Woodbridge

Rippon Landing is ripe with both nature and history, making it an exciting neighborhood to live in. Named after the Rippon Lodge Historic Site – one of the oldest known homes in Prince William County, built in 1747 – and its owner, the area contains both relics of the past and countless outdoor adventures with its proximity to Neabsco Creek. Add its accessible price points and easy commuter access to Northern Virginia, and it’s the perfect neighborhood to settle down in. No matter where in Rippon Landing you’re looking to move, you’re sure to find a town house that fits your needs perfectly. Village at Rippon Landing Community has newer, three-level town houses with four beds and access to the community pool. These, along with many other colonial-style town houses in the neighborhood, go for $450,000 to $550,000. On the lower end of the price spectrum, you can find smaller brick and vinyl town houses for anywhere between $250,000 and $380,000. Families moving in will be happy to know that Rippon Landing has several outstanding schools. According to Niche, Mary G. Porter Traditional School is ranked #1 best public elementary school in Prince William County and even boasts an A ranking. This “school of choice” is public, but gives students the option to attend instead of making it a requirement based on geography. Rippon Middle School is also known for its above-average academic progress, in addition to its location on the former Rippon Lodge Estate. Freedom High School has an 85% graduation rate on top of its student-run organizations. Rest assured – your children will be set up for success. Explore the outdoors in one of the many recreational areas near Rippon Landing. Neabsco Regional Park encompasses everything imaginable – take a tour along the grounds of the historic Rippon Lodge Estate, or walk the trails while your children play on the playground at Rippon Landing Park. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk has become a local hotspot with its access to the wetlands. Residents can admire the swishing tall grass and Blue Herons sitting along the marsh from the bridges. “It’s fairly new and great for family outings, walking, and exercising. I use that park every day,” says Bonita Love, a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors. Shopping Centers dot the Woodbridge area, and Rippon Landing residents can find everything they need at Potomac Town Center. The Wegman’s is perfect for getting all of your groceries, and the food chains and local restaurants are sure to satisfy your cravings. Not Your Average Joe’s is a favorite in the community. Voted #5 for best restaurants in Woodbridge, the rotating menu is diverse with American classics like burgers and seafood and Asian fusion platters such as the cheesesteak egg rolls. If you’ve just got a hankering for seafood, Papa Dents Crabs seafood market lets you pick up your own bushels to cook at home. Whether you’re here for the history or the easy commute into Washington D.C., Rippon Landing will fulfill your needs for a convenient, fun-filled life.

Waterfront housing is easy to come by when half your neighborhood is made up of shorelines. The Belmont Bay area is uniquely located next to three bodies of water: the Occoquan River, Occoquan Bay, and Belmont Bay. “It’s a nice neighborhood,” says Nader Abed, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. “One of the lowest-priced places in Northern Virginia where you can live on the water.” Most of Belmont Bay’s available waterfront properties are luxury condos and town houses offering magnificent views of the Occoquan River. These properties can be priced anywhere from $450,000 to $650,000 and are known for their multiple floors and large walk-in closets. “It’s kind of the best-kept secret of the Woodbridge area,” Abed says. “It reminds people of Old Town Alexandria, but you’re not paying the prices.” If attached living isn’t your thing, large single-family colonial homes dot the riverbanks. These modern mansions can go for anything from $680,000 to $950,000, but you can also find smaller colonial and ranch-style homes further inland for less than $500,000. The neighborhood has access to some of the best schools in Woodbridge for those with children. Belmont Elementary School has a gifted program, which your child can use to get into the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) at Fred M. Lynn Middle School. These chosen students can participate in the IB Travel Abroad Program and visit places like Paris or Madrid. Woodbridge High School is just as accomplished, with an A-minus score on Niche and an Advanced Placement Scholars program. When you need a bit of fresh air, Belmont Bay has a plethora of places you can explore. The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge takes up the bottom half of the neighborhood and allows residents to appreciate the local grassland and marsh habitats. Established in 1998, the refuge cares for migratory birds and endangered species – it’s common to see a Great Blue Heron sitting along the shore. Veteran’s Memorial Park is perfect for people who want a more active life. With a 50-meter outdoor swimming pool, basketball courts, horseshoe pits and pavilions, something can be found for everyone. Belmont Bay Harbor Marina has also become a local hotspot for the residents who prefer the waterfront for leisurely activity. Just minutes away from access to the Potomac River, this protected harbor contains 159 boat slips and a fueling station for those floating by. You can join the local boating club and reserve boats if you don’t have a vessel yourself. On summer weekends, the Marina hosts a free concert series held at a main pavilion along the shoreline. Abed says it’s “right by the water, on a nice big green space.” The community will also gather at this site for Christmas celebrations where children meet Santa. To fulfill your weekly shopping routine, Belmont Bay is located near several shopping centers. For groceries, Food Lion is right off Jefferson Davis Highway, though you can also head South to visit Todos, an international supermarket in Marumsco Plaza Shopping Center. B-Thrifty is right next door for affordable clothing and accessories. The upper section of Belmont Bay, past Route 1, has many local eateries for residents to enjoy while they’re out and about. Pupuseria Dona Azucena offers pork, chicken, bean, and cheese options for their El Salvadorian dish. Several other Salvadorian grills pepper the area, along with Mexican cuisine. Whether you’re just starting your family, a budding business professional, or retiring military, Belmont Bay has the commerce you need for convenient living with the beautiful scenery that comes from a waterfront neighborhood.

