NOVA neighborhood profile
Moving to Centreville
38.84°N · 77.43°W
Centreville fits families who want more space, strong Fairfax schools, and great food, and will trade a tougher commute for it. If that description does not sound like you, one of the 4 nearby neighborhoods below is probably a better read.
The 60-second read
Rent
about $1,900/mo (1BR), approximate; most rental stock is townhomes and single-family
Metro
no Metro; drive or bus to Vienna (Orange Line), roughly 30 to 40 min east
By car
about 30 min to DC off-peak, 60 to 75 in rush via I-66
What Centreville is actually like
Centreville sits in western Fairfax County, where I-66 meets Route 28 and Route 29, and it is one of the places newcomers find when they want to stay in Fairfax schools without paying inside-the-Beltway prices. It is mostly 1990s and 2000s townhomes and single-family homes, big and diverse, with one of the best Korean and Vietnamese food scenes in the region tucked into its strip centers. Manassas National Battlefield is minutes south, so you get real green space and history close by. The honest trade-off is the commute: no Metro, and I-66 east in rush hour is the regional punchline, so people who pick Centreville are buying the space, the schools, and the food, then planning their mornings around the road.
Worth knowing before you commit
The pho to build a habit around is Pho Duong at 14215 W Centreville Square, a family-run Vietnamese spot regulars across Centreville and Chantilly call the best in the area. The broth is the whole point, the portions are generous, and the lunch crowd moves fast.
Local independent worth the drive: Pho Duong Vietnamese Restaurant, 14215 W Centreville Square, Centreville (Yelp 450+ reviews). Family-run; widely called the best pho in the Centreville/Chantilly area. Order the rare-beef pho; lunch line moves fast.
Centreville vs the 3 closest NOVA neighborhoods
Compare rent, Metro access, and car commute side-by-side.
| Neighborhood |
Rent |
Metro |
By car |
| Centreville (this page) |
about $1,900/mo (1BR), approximate; most rental stock is townhomes and single-family |
no Metro; drive or bus to Vienna (Orange Line), roughly 30 to 40 min east |
about 30 min to DC off-peak, 60 to 75 in rush via I-66 |
| Chantilly |
about $2,350/mo (1BR), approximate (aggregator averages ranged $2,285 to $2,630, July 2026) |
no Metro; Silver Line (Innovation Center) is a 15-min drive |
35 min to DC off-peak via I-66, 75+ in rush |
| Clifton |
Rentals extremely limited; single-family homes $650K to $1.5M+ (approximate) |
No Metro; Vienna/Fairfax-GMU is a 20 to 25 min drive |
25 miles to DC; 40 to 50 min off-peak via I-66, 70+ in rush |
| Fairfax City |
$1,900/mo (1BR) |
no Metro, CUE bus to Vienna Metro (20 min) |
40 min to DC off-peak |
Mistakes people make moving to Centreville
- Underestimating rush-hour math. Off-peak commute times posted on rental sites are often the ONLY times most tenants will experience. Add 30 to 60 percent to any drive that crosses I-495, I-66, or the American Legion Bridge between 7 and 9:30 AM eastbound or 4 to 7 PM westbound.
- Treating “close to Metro” as walkable. Half a mile in DC is walkable. Half a mile in most of NOVA means crossing a stroad with no sidewalk and a parking lot. Check Google Street View before touring anywhere that markets itself as Metro-adjacent.
- Ignoring HOA and condo fees. NOVA condo fees frequently run $400 to $800 per month on top of the mortgage. Get the resale package early, read the reserve study, and price the full monthly nut before falling in love with a unit.
- Assuming the school pyramid is stable. Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties redistrict every few years. If school assignment is a factor, verify current boundaries directly with FCPS, LCPS, or APS admissions rather than trusting the address on Zillow.
Frequently asked questions about Centreville
Is Centreville a good place to live?
Centreville works well for families who want more space, strong Fairfax schools, and great food, and will trade a tougher commute for it. The tradeoffs are covered in detail below, but the short version is: Centreville sits in western Fairfax County, where I-66 meets Route 28 and Route 29, and it is one of the places newcomers find when they want to stay in Fairfax schools without paying inside-the-Beltway prices.
What is the average rent in Centreville?
about $1,900/mo (1BR), approximate; most rental stock is townhomes and single-family
Does Centreville have a Metro station?
no Metro; drive or bus to Vienna (Orange Line), roughly 30 to 40 min east
How long is the commute from Centreville to Washington DC?
about 30 min to DC off-peak, 60 to 75 in rush via I-66
What are the closest neighborhoods to Centreville?
The three closest tracked NOVA neighborhoods are Chantilly (3.7 miles), Clifton (4.8 miles), Fairfax City (6.6 miles).
Where should I eat if I visit Centreville?
Pho Duong Vietnamese Restaurant, 14215 W Centreville Square, Centreville (Yelp 450+ reviews). Family-run; widely called the best pho in the Centreville/Chantilly area. Order the rare-beef pho; lunch line moves fast.
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