Things To Know About Loudon County, VA

Loudon County, Virginia, is in the northern part of the state. It’s the third-most populated county in Virginia, based on the 2020 census. The county seat is Leesburg, and it’s part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. 

Niche gives Loudon County an A+ rating for its livability.  It ranks well in all areas, including its public schools, housing, jobs, and how family-friendly it is. The county is just 25 miles from Washington, D.C., and it’s also home to Dulles International Airport. 

The Potomac River, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains, borders Loudon, and it’s known for its history, strong sense of community, and scenery. 

From beautiful homes in the gated community of River Creek to the small-town feel of Stone Ridge, there are a lot of great options for residents of Loudon County to call home. 

If you’re planning a move to this northern Virginia County, below are some important things to know. 

The Basics

Loudon County is where a lot of people who work in D.C. live. They can easily commute, but they get the small-town charm that so many communities in the county offer. Compared to inside the Beltway, the traffic in Loudon County tends to be much easier to deal with. 

Surveys in the past few years have shown that more than 90% of the county’s residents say they feel that it’s an excellent or good place to live. 

Residents positively rate the image and appearance of the communities, they say it’s a good place to raise children, and they feel safe. 

For a decade or more, the county has had the highest median household income in the country. 

If you have children, there are more than 83,000 students served by 94 facilities. There are 59 elementary schools, one intermediate school, 16 middle schools, and 16 high schools. 

Loudon has a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities throughout and cultural venues if you enjoy the arts. 

It’s The Country’s Richest County

As mentioned above, Loudon is often ranked as the richest county in the country, and the median income is more than $125,000. 

Despite this, there is a lot of diversity in the types of housing available. There are also amenities in the communities, like walkable town centers, wineries, hiking and fishing, and golfing. 

If you’re looking for new houses, it tends to be concentrated in two main areas. The first is the southern part of the county, which is near the village of Middleburg and the town of South Riding. 

The second concentration of homes is near Leesburg and Ashburn. In these areas, there are major planned communities in the works and commuter routes. 

While Loudon County may be a wealthy part of the country, that also comes with a high cost of living. The cost of living index is almost 148. The cost of living index is based on an average of 100. An amount below 100 would mean a place is cheaper than the U.S. average. Loudon County is considerably more expensive. 

The housing cost of living index is nearly 220, so it’s extraordinarily high compared to the rest of Virginia and the nation. 

Where To Live In Loudon County

Below is a brief overview of some of the most desirable parts of the county for people to call home:

• Leesburg: This is one of the premier towns in Loudon County. Leesburg is home to stunning gated communities, and it has a historic, walkable downtown. The downtown area has breweries, boutiques, cafes, and bars. There’s King String, which is packed with restaurants, for example. Leesburg is often called one of the best places to live in Virginia and the country. Even though it’s a small and family-friendly town, there is nightlife downtown. 
• Cascades: Cascades is a planned community also called “The Cascades.” It’s actually in Sterling, and the homes are spacious. The developments that make up The Cascades are along the Potomac River in the eastern part of the county. The community was built in the 1990s to appeal to buyers who wanted new construction but also mature trees and landscaping. A few parts of still being developed, but overall the community is aging into one that’s stately and established. Nearby schools are highly ranked, and often the homes don’t stay on the market for long. 
• Reston: Reston is not actually in Loudon County, but it’s nearby in Fairfax County. Described as one of the most enjoyable places to live in northern Virginia, Reston has been voted one of the best places to live in the country as well. Reston has more than 55 miles of walking trails and 250 acres of woodlands. Reston Town center features restaurants, high-end retail, a movie theater, and in the winter, a skating rink. Reston is home to multi-national corporations because it’s located in the Dulles Technology Corridor. There’s a stop on the Silver Line, serving the DC metro. 
• South Riding: South Riding has a population of around 35,000. It earns an A+ overall grade from Niche. South Riding is ranked by Niche as the number two place to raise a family in Virginia and also the second-best suburb to raise a family in the state. It’s ranked as number three for the best public schools in Virginia. There are nearby medical centers, amenities, and different types of homes, including townhomes. 
• Ashburn: Driven by the tech scene, Ashburn has a lot of residents who work in the D.C. area. The cost of living is around 51% higher than in most other places in the country, but there are also some lucrative job opportunities for residents that tends to balance this out. 

Loudon County is known for being affluent, close to D.C., and also wealthy. It’s a beautiful part of Virginia, and for many people, it’s the perfect commuter town if they do work in the nation’s capital. The schools are great, there’s a lot of natural beauty, and it’s a place with a lot of charm, but these perks do come with a price, namely the high cost of living.