Cost of Living in Vienna
Vienna's cost of living runs genuinely high, with median household income at $216,953 (2024) -- well above even Fairfax County's own elevated median -- and median home sale prices showing a real, disclosed spread ($1.2M-$1.3M across sources this pass).
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Learn moreHousing costs: genuinely high, with a real, disclosed price spread
Vienna's median sale price was cited at $1.2 million as of October 2025 and $1.3 million as of March 2026, with the more recent figure showing a sharp cited 23.5% year-over-year decline -- a real, disclosed spread worth understanding rather than smoothing over, potentially reflecting a shift in the mix of homes sold in a low-volume luxury market rather than a uniform price collapse.
Genuinely high household income, even by NoVA standards
Vienna's median household income was $216,953 in 2024 -- well above even Fairfax County's own elevated $153,637 median disclosed in this build's Fairfax record, consistent with Vienna's affluent, small-town character.
Virginia's near-flat income tax and Fairfax's layered sales tax
Virginia's four-bracket income tax functions as a near-flat 5.75% tax for most working filers. Vienna uses Fairfax County's combined 6.0% sales tax rate (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% NVTA regional), and may levy its own additional supplemental real estate tax as an incorporated town -- a specific rate not independently confirmed this pass. See taxes for the full picture.
A real, distinctive municipal-service cost consideration
Vienna's own full-service municipal police department and town government represent a real, if not separately itemized this pass, local-service cost baked into the town's tax structure -- a genuine tradeoff for the direct local representation and services that structure provides.
Key takeaways
- Vienna's median sale price ranged $1.2M-$1.3M across sources this pass, with the more recent figure showing a sharp cited 23.5% YoY decline.
- Vienna's median household income ($216,953, 2024) runs well above even Fairfax County's own elevated median.
- Virginia's near-flat 5.75% income tax and Fairfax County's 6.0% combined sales tax apply, plus a possible Vienna-specific supplemental real estate tax.
- Vienna's own municipal police department and town government represent a real local-service cost tradeoff for direct representation.
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