and the museum heavily impacts surrounding homeowners. “Most of us have membership passes to the estate, and we talk about George and Martha like we know them,” says Karen Olmstead, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty who has lived in Mount Vernon since 2010. “I’ll walk past a huge oak tree and think to myself, ‘George probably saw this, too.’” Aside from a rich history, locals enjoy easy access to military facilities, like Fort Belvoir, and commuter routes to Washington, D.C. The Fairfax County community also has a tight-knit atmosphere, with youth sports leagues, the Mount Vernon Country Club and vibrant events, like the summer concert series at Grist Mill Park. “It’s an easy place to get to know your neighbors,” Olmstead says. “You can actually feel how much people care about living here.”
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Visit our first presidents home and take a guided tour at Mount Vernon.
George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill
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Houses cost more than the national median
Subdivisions developed between the 1950s and early 2000s make up Mount Vernon’s winding roads, shaded by mature oak and sycamore trees. Ranch-style houses, split levels and Colonial Revivals line cul-de-sacs in Yacht Haven, a neighborhood with a resident-only marina on the Potomac River. Woodley Hills has similar styles, while townhouses and New Traditional homes are in Halley Farm Court. Houses in Mount Vernon often have three to six bedrooms and garages. Prices tend to be higher than the national median, with homes ranging from around $500,000 to about $1.7 million.
Specific crime rates for Mount Vernon aren’t readily available. However, according to the Fairfax County Police Department, the county’s property and violent crime rates slightly decreased between 2022 and 2023. Both rates are consistently lower than state figures. The station's 2024 annual report hasn’t been published yet.
Mount Vernon has Colonial Revival homes in well established communities.
Grand, traditional homes in the residential areas of Mt. Vernon are a sight to see.
Most Minimal Traditional stone houses have been renovated for more space.
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Scenic walks and Christmas at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, gravel walking paths weave between historic sites, including George and Martha’s tombs. The couple’s neoclassical mansion is open for tours and filled with 18th-century furniture. Membership is $79 per year, and Olmstead says locals treat Mount Vernon like a park. “People will bring their dogs and baby strollers to walk around the estate without actually going into any of the buildings.” Locals can wander past vegetable gardens and cattle farms tended to by actors dressed in period-accurate clothing. She adds that attending the December-long Christmas at Mount Vernon event is also popular. “It doesn’t feel like Christmas until my family goes.” As the Mount Vernon High School choir sings carols, visitors can sip hot chocolate and walk around the property, lit by candles and Christmas lights. Each night ends with a fireworks show. Mount Vernon’s enslaved individuals are remembered with a memorial overlooking the Potomac River, and wreath-laying ceremonies are held here daily.
George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill
Tourists everyday come to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon home and estate.
Mount Vernon's Inn Restaurant is a great spot in town for a quick rest and some local cuisine.
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Youth sports a concert series and the Mount Vernon Trail
Every summer, bat cracks and crowd cheers fill the air at McNaughton Field, home of Mount Vernon’s Woodlawn Little League. The organization has been around since 1965. “We take our youth sports very seriously here,” Olmstead says. “On Saturdays, parents are constantly running around to get their kids to different games.” Gunston Soccer Club, founded in 1990, has home games at Grist Mill Park, which also hosts the Mount Vernon Nights concert series on Fridays between June and August. Blankets and lawn chairs cover the green space as Latin groups, jazz bands and other musicians perform on a pop-up stage. A few miles up state Route 235, locally called Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, sits recreations of George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill. Locals can tour the stone façade mill, which grinds real grain, then walk to the distillery for a whiskey tasting.The 18-mile-long Mount Vernon Trail stretches alongside the Potomac River all the way to Theodore Roosevelt Island, an 88-acre memorial honoring the president. Olmstead says bicyclists frequently use the paved path, which passes by Alexandria, about 11 miles, and the Ronald Reagan National Airport, 15 miles in the same direction. “During rush hour, the trail is a packed commuter route for bike riders coming and going from those places.”
For all four-legged friends, the Grist Mill Dog Park is great for dogs to cool down and play.
Mount Vernon Trail offers a paved path all the way to Washington DC.
The Lt. Colonel Gary F. Smith memorial field hosts many soccer games at Grist Mill Park.
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Quiet streets with easy access to Fort Belvoir and D.C. commuter routes
Though Mount Vernon welcomes about 1 million visitors annually, Olmstead says they don’t affect traffic. “Tourists never bother us. We have traffic circles all around the area, which helps everything flow well.” Local streets eventually connect with Interstate 295, making D.C. a 20-mile drive north. Depending on traffic, the drive can take between 30 minutes and two hours. Fairfax County buses in the area lead to the Huntington Metro station, about 7 miles north. The station services the Blue and Yellow lines, both typically reaching D.C. in under an hour. Fort Belvoir, an 8,000-acre army base, is on Mount Vernon’s western edge. “We have a ton of military families here because of Fort Belvoir, but Mount Vernon is also situated between several other military facilities,” Olmstead says. The Pentagon is 19 miles north, while Quantico is 25 miles south. Inova Mount Vernon, on the community’s east side, has 237 beds and an emergency department.
A community garden adds life next to the Grist Mill at Grist Mill Park in Mt. Vernon, VA.
Avid bicyclists can commute to DC on the Mount Vernon Trail.
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Mount Vernon Country Club has a golf course and swimming pool
Spanning 128 acres at the community’s core, Mount Vernon County Club has an 18-hole golf course stretching around Potomac River tributaries and creeks. A swimming pool is behind the Georgian-style clubhouse, home to several restaurants and a fitness center. Membership is not required for Mount Vernon residents, though many do join. “People don’t move here for the country club,” Olmstead says. “But if they end up becoming friends with a bunch of people in the club, and they get recommendations to join, then a lot of people will apply for the social aspect.”
