City Comparison

Gainesville vs Vienna: How they compare

Gainesville is a booming community in western Prince William County along the I-66 corridor. Vienna offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city proximity, the W&OD Trail, downtown shops, and address-based Fairfax County Public Schools assignments. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Gainesville's median sold price is $720K with homes averaging 27 days on market; Vienna is at $1.1M and 31 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Vienna is pricier ($1.1M median vs $720K), a difference of about $403K. Gainesville moves faster, with homes averaging 27 days on market compared to 31 in Vienna. Gainesville offers a lower entry point at $350K–$1.2M.

Gainesville

VA

Vienna

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$720K

$1.1M

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

27 days

31 days

Price Range

$350K–$1.2M

$500K–$2.5M

Notable Neighborhoods

Heritage Hunt, Virginia Oaks, Dominion Valley, Braemar

Downtown Vienna, Westwood Hills, Vienna West, Bowman Heights

Schools

Gainesville has a 80% average SOL pass rate; Vienna has 92% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Gainesville include Gainesville High School and Battlefield High School; in Vienna, James Madison High School and Thoreau Middle School. See Gainesville schools | See Vienna schools

Gainesville

VA

Vienna

VA

Avg Pass Rate

80%

92%

Public schools

Gainesville High School, Battlefield High School, Ronald Wilson Reagan Middle School

James Madison High School, Thoreau Middle School, Wolftrap Elementary

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

Commute

Vienna is closer to downtown at ~25 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Vienna has 1 Metro station, including Vienna/Fairfax-GMU on the Orange line. Major highway access: Gainesville (I-66, Rt 29, Rt 55), Vienna (I-66, Rt 123, Rt 29).

Gainesville

VA

Vienna

VA

Drive to Downtown

~50 min

~25 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

1 Metro station (nearest: Vienna/Fairfax-GMU)

Metro Lines

N/A

Orange

Major Highways

I-66, Rt 29, Rt 55

I-66, Rt 123, Rt 29

Commuter Rail

VRE (Manassas line)

None

Walkability

Vienna is more walkable with a Walk Score of 42 (Car-Dependent), compared to 18 in Gainesville. Transit scores: Gainesville (8) vs Vienna (30). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Heritage Hunt and Downtown Vienna score much higher than suburban areas.

Gainesville

VA

Vienna

VA

Walk Score

18Almost All Errands Require a Car
42Car-Dependent

Transit Score

8

30

Bike Score

15

48

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Gainesville and Vienna. 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.

Gainesville

VA

Vienna

VA

Reported Violent Crime

0.7/1K

0.4/1K

Reported Property Crime

8.5/1K

7.2/1K

VA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gainesville or Vienna more affordable?

Gainesville is more affordable with a median sold price of $720K, compared to $1.1M in Vienna (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. Gainesville prices range from $350K–$1.2M. Vienna prices range from $500K–$2.5M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Gainesville and Vienna?

Gainesville public schools have a 80% average SOL pass rate; Vienna has 92% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Gainesville include Gainesville High School and Battlefield High School; in Vienna, James Madison High School and Thoreau Middle School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Gainesville or Vienna?

Vienna has the shorter commute to downtown at ~25 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Gainesville has no direct Metro access. Vienna has Metro access (Vienna/Fairfax-GMU).

How do Gainesville and Vienna compare?

Gainesville is a booming community in western Prince William County along the I-66 corridor. Vienna offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city proximity, the W&OD Trail, downtown shops, and address-based Fairfax County Public Schools assignments. 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.

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