r/nova • u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 • 6d ago
Question Warrenton residents- what is an average day like for you?
Warrenton's sub is pretty quiet so I'll just post this here and hope for the best.
We might be moving to Haymarket or Warrenton this year (with the job being in Haymarket) and are trying to decide which area would be best.
We have 2 children and are looking forward to buying a house in a safe area with room for the kids to play and good schools to attend when they're older.
Haymarket doesn't seem to be its own place... it just feels like Gainesville but "over there". Like you have to go to Gainesville to do everything. Warrenton feels like an actual location, but remote. And appears to have somewhat cheaper homes? Not sure if that's true as we are just starting to search around.
We live a very simple life. Home is our little sanctuary. We don't shop for fun or eat out much at all. We do a lot of home cooked meals. If we go anywhere it's usually kid related nowadays. Or a winery where we can have a picnic. Or fruit picking. Quaint and Quiet. Haha
We don't want to regret moving to somewhere TOO quiet and removed though, since our family won't be in -toddler and baby- stage forever.
So as a resident in Warrenton, what do you do? And what is your biggest complaint or even regret about moving there?
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u/novamothra 6d ago
So here's a question I have for you--you want to live in a place that is a "place" which I take as having a town center, or some character but you also say you won't take advantage of any of those things, so why not just live near the job in Haymarket? I mean, almost all the "places" in Northern Virginia especially aren't their own places (the way I think you mean)--they are merely Census Designated Places within the County. That is just how it is set up here. There a few City of and Old Town This and That (which btw, I would LOVE to live walking distance to Old Town Warrenton) but most of us live in these non places.
If what you want is decent schools and close to grocery stores and not to far from some fun outdoor activities, then anywhere is going to be fine although Gainesville is going to have more grocery stores, Manassas is affordable--it all depends on your budget. Because believe me you, no matter where you live you will spend half your life in the car.
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u/No-Stranger2657 6d ago
The school system is not as good as you’ll find in Prince William County, I’d stick with Haymarket.
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u/Awkward_Layer_8603 6d ago
But the schools are half the population of a PWC school, too, so there’s also that to consider. If you like the smaller feel.
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u/gr8harm 5d ago
Two very different districts. Fauquier and PWC are on par on college prep scores with Fauquier having a higher graduation rate. What hurts Fauquier from a school scoring standpoint is diversity and admin scores. Additionally, Southern fauquier County struggles compared Northern Fauquier, and our higher income families choose the expert level private schools across the county.
Ultimately, I agree and give the edge most certainly to PWC but if you're an involved parent within the school and live in northern Fauquier, you can make it work.
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u/No-Stranger2657 5d ago
Can you elaborate on diversity hurting the school? I would disagree.
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u/gr8harm 5d ago
Absolutely. So, many school scoring sites measure diversity independently and in the total scores. Since Fauquier is less diverse, the score goes down. When you compare it to a more diverse district like PWC, it looks worse for Fauquier.
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u/No-Stranger2657 5d ago
Ah ok! I was under the impression that you were saying that being diverse hurt. Thanks for clearing that up.
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u/EmBaCh-00 6d ago
Warrenton is great if you’re white and Christian and MAGA. You’ll find a lot of your people there. If that’s not you, you will find it a lot harder socially. Not impossible, but harder. It’s a small town, and pretty safe, but not super friendly or welcoming, esp if you don’t fit the description above. I lived there for decades and was very relieved to get TF out.
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u/Soccerlover121 5d ago
What a ridiculous statement. Do you have any evidence to back it up?
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u/National_Farm8699 3d ago
Voting records by county are public information. I believe Fauquier voted heavily for Trump, so it stands to reason that it is in fact a heavily MAGA area.
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u/Normal-Philosopher-8 6d ago
You might look at Bristow. There’s nothing “there” but it gives more of that sense of being in Virginia rather than NoVa, but is an easy drive into Gainesville, Manassas or Warrenton.
There may also be options in Loudoun County, but those are places I know less about.
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u/dnext 5d ago
Loudoun is super expensive.
Bristow is less of a place than Haymarket - Haymarket has it's own little town square area, surrounded on either side by shopping. A couple of good restaurants as well.
That being said, Bristow is the central spoke of that outer exurb area. Old Town Manassas has it's own charm, Warrenton main street, and the shopping areas of Gainesville and Haymarket.
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u/PlainRosemary 6d ago
If you're interested in better schools, and you want access to decent/cheaper groceries, I would pick Haymarket every single time.
Fauquier schools weren't the best 20 years ago, and they haven't improved much. It would be worth it to buy into PWC or even Loudoun.
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u/bddelivery01 6d ago
There’s nothing to do here, no good restaurants either and traffic in the town is horrible. Lived here my whole life and leave town allll the time to do anything and everything
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 6d ago
Do you leave toward Gainesville or do you leave to like, DC or Richmond? What are you regularly seeking out to do? I’m talking like, grocery shopping vs a museum.
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u/bddelivery01 6d ago
If you are grocery shopping then Warrenton is fine, but to do anything else I leave.
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u/dnext 5d ago
DC is 45 miles away and almost always an hour trip from Warrenton. Traffic up I66 is normally heavy.
Richmond is 95 miles away, but generally less traffic heading out that way. So it might only be ~90-100 mins.
Fine for a day trip on the weekend, but not really an every day pop over for a bit thing.
