Fairfax County offers an outstanding quality of life for its residents including numerous parks, golf courses and bike trails.  Fairfax County has an established arts community, world class shopping and dining, numerous historical and cultural attractions as well as nearby Washington, D.C.'s world-renowned museums, arts centers and theaters.

Fairfax County is a national leader in K-12 public education.  Its students consistently score significantly higher than the national average in standardized achievement tests. The Fairfax County Public Schools system (FCPS; www.fcps.edu) is one of the highest-rated school systems in America, and the area’s numerous private schools offer parents additional education options. Private foreign-language academies, programs and courses also are available to both children and adults.

Fairfax County is also a leader in higher education.  The campuses of five major colleges and universities, including the main campus of George Mason University, are located in Fairfax County.  Northern Virginia Community College—the largest community college in the Commonwealth of Virginia—has two campuses in Fairfax County.

Fairfax County's major residential communities offer a broad spectrum of choices for the home-buyer or renter.  Towns located within Fairfax County (such as Clifton, Herndon and Vienna) offer a blend of old and new, with housing in and around historical and small urban areas. Planned residential communities offer housing with up-to-date amenities. Upscale residences can be found throughout the county.