George Washington Memorial Parkway
In dire emergencies, the Woodlawn Fire Station 24 is there to serve the Mt. Vernon community.
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The Majors football team volunteers in the community
Children can attend Washington Mill Elementary, Whitman Middle and Mount Vernon High, all earning B-minus grades from Niche. The high school offers dual enrollment classes with George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College. Olmstead says the school's football team, dubbed the Majors, is known for community service. “If you need something done, you call the football team. They work the concession stands at little league games and help set up for the Christmas tree sale at Washington Farm United Methodist Church’.”
The Riverside Elementary School offers grades PreK-5 for all kids in the Mt. Vernon region.
Whitman Middle School serves kids in the Hybla Valley neighborhood.
The Mount Vernon High School serves all teenagers in grades 9-12 in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood.
Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon is known for its theatre arts program.
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The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant is popular with locals
Hotels and strip malls line Route 1, locally known as Richmond Highway, in the northern part of Mount Vernon. Locals can grab groceries at Aldi, Safeway and a few Mexican supermarkets. Fast-food restaurants, like McDonald’s, and some local taco shops are also in the area, but Olmstead says the best place to eat is The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant in front of the estate’s ticketed entrance. “If someone visits us from out of town, that’s where we take them.” Ornate wallpaper and linen-covered tables decorate the Colonial Revival-style restaurant, serving comfort food like fried chicken and grits.
Mount Vernon's local hotspot is the Chalkboard Bar for Barbecue and Wings.
The Chalkboard serves up brisket, chicken and pork, in Mount Vernon.
Cedar Knoll Restaurant offers American and French cuisine with waterfront views in Mount Vernon.
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Photography Contributed By
Jessica Livoni
Video By
Benji Anklam
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Caitlin Kamerman,
an experienced agent in this area.
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Steeped in history, the built-up suburb of Woodlawn features sites from George Washington’s famous estate Mount Vernon. From the first president’s property to a cultural epicenter of diverse restaurants, be a part of centuries of American history from your own backyard in Woodlawn. <br><br>Bordered by parks and undeveloped woodlands to the north and a series of strip malls on its southern edge, Woodlawn is mostly composed of cul-de-sacs of town houses and winding streets of single-family homes. “Many people choose the area for its quiet neighborhoods and larger lots—ones far more expansive than you would find closer to the city,” says Realtor Brad Kintz with Long & Foster Real Estate for over 20 years. The mostly residential area features lawns decorated by garden beds, trees and the occasional fence for extra privacy. “The Mount Vernon area offers a wide range of housing options—from affordable condos and townhouses in the $200,000s and $300,000s to $3 million luxury homes along the Potomac River,” Kintz says. Home styles include updated colonial homes for move-in ready conditions, red brick Cape Cods, new construction American Foursquare houses and town houses with bay windows. <br><br>Students in the area go to Fairfax County Public Schools, which earns an A rating according to Niche. The district of approximately 178,479 students has a student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. These include Woodlawn Elementary School, Whitman Middle School and Mount Vernon High School. All three schools have an A-minus rating on Niche. The high school offers an International Baccalaureate Program, Dual Enrollment and academy centers for highly specialized career-focused courses. <br><br>With a name like Woodlawn, it’s no surprise the area has an abundance of outdoor recreation. The community’s Woodlawn Park is surrounded by trees for a shaded playground and picnic area. The park also has basketball and tennis courts for athletes. At Jackson M. Abbott Wetland Refuge, go on a relaxing stroll around a woodland-nestled pond, where you can fish or spot herons and other wildlife. Located in a large field, Muddy Hole Farm Park has a playground for kids, plus sports courts for basketball and tennis. <br><br>With strip malls and other businesses along Richmond Highway, find plentiful retail and restaurants. Stock up on the week’s groceries and household products at Dollar General. At Kimchi House Korean BBQ, order classic dishes like bulgogi in a hidden gem of a restaurant with a modest outside and muraled interior decorated with vines. El Paso Mexican Restaurant offers a Tex-Mex menu in a colorful restaurant with large group seating ideal for family dinners. For Southern comfort food, head to Chalkboard Wings & BBQ’s relaxed atmosphere which features a wooden bar and TVs. <br><br>As for history, Woodlawn has it in spades from George Washington’s heyday. “George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate—with its historical buildings, gardens, and farmland—is a special neighborhood fixture,” Kintz says. “The estate hosts many events year-round and draws visitors from across the world.” At Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, you can visit a Federal-style house that once belonged to the Mount Vernon estate, plus a smaller 1940 house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. To see where the president’s whiskey was made and where cornmeal was produced, tour reconstructions of George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill. <br><br>About 22 miles south of Washington, D.C., Woodlawn residents can easily commute to the nation’s capital via Interstate 395 North. For weekend trips in the nation’s capital, visit the Tidal Basin, monuments and Smithsonian museums. You can access public transportation throughout the area with Fairfax Connector buses. In Woodlawn, enjoy a historical suburb with diverse eateries and plenty of parks.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Mount Vernon Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
12,241
Median Age
45
Population Density
38 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$162,666
Significantly above the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$179,004
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.9%
College Graduates
62.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
31.8%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
72.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
14''
Area Factors
Fairly bikeable
Bikeability®
50/ 100
Somewhat walkable
Walkability®
30/ 100
Limited public transit
Transit®
20/ 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
