Fairfax County
Burke, Virginia
An established part of central Fairfax County built largely around the Burke Centre planned community, with VRE commuter rail, Burke Lake Park, and a wide range of 1970s and 80s housing.
Burke is central Fairfax County at its most settled: 1970s and 80s neighborhoods with pools and trails, two commuter rail stations, and one of the county’s best-known parks. It has no town government and no Metro stop, and it has stayed steadily in demand with families for decades.
Burke Centre
Most of what people mean by Burke is Burke Centre, a planned community developed from the 1970s and organized into five sections known as conservancies. Each has its own pools, tennis courts, trails, and community center, and the whole community shares a shopping center and a VRE station. Homes range from condominiums and townhouses to detached houses, so the community spans a wide price range on its own.
Around it are the other established neighborhoods: Lake Braddock, built around a community lake next to the school of the same name; Signal Hill and Cherry Run off Old Keene Mill Road; Longwood Knolls and Burke Station near the older village area; and the Burke Village townhouse and condominium communities near the commercial center.
Commuter rail
Burke’s transit story is VRE, not Metro. Two stations — Burke Centre and Rolling Road — run weekday service on the Manassas Line to Alexandria and Washington Union Station, which for a certain kind of commuter is better than driving to a Metro garage. For Metro itself, the Franconia–Springfield station on the Blue Line is a drive east.
Burke Lake Park
The 218-acre lake and the loop trail around it draw people from well beyond Burke. The park adds fishing, boat rentals, a campground, a miniature train, disc golf, and an adjacent golf course. Together with the community pools and the stream valley trails, it is a large part of why turnover is low.
Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools serves Burke, feeding mainly Lake Braddock Secondary and West Springfield High, with some areas assigned to Robinson Secondary. Lake Braddock and Robinson are secondary schools covering grades 7 through 12, a structure only a few Fairfax schools use, and worth understanding if you are comparing options. Boundaries vary by neighborhood, so confirm any specific address with FCPS.
Getting around
The Fairfax County Parkway, Route 123, Old Keene Mill Road, and Braddock Road carry most traffic, with I-95 and the Beltway to the east. Everyday shopping is spread among Burke Centre, Old Keene Mill Road, and the Springfield centers nearby.
Buying or selling here
The housing stock is uniform enough in age that condition and updates set the price spread — kitchens, baths, roofs, and windows more than floor plans. Buyers should compare conservancy and HOA fees and what each covers; sellers benefit from documenting improvements, since buyers here are comparing against a lot of very similar houses.
Communities in Burke
- Burke Centre
- The area’s defining community — thousands of homes in five "clusters" or conservancies with pools, trails, tennis courts, and community centers, plus its own VRE station and shopping center.
- Lake Braddock
- Established single-family and townhouse neighborhoods around a community lake, adjacent to Lake Braddock Secondary School.
- Signal Hill and Cherry Run
- Single-family neighborhoods off Old Keene Mill Road with pools and community associations.
- Longwood Knolls and Burke Station
- Older established neighborhoods closer to Burke Lake Road and the original Burke village area.
- Burke Village
- Townhouse and condominium communities near Burke Centre’s commercial area, among the more attainable options locally.
Schools
Burke is served by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and feeds primarily the Lake Braddock Secondary School and West Springfield High School pyramids, with some areas assigned to Robinson Secondary School. Boundaries vary by neighborhood, so confirm the current attendance area for a specific address with FCPS.
Commuting
Two Virginia Railway Express stations serve the area — Burke Centre and Rolling Road — on the Manassas Line into Alexandria and Washington Union Station. The Fairfax County Parkway, Route 123 (Ox Road), Old Keene Mill Road, and Braddock Road are the main roads, with I-95 and the Franconia–Springfield Metro station to the east. There is no Metro station in Burke itself.
Market
Burke is a settled, mid-market part of Fairfax County: mostly 1970s and 80s single-family homes and townhouses in HOA communities with pools and trails, and comparatively little new construction. It draws buyers for the schools, the parks, and the VRE access, and turnover tends to be steady rather than fast. Because the housing stock is fairly uniform in age, updates and condition drive the spread in price more than square footage does.
Common questions
What is Burke Centre?
A large planned community developed from the 1970s, organized into five sections known as conservancies or clusters, each with its own pools, tennis courts, trails, and community center. It has its own shopping center and VRE station, and its association covers most of what people mean when they say Burke.
Does Burke have Metro?
No, but it has commuter rail. Two VRE stations — Burke Centre and Rolling Road — run on the Manassas Line to Alexandria and Washington Union Station on weekdays. For Metro, residents drive to the Franconia–Springfield station on the Blue Line.
What schools serve Burke?
Fairfax County Public Schools, primarily the Lake Braddock Secondary and West Springfield High pyramids, with some areas going to Robinson Secondary. Lake Braddock and Robinson are secondary schools serving grades 7 through 12, which is a structure unique to a few Fairfax schools. Confirm the assignment for a specific address with FCPS.
What is Burke Lake Park?
A large Fairfax County park around a 218-acre lake, with a walking and running loop popular throughout the area, plus fishing, boat rentals, a campground, a miniature train, and a golf course. It is one of the best-known parks in the county and a significant part of Burke’s appeal.
Is Burke a town?
No. Burke is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, named for a 19th-century railroad stop. County government provides services, and the community associations — Burke Centre’s in particular — handle the shared amenities.
Current Burke listings are available through my search site.
Last updated 2026-09-07.