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Living in
Reston.
Reston is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Reston
Reston offers a fairly affluent suburban lifestyle with strong job prospects in tech and professional services—unemployment sits at just 3.2% and median household income is $148,710. The planned community design is genuinely different from typical sprawl: you get nearly 250 acres of preserved woodlands, over 55 miles of walking and hiking paths, and tree canopy covering about half the area, which creates green pockets throughout. That said, housing is expensive, with median home values around $642,000 and median rent at $2,231 monthly, so you'll need solid income to make this work.
Reston at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Foreign-Born
24.6%
Broadband Internet
97.0%
of households
Population Growth
+3.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.6% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Reston: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Reston, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (9.6%), and 11.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
43.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 41% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Reston
In Reston, rent runs 41% above the VA average, and home values are 67% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,573
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $622,037 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Reston and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fairfax County, which includes Reston, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Reston: Fairfax County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fairfax County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Reston Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute26 min avg
How Reston residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Reston, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, which covers Reston, runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
109.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,437.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Fairfax County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fairfax County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fairfax County, which includes Reston, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2022 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | $442,500 |
| 2021 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $613,500 |
| 2020 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $307,000 |
| 2019 | 55 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 53 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fairfax County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fairfax County, which includes Reston, is typically good — 284 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
284
per year
Moderate Days
80
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Fairfax County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Reston has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.4"
Annual Snowfall
21.0"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 2.94" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 3.47" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.72" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.30" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.53" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 3.94" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 3.30" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Reston
Reston has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Reston Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.2 mi away · Fairfax
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Falls Church
Stonesprings Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Dulles
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Reston
Reston's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 72.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
72.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Reston (within 15 miles)
Northern Virginia Community College
10.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,266 students · in-state tuition $62,242 · 79% graduate · median earnings $85,458 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,810 students · in-state tuition $42,986 · 66% graduate · median earnings $74,032 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Virginia
8.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 557 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 70% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church
10.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 348 students · in-state tuition $25,133 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Reston
Reston has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
5 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
6 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
11 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
12 mi awayManassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
14 mi awayArlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
National Park Site
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in Reston
Reston Regional Library
11925 Bowman Towne Dr., Reston
Cities Near Reston
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Reston?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Reston FAQ
Is Reston, Virginia affordable?⌄
Reston's median rent is $2,231/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $148,710/year. Median home value is $642,000.
Is Reston, Virginia safe?⌄
Reston is policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 110 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1438 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Reston, Virginia?⌄
Fairfax County, which includes Reston, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Reston, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Reston is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,231/month and median household income is $148,710/year. The median home value is $642,000. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Reston, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Reston is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from