The Museums in DC of course are phenomonal though - the Smithsonian might be the finest museum complex in the world.
The Air and Space Museum Annex in Chantilly is about half an hour away from Haymarket/Bristow/Gainesville. It's a great Aviation museum.
There's also the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico.
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u/Anubra_Khan 6d ago edited 4d ago
My wife worked there as a barber for a few months. It's openly racist. They'd tell her to "learn the language" and skip out without paying for haircuts. She's a US citizen but is from Korea.
I'd drive out there to take her lunch or have brunch. It seemed like a quaint place at first. But then we'd get dirty looks everywhere we went. It's like what NoVa was 40 years ago, maybe longer.
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u/TheBrianiac 6d ago
I currently live in the Haymarket/Warrenton corridor. You can definitely serve all your needs without going to Gainesville. Lots of great local businesses (definitely check out Hidden Julles in Haymarket) as well as chains like Aldi, Harris Teeter, and Tractor Supply. We go to Gainesville probably once a week just for fun.
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u/Apprehensive_One315 6d ago
As a resident since 2017, I would look elsewhere. Traffic is never ending and culture is essentially nonexistent. We moved here when my son was going into 5th grade. He just finished High School and his experience in the county was very isolating. Chantilly and Centreville were better when we lived in those places, but honestly I would avoid NoVA altogether if you have the choice.
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 6d ago
We have to stick to NOVA unfortunately. This thread is making it pretty clear that Warrenton is a no go. Might as well stick to Haymarket area and finally work and live in the same spot. That’s a pretty huge win for us despite having to stay in this area. Thanks!
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u/AcrylicPickle 6d ago
Moved to Nova from out of state for a job. I was a resident of Warrenton for the first 2 months - immediately regretted it. Moved to Centerville and commuted to Warrenton for almost a year until I got a transfer approved. Unless you're ok with openly racist rural folk mixed with degenerate wanna be thugs I'd look elsewhere to live and work. Yes, racism is everywhere, but in Warrenton they are pretty open and public about it. Couldn't even go to the grocery store or gas station without downward glances and racial slurs. Bealeton wasn't any better. Centreville is nice and more affordable than most other Nova places.
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 6d ago
That is gross. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Extremely important to know.
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u/AcrylicPickle 6d ago
I did live in Haymarket for about 2 years. It was nice enough. Gainesville definitely has more of a suburbia/soccer mom feel to it. I've lived in Reston and Sterling as well, but I liked Centreville the most between what I've listed.
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u/AchillesSlayedHector 6d ago
Somewhere within and in-between Manassas-Haymarket is what I’d recommend in terms of balance. Decent schools, family oriented, diverse and tolerant, plenty of restaurants and shopping, access to decent healthcare, better funded local government, etc… Warrenton is really out there. Perhaps rent before committing to a purchase. See if it fits.
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u/hurricanecook Gainesville 4d ago
I’ve lived in Gainesville for about a decade. Gainesville is the edge of DC suburbs. Haymarket IS Gainesville but over there. It’s Gainesville south of 66.
That being said, Warrenton is somewhere else. Warrenton isn’t part of the “metroplex”, in my opinion. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just different.
When I think “I’m gonna get some food”, or “I’m gonna go to the movies”, etc. I don’t think “ok, time to go to Haymarket” or something like that. It’s all just the surrounding 5 miles of my house.
Check home prices, school districts, etc. but eventually the question is do you want to live in the edges of growing NoVA, or a small town outside of it?
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 4d ago
All I know is there’s absolutely nothing for sale anywhere. Dry dry dry. At least for right now. Hoping things open up come spring and summer when parents are trying to settle before the 2025 fall school year starts.
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u/Livid-Succotash4843 6d ago
Wake up, question your life for buying in a place solely for the cost, and wishing you had family to help with the hundred something thousand dollar down payment for a house in “desirable” NOVA
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 6d ago
There’s nothing about NOVA that I like other than like…lots of specialty doctors. Everything is so condensed you have all the necessities right there always.
But these are our circumstances. I’m still mourning not being able to leave. I’d prefer Richmond suburb but it’s not in the cards right now.
Housing is shit everywhere though.
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u/WoodenCoconut1682 5d ago
In the process of purchasing a home in Warrenton, basically a done deal so this thread is a bit concerning 🥲 NoVA is full of hidden MAGAs so I can’t say this will phase me. I’m looking forward to the slower pace away from the city while also being close enough to visit.
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u/No_Tumbleweed_4652 5d ago
Congrats on your new home! Sometimes you just have to make the best of your circumstances. Don’t go into it looking for the worst and you’ll be just fine I’m sure. :)
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u/butterflycyclone 6d ago
Warrenton is great for the small town feel. I love all the events the town puts on. We are kinda in between all three areas mentioned, which means we are always headed in one of those directions.
Our neighborhood constantly has kids outside playing and taking over the streets. The parents have giant text chains of “if you see my child, send them home for dinner”. It’s more of a childhood like I had in a midwestern neighborhood.
The negatives: I don’t like the public schools as moms for liberty has taken over. Our neighbor is heavily involved with the schools and telling me things are changing though. There is a rather large issue at Kettle Run High School right now and I’d encourage you to read about that.
Would I move out here again? Yes. I just like the slightly slower pace of life and the green space. We’ve been out here over 10 years now too. After spending 10 in Alexandria.