Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Potomac River, Leesburg, Virginia is a fast-growing, family-oriented town full of historical charm, gorgeous walking trails, local breweries and wineries, and a great selection of restaurants, shops, and attractions.

If you’re looking to move to Northern Virginia, Leesburg offers the quaint and quiet charm of your favorite small town while also being just a few quick and easy hours away from the ocean, mountains, the nation’s capital, and more. Here are our pros and cons of living in Leesburg, Virginia.

Pros

Walkable downtown Leesburg

Leesburg’s historic downtown looks like it is straight out of a Hallmark movie. Full of independently-owned shops, bars, and restaurants, Leesburg is vibrantly growing, while maintaining its small-town look and feel. Want to see the town really come alive? Visit the King Street corridor on Friday and Saturday night, meet new friends, and explore some of the numerous local breweries right downtown.

Historic charm

Founded in 1758, Leesburg is full of history and was even the home of one of the most influential statesmen in American history, George C. Marshall. From 1941 to 1959—while advocating for a U.S. economic and political commitment to post-war European recovery following World War II—Marshall and his wife Katherine called Dodona Manor home. Today, Dodona Manor is a historical museum owned and operated by the George C. Marshall International Center.

Gorgeous walking and hiking trails

Near the border of the North and South, Leesburg also served as the site of the Battle of Ball’s Bluff as Union soldiers trekked across the Potomac River to battle the Confederacy. At Ball’s Bluff Regional Park you can take a guided walking tour of the battlefield or hike through its many trails at your own leisure. If historical walks aren’t really your style, Banshee Reeks, Red Rocks, and the Rust Nature Center also offer great walking trails and hiking opportunities.

Local wineries and breweries

In more recent times, Leesburg has become a hotbed for local wineries and breweries. Leesburg’s cool temperate climate makes it a great location to sow vineyards and produce world class wines. Wineries like Bleu Frog Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, and Stone Tower Winery are a few of the local favorites.

Need a weekend getaway?

In Leesburg, you’ll be just a short day trip away from the beach, mountains, and cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and even New York City. And if you really need to get away, Dulles Airport is 20 minutes from Downtown Leesburg and BWI and Reagan National are each less than 90 minutes away, so there are many opportunities to enjoy the quietness of Leesburg while also enjoying easy access to travel.

Cons

Light traffic, especially during holiday weekends

Traffic is not a huge concern in a town of just 50,000, but there are some predictable traffic patterns throughout the year. Heading north or west of Leesburg during rush hour on Fridays—and especially on long holiday weekends—traffic can bottleneck at 15 Bypass and Battlefield Parkway, but there is a plan in place to decrease congestion and widen parts of 15 North to improve traffic flow, so this should not be a major concern.

Home prices continue to increase

Although average home prices are in the mid-$600,000s, with home appreciation rates holding relatively steady over the last ten years, buying a home in Leesburg can be a great investment and a better place to raise a family.

Thinking of moving to Leesburg, Virginia? If you’d like to learn more about Leesburg, or any other community in Northern Virginia, please reach out—we live, breathe, and love it here!