Last updated: July 8, 2026
Quick Answer: Chantilly, VA is officially located in Fairfax County. The community of Chantilly itself (ZIP code 20151) is a census-designated place in western Fairfax County. However, the “Chantilly, VA” mailing address also extends into neighboring Loudoun County through ZIP code 20152, which covers South Riding and the Dulles South area. That means two homes with a Chantilly address can sit in two different counties, with different property tax rates, different school systems (Fairfax County Public Schools vs. Loudoun County Public Schools), and different commutes. Before you buy, always verify the county, not just the mailing address.
I meet buyers all the time who are shocked to learn that the “Chantilly” home they toured on Saturday is not actually in Fairfax County. It is an honest mistake. The post office, the county line, and the school boundary maps all tell slightly different stories. This guide sorts it out, and it also covers the biggest school news to hit this area in decades: the new Skyview High School in Herndon and the boundary changes that will move some Chantilly High School students there starting in the 2027-2028 school year.
Why is Chantilly in two counties?
Technically, it is not. The place named Chantilly is a census-designated place (CDP) entirely within Fairfax County, roughly bounded by Route 50, Route 28, and the Dulles Airport area. If someone asks “what county is Chantilly in,” the correct one-word answer is Fairfax.
The confusion comes from the U.S. Postal Service. Mailing city names follow post office service areas, not county lines. The “Chantilly, VA” mailing address covers two ZIP codes:
- ZIP 20151 – Fairfax County. This is Chantilly proper: the established neighborhoods off Route 50 and Stringfellow Road, the Route 28 corridor, and the area around the Dulles Expo Center and Sully Historic Site.
- ZIP 20152 – Loudoun County. This is the Dulles South area on the west side of the county line, including South Riding, East Gate, and surrounding planned communities. These homes carry a Chantilly mailing address but sit in Loudoun County, pay Loudoun taxes, and attend Loudoun County Public Schools.
So when a listing says “Chantilly,” your first question should be: which ZIP code? That one detail changes your tax bill, your school pyramid, and your commute.
How do I confirm which county a Chantilly home is in?
Three quick checks:
- Check the ZIP code. 20151 is Fairfax County. 20152 is Loudoun County. This is reliable for nearly every residential address.
- Look up the parcel. Every Virginia home pays taxes to exactly one county. Search the address in the Fairfax County or Loudoun County online real estate assessment tool. The one that returns a record is the county you would pay taxes to.
- Ask your agent to pull the tax record. The MLS listing shows the taxing jurisdiction and the assigned schools. I verify this on every home my buyers consider, because school assignments in this area are changing (more on that below).
Fairfax County Chantilly vs. Loudoun County Chantilly: what buyers should compare
| Factor | Fairfax County side (ZIP 20151) | Loudoun County side (ZIP 20152) |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate tax rate | About $1.12 per $100 of assessed value (FY 2027) | About $0.805 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2026) |
| Schools | Fairfax County Public Schools: Chantilly HS and Westfield HS pyramids (boundaries changing for 2027-28) | Loudoun County Public Schools: Freedom HS serves South Riding; John Champe and Lightridge serve nearby Dulles South communities |
| Housing stock | Mostly established neighborhoods built from the 1970s to 1990s: mature trees, larger lots, single-family homes and townhomes | Mostly planned communities built from the late 1990s onward: newer construction, HOA amenities like pools and trails |
| HOA | Varies; many neighborhoods have modest or no HOA fees | Nearly universal; amenity-rich HOAs with meaningful monthly fees |
| Commute | Closer to Tysons, Reston, and I-66; quick access to Routes 50 and 28 | Farther west; Route 50 corridor traffic is the main pinch point, with strong access to Dulles and the Loudoun tech corridor |
Tax rates change annually when each county adopts its budget. Always confirm the current rate with the county before writing an offer.
The property tax difference is real money
On an $800,000 home, the Fairfax County rate of $1.12 per $100 works out to about $8,960 per year. The same value in Loudoun County at $0.805 per $100 is about $6,440. That is a difference of roughly $2,500 per year, or a little over $200 per month. Loudoun can hold its rate lower largely because of its enormous data center tax base.
Before you decide based on taxes alone, two caveats. First, the Loudoun-side planned communities almost all carry HOA fees that claw back part of that difference. Second, assessments differ home to home, so compare actual tax bills on the specific properties you are weighing, not just the rates.
The Fairfax County side: established Chantilly
Chantilly proper is one of western Fairfax County’s best value plays. You are buying into the county’s school system, parks, and proximity to major employment centers at a price point meaningfully below Vienna, Oakton, or McLean. Neighborhoods like Brookfield, Poplar Tree Estates, and Armfield Farm offer single-family homes on real lots, most built between the 1970s and 1990s. The pattern I see over and over is steady demand from families who want the Fairfax County address without the close-in price tag.
The trade-off: the housing stock is older, so budget for updates, and inventory is tight because these neighborhoods do not turn over quickly.
The Loudoun County side: South Riding and Dulles South
Cross the county line on Route 50 and the landscape changes to master-planned communities. South Riding is the anchor: thousands of homes built from the late 1990s through the 2010s, with pools, trails, town greens, and a genuine community feel. East Gate and the surrounding Dulles South communities continue the pattern with newer construction.
Buyers here get newer homes, more modern floor plans, and the lower Loudoun tax rate. The trade-offs are HOA fees, smaller lots in many sections, and a longer drive to jobs east of Reston.
