Is Penderbrook safe?
Centreville, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Penderbrook as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Penderbrook
“Go. Penderbrook is an exceptionally safe, affluent master-planned golf community in western Fairfax County. Visitors and residents face virtually no violent crime risks, making it a peaceful and secure suburban enclave.”
About the area
Penderbrook is a manicured residential golf course community situated just west of Fairfax and near the Fair Oaks area. It features townhomes, condominiums, single-family houses, and a public 18-hole championship golf course surrounded by tranquil green space.
- Suburban / Golf Community
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Penderbrook
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
Internal community streets are quiet for cycling, though there is no direct Capital Bikeshare station on-site; connections to the Fairfax County trail network require navigating busy perimeter roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are near zero, well below national and regional averages
- High household incomes ($120,000+) and exceptional public infrastructure
- Well-maintained community grounds with active HOA management and security presence
- Immediate access to major Northern Virginia shopping hubs and commuter corridors
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic car break-ins in open condominium parking lots
- Heavily car-dependent layout with arterial traffic congestion nearby on Route 50 and I-66
- Very limited dining and nightlife options located directly within the residential gates
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the residential streets of Penderbrook, with social support services centered further east in the city of Fairfax.
What Penderbrook is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and golfers heading out onto the fairways.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with standard residential deliveries, landscaping crews, and golfers on the course.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued suburban atmosphere with residents returning from work and minimal foot traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely dark and quiet with very little movement aside from occasional returning residents.
Transit, parking and getting around
Fairfax Connector bus routes 605 and 621 provide local service along nearby arterials to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro Station (Orange Line), located about 5 miles east.
Parking is ample and free throughout the community, with designated resident and visitor spaces in condo lots and private driveways in townhome sections.
Things to do in Penderbrook
- Play a round of 18 holes at the scenic Penderbrook Golf Club
- Walk or jog along the paved residential paths winding around the golf course greens
- Shop and dine at the nearby Fair Oaks Mall and Fairfax Corner retail centers
Local favorites
- Penderbrook Golf Club · Golf Course · 4.1★ (380)Picturesque 18-hole public golf course featuring a clubhouse, driving range, and scenic water hazards.
- The Cyber Raccoon Custom Escape Games · Escape Room · 4.9★ (560)Immersive, locally designed escape room experience located on the edge of the community.
- Penderbrook Community Center · Community Center · 4.5★ (45)Neighborhood hub featuring tennis courts, swimming pools, fitness facilities, and meeting spaces.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.