Stonebridge is a Woodbridge neighborhood centered around the Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center shopping center. While the amenities of this dynamic retail, dining and entertainment destination are certainly a draw, there are a few other factors that bring buyers to the area. “Most people choose it because of the cost of living and the commute,” says Judy Petrak, a local Realtor with Century 21 New Millennium and a top seller in the Stonebridge neighborhood. “Generally, they come to the area for military and government jobs because they can get the same house in Stonebridge for $500,000 that they can get in Alexandria for $650,000.”<br><br>House hunters in Stonebridge will primarily find townhouses and condos. The oldest building in the community dates to around 2008; the newest construction is as recent as 2022. Subdivisions slightly differ in exterior styles and amenities, but most have sidewalks and well-cared-for landscaping. On the low end of things, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo or townhouse starts around $350,000, while a larger floorplan with three bedrooms and a two-car garage may go as high as $575,000. <br><br>Stonebridge students attend Prince William County Public Schools, which Niche awards an overall grade of A-minus. Many attend Fannie W. Fitzgerald Elementary School, graded B-minus by Niche; Rippon Middle School, graded B-minus by Niche; and Freedom High School, graded C by Niche. Freedom High offers a dual enrollment program with Northern Virginia Community College that allows students to earn up to 24 college credits for free while still enrolled in high school. <br><br>There’s plenty of recreation in and around Stonebridge. If Stonebridge’s widespread new construction starts to feel old, Historic Occoquan is a popular place to meander. “It’s really close to Stonebridge,” Petrak says. “It has a historic district with waterfront shopping and dining, and it’s very pretty just to walk around.” Another great place to work in your walking shoes is Neabsco Regional Park, a unique site encompassing 300 acres. In addition to a playground, grills, and pavilion, the area is host to a portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, an 800-mile network of trails along the Potomac River. The park also features a three-quarter-mile boardwalk, offering visitors a unique view of the natural wildlife and their habitat. On rainy days, catch a matinee at Alamo Drafthouse, where you can also have a restaurant-quality meal and craft cocktail, or walk over to Onelife Fitness for a cycling or HIIT class. <br><br>Of course, when you live in Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, you’re surrounded by great places to eat and shop. The retail section is a half-mile to a mile-long walk from most houses. Firepan Korean BBQ and Bar offers an all-you-can-eat menu, with many items cooked right in front of you at your table. Bar Louie is a great option both for dinner and to keep the night going afterward. For groceries, Wegman’s offers an upscale selection with a robust prepared food game. There are even more options on the other side of Interstate 95, down Dale Boulevard, at Potomac Mills shopping mall, which features apparel shops, IKEA, Costco, Sam’s Club and much more. <br><br>Stonebridge has many more conveniences potential homebuyers look for in a community. The Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is in the neighborhood. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is about 25 miles away, and Dulles International Airport is about 35 miles away. Commuters can catch the Virginia Railway Express, or VRE, at Rippon Station, about 3 miles from most homes. A commuter garage has also broken ground and is underway, off Opitz Boulevard — mere minutes from Stonebridge homes — to help commuters park-and-ride to Northern Virginia faster. Interstate 95, the neighborhood’s western border, provides a straight shot north to Washington, DC, or south to Richmond.

Washington D.C. is known for being on the high-end, high-budget side of life, but farther south in Marumsco Village, residents have plenty of opportunities for convenient, comfortable living without breaking the bank. “It’s probably one of the more affordable areas in Northern Virginia,” says Jamaal Carey, a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors. It’s also great for anyone who needs access to the rest of Northern Virginia. There are commuter lots all over Marumsco Village. “The area is good for commuting for those who can’t afford Arlington or if Alexandria is too congested,” Carey says. The Woodbridge Train Station can take you into Alexandria or to the closest metro stop, where you’ll hop on the Blue Line. Route 1 and Interstate 95 are also easily accessible and allow commuters to drive themselves into town. When you’re not traveling to and from places, make your home base one of the many single-family ramblers in Marumsco Hills. You can also find beautiful Cape Cods and split-level homes for anywhere between $370,000 to $475,000. The large lawns and narrow sidewalks for afternoon walks contribute to the neighborhood’s peaceful atmosphere and your personal reprieve. Marumsco Village is centrally located near many Prince William County Public Schools, giving families plenty of options for education. Belmont Elementary and Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary are a neighborhood over, but if you want your child to stay in the area, there’s also Cardinal Montessori and St. Thomas Aquinas Regional – two private schools with raving reviews. Fred M. Lynn Middle School is a great next step, and Woodbridge High School will set your teens up for educational success with its Career and Technical preparation programs and dual enrollment courses. For those who like to take advantage of the outdoors, you can shoot hoops at the basketball courts or walk the many trails along Marumsco Creek at Hammill Mill Park. In the summer, community members can enjoy the park’s outdoor pool, which has a splash zone and water slide for little ones. If you like fishing, travel south to the neighborhood's edge and find Marumsco Acres Creek. There’s a low-water bridge perfect for sitting and catching bass. Weekend shopping trips are easy to make when you live in Marumsco Village – there are several shopping complexes you can travel to throughout Woodbridge. Featherstone’s Shopping Center has a Food Lion for all your grocery needs, or you can travel south down Route 1 to find Fairway Supermarket, where ingredients are Halal guaranteed. Marumsco Plaza Shopping Center has Todos, an international food market, along with several beauty shops and local restaurants. When you don’t want to cook at home, visit Almitas Restaurant. This Casita-styled eatery brings the flavor of El Rancho to Woodbridge. Xela Super Deli & Kabob is also known for its inclusion of Salvadorian, Guatemalan, and Lebanese cuisine. Sink your teeth into the pupusas and empanadas that make up the menu. Whether you’re just looking for an easy commute to work or want to completely settle down and enjoy a quiet life, Marumsco Village is a peaceful neighborhood that will get you where you need to go.