Kids & Family

Reston In The Top 10 On 'Best Places' List

Money Magazine ranks Reston No. 7 for its access to tech jobs, diversity in housing and selection of outdoor activities.

Money Magazine came out with its annual "Best Places to Live" list on Monday - and Reston is in the Top 10.

Reston comes in at No. 7 on the list of small cities. The criteria? "These terrific small cities offer strong job opportunities, great schools, low crime, and a true sense of community, " says Money.

Coming in at No. 1 is Carmel, IN.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reston was rumored to be in the running ever since a Money reporter visited Reston earlier this summer. Among the residents interviewed: Reston Association president Ken Knueven and Reston natives Paul and Heather Thomas. Paul Thomas is a former Board of Directors member and Heather Thomas is a guidance counselor at Both of them graduated from South Lakes and returned to raise their own children, who are now in elementary school.

"I am very pleased," Knueven said upon hearing Reston's rank. "Obviously, I would like to be No. 1, but we'll take it and take it well. If you look at the other communities on the list, we are in very good company."

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Said Paul Thomas: "I'm glad to see my hometown being given such positive press. It's easy to take everything Reston has to offer for granted, but articles like this remind me that Reston is a unique and remarkable community." 

Here is what Money had to say about Reston:

Reston may be a planned community, but don't expect cookie-cutter homes here. Thanks to famed master planner Robert Simon, houses of all shapes and sizes sit next to one another.

Activities come in all stripes too, from an über-urban downtown to 55 miles of bike paths, 52 tennis courts, and 15 pools.

Thanks to Reston's growing reputation as a technology hub near Washington Dulles International Airport, major firms have large offices here. Those who do commute to D.C. contend with traffic, but next year's completion of the Washington Metro's extension to Reston will help alleviate the pain.

Click here to see the complete list.

Do you agree with Money's ranking of Reston? Do you think it is a top place to live or can we do better? Tell us in the comments.


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