Vienna Apartments and Rentals

The Northern Virginia town of Vienna, just a short drive from the bustling chaos of the nation’s capital, provides a celebrated small town environment that has often been cited as one of the country’s top places to live.

People looking for apartments for rent in Vienna will love the area’s tree-lined streets, great shopping and rich cultural offerings.

Originally dubbed Ayr Hill as a tribute to its first settler’s native Scotland, the village changed its name to Vienna in 1849 in order to appeal to a doctor moving from a town of the same name in New York. The town was soon at the center of Civil War activity. Both armies camped in the area at various points, and the railroad crossing site now occupied by the Vienna Community Center was the tactically valuable site of an early skirmish during the Battle of Manassas.

Following the expansion of local shopping opportunities and the construction of nearby Dulles Airport, Vienna grew as a popular commuter town to its present size of approximately 16,000 people. Residents of Vienna apartments can enjoy small town living with cultural amenities appropriate for a big city, all within convenient distance of Washington, D.C.

Vienna is at the center of a number of options for students seeking higher education, with many top-tier universities in Washington, D.C., as well as George Mason University, which enrolls 33,000 students just minutes south in Fairfax. Vienna students can also head to Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale Campus or study in town at Tysons College or Potomac College, which offer career-oriented education.

A significant number of Vienna residents commute to Washington, D.C. or elsewhere in Fairfax County, where government and government-related industries such as consulting are the dominant sectors of employment. The town’s largest employer is the Navy Federal Credit Union, while many small businesses help make up the local economy.

Vienna is part of a very affluent area of Northern Virginia, and a very low vacancy rate puts local properties in high demand. Only one in five residents in Vienna chooses to rent, and the cost of living can be steep, but the town is home to some excellent rental options.

U.S. Census Bureau data showed the median gross rent from 2006 to 2010 was $1,748. Additional research found one bedroom apartments renting for between $1,190 and $2,215 per month.

Vienna’s history is evident in a stroll down historic Church Street or a visit to the Freeman House and Museum, while Civil War buffs will love exploring the sights of Fairfax County, which include the nearby Manassas National Battlefield. Just outside of Vienna is the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, which offers a huge range of regular music, theater, dance, opera and multimedia performances, as well as educational outreach, and serves as one of the nation’s preeminent cultural institutions.

Fairfax County offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, and Vienna residents can take particular advantage of the Washington and Old Dominion Regional Park Trail. Each year Vienna hosts a number of events and holiday celebrations, including Walk on the Hill, Viva Vienna! a Halloween parade and Oktoberfest. Residents can catch a concert, shop or grab a bite to eat downtown, while the nearby Tyson Corner Center and Fair Oaks Mall provide more unparalleled shopping options. With transit access to Washington, D.C., it’s easy to check out the area’s great cultural offerings, which include world-class museums, arts and dining.

Rent.com® can help you get settled in a Vienna apartment. Look through our rental listings and find the perfect home for your needs.