What Springfield Means
Springfield is unincorporated Fairfax County in 22150, 22151, 22152, and 22153. It is not the City of Fairfax. You get suburban DMV blocks with sidewalks, Fairfax County Public Schools, and county water and sewer. Stock is mostly townhomes, condos, and small lot detached homes built from the early 1970s to the 1990s.
Neighborhoods to Know
At a typical Springfield budget you are choosing between a townhome with a garage and a small detached rambler that needs paint and carpet. Condos near Backlick Road and Commerce Street often have assigned garage and storage. Townhomes in Cardinal Forest, Orange Hunt, and Kings Park West offer end unit premiums with deck and yard. West Springfield and North Springfield have smaller detached options on 0.15 to 0.25 acre. Springfield Town Center at 6500 Springfield Mall Drive anchors retail and dining.
Cost and Tax Differences
Schools are by street address on the FCPS boundary locator. West Springfield High at 6100 Rolling Road, Lake Braddock Secondary at 9200 Burke Lake Road, and Annandale, Lee, and Edison pyramids cover different pockets. Check the address, not the zip.
How the Commute Works
Cost structure shifts when you cross the river. Fairfax County property tax for FY2026 is $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value. Virginia income tax tops at 5.75 percent versus DC at 10.75 percent. You will also have Virginia car tax and personal property. Homeowners insurance for a townhome is typically higher than a condo HO-6. HOA in Springfield townhomes is often 40 to 120 dollars a month plus utilities, with detached often no HOA or 30 to 60 dollars.
What to Prioritize When You Move
Commute is Blue Line from Franconia-Springfield at 6880 Frontier Drive. To Metro Center is about 33 to 37 minutes, to Mount Vernon Square about 37 minutes. VRE Fredericksburg Line from Franconia-Springfield and Backlick Road runs inbound mornings and outbound afternoons with about 29 minutes to Washington. Fairfax Connector 301, 310, and 320 link neighborhoods to the station. The 95 and 395 Express Lanes and park and ride network add options for Fort Belvoir and Pentagon trips.
Buyers moving from DC pay for fewer transfers and consistent parking, not a flat Metro premium. Listings within a 10-minute drive to Franconia-Springfield with a direct Connector link see stronger first weekend activity in our team sample than the same floor plan 20 minutes out with no bus. Appraisers still use subdivision comps first. Price at a search trigger that matches portal filters and bring a clear gap plan if you are competitive under $750K.
Search live Springfield homes, Burke homes, and Fairfax homes in the Cities We Serve hub for walk to Metro and trail filters. Sources: Movoto Springfield Market Trends May 2026, Redfin Springfield Housing Market October 2025, NVAR via Morningstar May 2026, WMATA Blue Line schedule via Moovit, VRE schedule via Moovit and VirginiaNavigator. Market and schedules change. Verify before you write an offer.
Text Cornerstone Realty Group at (571) 441-1031 for a 5-minute bike, bus, and park time map for your Springfield block and a 90-day comp set.
FAQ
What exactly is Springfield, VA?
Springfield is unincorporated Fairfax County in 22150, 22151, 22152, and 22153; it is not the City of Fairfax. You get suburban DMV blocks with sidewalks, Fairfax County Public Schools, and county water and sewer. Stock is mostly townhomes, condos, and small-lot detached homes built from the early 1970s to the 1990s.
What does a typical Springfield budget buy?
You're choosing between a townhome with a garage and a small detached rambler that needs paint and carpet. Condos near Backlick Road and Commerce Street often have assigned garage and storage. Townhomes in Cardinal Forest, Orange Hunt, and Kings Park West offer end-unit premiums with deck and yard. West Springfield and North Springfield have smaller detached options on 0.15 to 0.25 acre. Springfield Town Center at 6500 Springfield Mall Drive anchors retail and dining.
How do schools work in Springfield?
Schools are by street address on the FCPS boundary locator. West Springfield High at 6100 Rolling Road, Lake Braddock Secondary at 9200 Burke Lake Road, and the Annandale, Lee, and Edison pyramids cover different pockets. Check the address, not the zip.
How does the cost structure change crossing the river?
Fairfax County property tax for FY2026 is $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value. Virginia income tax tops at 5.75 percent versus DC at 10.75 percent. You'll also have Virginia car tax and personal property tax. Homeowners insurance for a townhome is typically higher than a condo HO-6. HOA in Springfield townhomes is often 40 to 120 dollars a month plus utilities, with detached often no HOA or 30 to 60 dollars.
What's the commute to DC?
Blue Line from Franconia-Springfield at 6880 Frontier Drive: to Metro Center about 33 to 37 minutes, to Mount Vernon Square about 37 minutes. VRE Fredericksburg Line from Franconia-Springfield and Backlick Road runs inbound mornings and outbound afternoons with about 29 minutes to Washington. Fairfax Connector 301, 310, and 320 link neighborhoods to the station, and the 95/395 Express Lanes plus park-and-ride network add options for Fort Belvoir and Pentagon trips.
What do Springfield buyers actually pay for?
Buyers moving from DC pay for fewer transfers and consistent parking, not a flat Metro premium. Listings within a 10-minute drive to Franconia-Springfield with a direct Connector link see stronger first-weekend activity in the article's team sample than the same floor plan 20 minutes out with no bus. Appraisers still use subdivision comps first: price at a search trigger that matches portal filters and bring a clear gap plan if you're competitive under $750K.