The big school news: Skyview High School and Chantilly HS boundary changes
If you are buying on the Fairfax County side of Chantilly with kids, this is the section to read twice.
Fairfax County Public Schools purchased the former King Abdullah Academy campus at 2949 Education Drive in Herndon for $150 million in summer 2025 and is opening it as Skyview High School. The school welcomes its first ninth and tenth grade students in fall 2026 on an opt-in basis for families in the Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield pyramids.
The permanent attendance boundaries are being decided right now. Here is where things stand as of July 8, 2026:
- July 2, 2026: Superintendent Michelle Reid released her preliminary boundary recommendation after four months of study and community meetings.
- The recommendation: Skyview would draw students currently assigned to Westfield, Chantilly, and South Lakes high schools, starting with the 2027-2028 school year. Approximately 333 Chantilly High School students, 1,062 Westfield students, and 384 South Lakes students would be reassigned to Skyview.
- Chantilly HS also gains students: a related change would reassign about 177 students from the Rachel Carson Middle School area to Franklin Middle School, and those students would then advance to Chantilly High School instead of Oakton. Some students would also shift among Centreville, Westfield, and Chantilly high schools and among Liberty, Rocky Run, and Stone middle schools.
- July 13, 2026: public hearing on the preliminary recommendation at Luther Jackson Middle School.
- July 16, 2026: the superintendent presents her final recommendation and the School Board is scheduled to vote.
- Phase-in: for 2027-2028, rising ninth graders could opt out and remain at their currently assigned school under the proposed phasing plan. Boundaries would take full effect in 2028-2029.
One example of how granular this gets: an area of Chantilly between Sully Road and Walney Road is proposed to move from Chantilly HS to Westfield HS, while the Walney Village townhome community within that area stays at Chantilly after residents organized and gave feedback. Two streets apart can mean two different high schools.
What this means if you are buying in Chantilly right now
Do not buy based on the current school assignment alone. A home that feeds Chantilly High School today may feed Skyview or Westfield in 2027. That is not automatically bad news. Skyview is a brand-new, modern campus, and the whole point of the change is to relieve crowding across western Fairfax County. But you should know what you are buying. FCPS has published an online boundary explorer tool for the Skyview study, and I check the proposed assignment for every western Fairfax home my clients consider. After the July 16 vote, the picture should be settled.
If you already own in Chantilly and are thinking about selling, boundary certainty tends to help marketing. Once the final map is adopted, listings can state the assigned schools with confidence, and homes near new-school boundaries often draw extra attention from relocating families. If that is you, start with my Fairfax County home seller’s guide.
So which side of Chantilly should you buy in?
There is no universally right answer, only the right answer for your situation:
- Choose the Fairfax County side (20151) if you want an established neighborhood with mature trees and larger lots, a shorter commute east toward Tysons and Reston, and Fairfax County Public Schools.
- Choose the Loudoun County side (20152) if you want newer construction, community amenities, a lower county tax rate, and you work near Dulles or west of it.
I grew up in this part of Northern Virginia, I am based minutes from Chantilly in Centreville, and I have helped clients buy and sell on both sides of the line. If you want a straight answer about a specific address, which county it is in, what the real tax bill looks like, and what the school picture will be after the Skyview vote, call or text me at 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chantilly, VA in Fairfax County or Loudoun County?
Chantilly itself is in Fairfax County. It is a census-designated place in the western part of the county, ZIP code 20151. However, the Chantilly mailing address also covers ZIP code 20152 in Loudoun County, which includes South Riding and the Dulles South area. Always verify the county for a specific address rather than relying on the mailing city.
How do I know which county a Chantilly home is in?
Check the ZIP code first: 20151 is Fairfax County and 20152 is Loudoun County. To be certain, look up the address in the county’s online real estate assessment database, or ask your agent to pull the tax record, which lists the taxing jurisdiction and assigned schools.
Are property taxes lower on the Loudoun County side of Chantilly?
Yes. Loudoun County’s real estate tax rate is about $0.805 per $100 of assessed value versus $1.12 in Fairfax County, a difference of roughly $2,500 per year on an $800,000 home. Keep in mind that most Loudoun-side communities have HOA fees that offset part of the savings, and rates change with each county budget.
What school district serves Chantilly, VA?
Homes in ZIP 20151 attend Fairfax County Public Schools, primarily the Chantilly and Westfield high school pyramids. Homes in ZIP 20152 attend Loudoun County Public Schools; Freedom High School serves South Riding, with John Champe and Lightridge serving nearby Dulles South communities. School boundaries change, so confirm the current assignment for any specific address with the school district.
Will Chantilly High School students be redistricted to Skyview High School?
Some will, pending a final vote. Under the FCPS superintendent’s preliminary recommendation released July 2, 2026, about 333 Chantilly High School students would be reassigned to the new Skyview High School in Herndon starting in the 2027-2028 school year, with full implementation in 2028-2029. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the final recommendation on July 16, 2026. Check the FCPS boundary explorer tool for any specific address.
Is Chantilly a good place to buy a home in 2026?
Chantilly offers strong value for western Fairfax County, with established single-family neighborhoods priced below closer-in markets like Vienna and Oakton, while the Loudoun side offers newer construction and a lower tax rate. The main thing to watch in 2026 is the Skyview High School boundary decision, which will settle school assignments for much of the area.
David Mount is a REALTOR® with The Redux Group at eXp Realty serving Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and all of Northern Virginia. Questions about Chantilly, South Riding, or anywhere in between? Call 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.