City Comparison

Bristow vs Frederick: How they compare

Bristow is a growing community in Prince William County offering spacious newer homes, residential neighborhoods, and convenient access to I-66. Frederick is a historic city with a thriving arts scene, walkable downtown, and growing tech presence. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Bristow's median sold price is $719K with homes averaging 19 days on market; Frederick is at $450K and 35 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Bristow is pricier ($719K median vs $450K), a difference of about $269K. Bristow moves faster, with homes averaging 19 days on market compared to 35 in Frederick. Frederick offers a lower entry point at $200K–$1M.

Bristow

VA

Frederick

MD

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$719K

$450K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

19 days

35 days

Price Range

$300K–$900K

$200K–$1M

Notable Neighborhoods

Kingsbrooke, Victory Lakes, Braemar, Linton Hall

Downtown Frederick, Ballenger Creek, Urbana, Spring Ridge

Schools

Bristow has a 79% average SOL pass rate; Frederick has 79% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Bristow include Patriot High School and Marsteller Middle School; in Frederick, Urbana High School and Oakdale High School. See Bristow schools | See Frederick schools

Bristow

VA

Frederick

MD

Avg Pass Rate

79%

79%

Public schools

Patriot High School, Marsteller Middle School, Bristow Run Elementary

Urbana High School, Oakdale High School, Gov. Thomas Johnson High School

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Bristow is closer to downtown at ~50 minutes vs ~60 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Bristow (I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29), Frederick (I-70, I-270, Rt 15).

Bristow

VA

Frederick

MD

Drive to Downtown

~50 min

~60 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29

I-70, I-270, Rt 15, Rt 340

Commuter Rail

VRE (Manassas line)

MARC (Brunswick Line)

Walkability

Frederick is more walkable with a Walk Score of 42 (Car-Dependent), compared to 15 in Bristow. Transit scores: Bristow (8) vs Frederick (12). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Kingsbrooke and Downtown Frederick score much higher than suburban areas.

Bristow

VA

Frederick

MD

Walk Score

15Almost All Errands Require a Car
42Car-Dependent

Transit Score

8

12

Bike Score

12

45

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Bristow and Frederick. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Bristow

VA

Frederick

MD

Reported Violent Crime

0.6/1K

1.5/1K

Reported Property Crime

7.9/1K

16.8/1K

VA

Search homes in Bristow

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

MD

Search homes in Frederick

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

Decided between Bristow and Frederick? See how buying a home works on smover.

Related Comparisons

See how other nearby cities stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristow or Frederick more affordable?

Frederick is more affordable with a median sold price of $450K, compared to $719K in Bristow (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Bristow prices range from $300K–$900K. Frederick prices range from $200K–$1M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Bristow and Frederick?

Bristow public schools have a 79% average SOL pass rate; Frederick has 79% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Bristow include Patriot High School and Marsteller Middle School; in Frederick, Urbana High School and Oakdale High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Bristow or Frederick?

Bristow has the shorter commute to downtown at ~50 minutes vs ~60 minutes. Bristow has no direct Metro access. Frederick has no direct Metro access.

How do Bristow and Frederick compare?

Bristow is a growing community in Prince William County offering spacious newer homes, residential neighborhoods, and convenient access to I-66. Frederick is a historic city with a thriving arts scene, walkable downtown, and growing tech presence. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

Stay ahead of the market

Join buyers, sellers, and agents across Northern Virginia getting weekly market updates, new listings, and tips. Free, every Monday.

Trusted in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and 19 more cities

Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Take ownership of your move.

Search, save, choose your people, and organize the dates, documents, and updates that follow.