Dunn Loring, VA, USA, 2010
Dunn Loring’s story
140 years in pictures
Census counts: 7,861 in 2000, 9,464 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 7 maps from 1900 on.
- 1886Dunn Loring is settled
Dunn LoringVA
Today 8,957 people live in this town, first settled in 1886.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
8,957
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$1.21M
+0.6% in a year
Household income
$244K
median
Median age
43.3
years
Jobs based here
1,767
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#29 of 249 in VA
Why does Dunn Loring grade so well?
Health is its strong suit: residents are healthier than 98% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. It also does well on incomes — the median household earns $244K. What holds it back is cost of living (C−) — the typical home is worth about $1.2 million, 9.5 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income. Put together, the subjects come to an A overall, better than 94% of U.S. towns. Its place in the ranking is 29th of 249 in Virginia. 80% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Dunn Loring, where Virginia’s towns sit at 44% and U.S. towns at 29%. Only 2 of the 137 Virginia towns we compare have a higher typical home value than Dunn Loring. The town’s rent at the middle of the market is $3,501 a month, against $1,760 a month in Virginia’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · Zillow, September 2026.
What makes Dunn Loring stand out
Where Dunn Loring beats most towns.
32 measures vs. Virginia
23 better9 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | Dunn Loring | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.1% | 11.1% |
HealthA+
Beats VA on 23 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 95% of U.S. towns
5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA−
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Dunn Loring for work
Where Dunn Loring’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,767jobs based in Dunn Loring
2%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Dunn Loring grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Dunn Loring is from typical.
HealthInova Fairfax Hospital 2.6 miles awayA+Open →Jobs & incomeAmong the best of the towns comparedA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.2 of 20; 0.2% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 18% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsSchools do better than mostB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 4% conserved landBOpen →HistoryIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 316 attractions →White House and 247 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dunn Loring. Close and well known come first.
Big draw10 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw10 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw9 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw9 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw11 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw10 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Dunn Loring: who provides what
Dunn Loring is unincorporated, so Fairfax County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDominion Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFairfax WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFairfax CountyFairfax County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFairfax General RegistrarFairfax County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes22182, 22180, 2202722182 38% · 22180 38% · 22027 25%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dunn Loring.
Dunn Loring has less tooth loss than most of Virginia and has household incomes well above the Virginia norm, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Virginia.
HousingCost of living grade C−
Compared with most of Virginia and the rest of the country, the median rent in Dunn Loring is higher
At 9.5 years of the Washington metro’s $127K median household income, the typical home (about $1.21M) costs more against local pay than in 99% of Virginia towns; that ratio is one input to its C− for cost of living.
Homes in Dunn Loring are typically worth about $1,209,000, up 0.6% in a year, 3 times the Virginia typical home. 93% of Dunn Loring households live in a home they own. A home in Dunn Loring typically sold within 27 days of listing.
$1.21MZillow home value
| Dunn Loring | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $3,501 a month | $1,760 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 93% | 68% | 73% |
Typical home value
Dunn Loring$1.21M
Virginia$412K
Market temperature
27
days on market
101%
sale-to-list price
+0.6%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Dunn Loring beat 74% of Virginia districts
Public schools: the Fairfax County Public Schools. Three of its 7 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. 4 public schools serve Dunn Loring, with 3,242 students in all.
74%of VA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thoreau MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 1,239 | A |
| Kilmer CenterLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 57 | A− |
| Stenwood ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 538 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
Dunn Loring’s grade for health is an A+
Its widest gap with Virginia is tooth loss: 4.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.1% statewide. Against the 474 U.S. towns with household incomes like Dunn Loring’s, it is healthier than 56%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
In Dunn Loring, 14% of adults binge drink. Just over one in ten adults in Dunn Loring report frequent mental distress; 6.7% smoke cigarettes.
98%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Dunn Loring | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 16% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 6.7% | 12% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.3% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Virginia
23 better9 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Dunn Loring | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 4.1% | 11.1% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.2% | 13.1% |
Inova Fairfax Hospital
2.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
91st
percentile among VA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Dunn Loring faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Dunn Loring once, in 2003. On expected storm and flood damage, Dunn Loring sits below 82% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 71% come from inland flooding and 9% from hurricanes.
18risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesHeat waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Most of Dunn Loring’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
34.7% of workers work from home, against 18.3% across Virginia.
The top destinations are Washington (17%), Tysons (13%) and Arlington (9%). Commuting out is the norm in Dunn Loring: 2% of working residents work locally. Also worth knowing: for residents in the town, the share who live below the poverty line is 5.1%. Employers in Dunn Loring shed 259 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,767.
2%work in town
| Dunn Loring | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $244,000 | $101,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 5% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Dunn Loring2%
Washington17%
Tysons13%
Arlington9%
Reston5%
9 mi
median commute distance
1,767
jobs based in Dunn Loring
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 95% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Dunn Loring
Summers in Dunn Loring are warm, and winters chilly. Summer afternoons peak near 87° in July, and January nights bottom out around 26°; snowfall runs to about 6 inches a winter.
6″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–45°
Spring44–65°
Summer65–85°
Fall48–67°
Oct 31
typical first frost
Apr 9
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB
Dunn Loring has set aside 3.6% of its land for conservation
Dunn Loring’s density of trails stands at 0.2 miles per square mile. Trails total 0.5 miles in 6 parks and preserves.
3.6%conserved
| Dunn Loring | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.6% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
3.6%
conserved · 54 of 1,505 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park | — | 17 |
| 2. Dunn Loring Park | — | 16 |
| 3. Dunn Loring Fairgounds | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dunn Loring
17pages on Dunn Loring
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
35 within 15 miles of the center of Dunn Loring
University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · Private for-profit · FALLS CHURCH1.1 mi$6,660 tuitionNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Annandale4.2 mi$5,891 in-state tuitionGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Fairfax6 mi$14,220 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Dunn Loring residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
About Dunn Loring
Census-designated place in Virginia
Dunn Loring is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,464 as of the 2020 census. This suburban area is bordered by Merrifield to the south, Vienna to the west, Tysons to the north, and Idylwood to the east. Dunn Loring is located within the Washington metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 436 ft
- ZIP code
- 22027
Dunn Loring’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Dunn Loring.
It grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Merrifield (A) comes closest.
ViennaTysonsMerrifieldIdylwoodDunn Loring
How the neighbors grade
| Town | VA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn Loring | #29 | A | C− | — | B+ | A+ |
| Vienna | #45 | A | D | B+ | B+ | A+ |
| Tysons | #55 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Merrifield | #36 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Idylwood | #41 | A | D | — | B+ | A+ |
Dunn Loring, Tysons, Merrifield and Idylwood report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Dunn Loring with a neighbor →
Questions about Dunn Loring
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dunn Loring, VA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Dunn Loring grades A overall, better than 94% of U.S. towns and #29 of 249 in Virginia. It grades A+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Dunn Loring, VA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.