Virginia Town Among 50 Best Places To Live For Families, New Fortune Ranking Says

VIRGINIA — The best place in Virginia to plant roots for a lifetime is Chantilly, according to Fortune’s new ranking of the nation’s 50 Best Places to Live for Families.

In the analysis, Fortune said Chantilly, which has a population of about 25,000, was ranked third in the nation. Highlights of Chantilly mentioned by Fortune included the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Pleasant Valley Golf Club and breweries like Ono Brewing Co. to Honor Brewing Co. Fortune said while Chantilly is mainly a residential area, it offers plenty of restaurants and shopping.

"Chantilly is a serene escape just 24 miles west of the city and just seven miles from Dulles International Airport — convenient for family vacations," the editors at Fortune said. "The community is largely residential … but there’s plenty to do. Along Route 50 you’ll find a number of eateries and bistros, and where it intersects with Route 28, there’s a ton of places to shop."

Fortune said its list reflects qualities people look for when they decide where to raise families and retire.

“A great place to live not only supports families in the present but also serves them in the long term. With a growing portion of Americans caring for both children and aging parents, more people want to live where multigenerational families can thrive,” the news outlet said.

Fortune said it analyzed more than 2,000 cities and nearly 200 data categories, which included livability, financial health, resources for aging adults, education and wellness.

The cities chosen, one for each state, are sustainable for both their youngest and oldest residents and include fast-growing suburbs and edge cities that find creative ways to improve people’s well-being, Fortune said.