Independent City vs County
Falls Church City 22046 is incorporated. It runs its own schools, police, and local services. Fairfax County postal areas 22042, 22043, 22044 labeled Falls Church on mail use Fairfax County Public Schools and county services.
Schools and Boundaries
School assignment changes everything for pricing. City residents attend Merrifield Elementary to Mary Ellen Henderson Middle to Meridian High. County residents attend Fairfax County feeders like McLean, Marshall, or Falls Church High depending on locators.
Taxes and Services
Property taxes differ. City sets its own rate separate from Fairfax County. Verify via respective GIS portals for exact levy and assessment method.
Governance and HOA mix differ. City has fewer large HOAs, more townhouse clusters. County side includes garden condos, larger HOAs like Lake Barcroft fringe, and updated colonials.
Search [Falls Church homes](/cities-we-serve/falls-church) and verify jurisdiction by tax record, not mail label.