Is Penderwood safe?
Chantilly, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Penderwood as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Penderwood
“Go. Penderwood is an exceptionally safe, quiet, and affluent master-planned suburban community in Fairfax County. Visitors will encounter minimal safety concerns beyond basic situational awareness regarding traffic and vehicle security.”
About the area
Penderwood is an established, tree-filled residential enclave centered around the Penderbrook Golf Course near the junction of I-66 and Route 50. It offers tranquil suburban living with immediate access to major Northern Virginia shopping hubs and regional employment centers.
- Quiet Suburban
- Golf Community
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Penderwood
Walk score: 34/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no municipal bike-share system here; while subdivision streets are calm for recreational riding, bordering high-speed corridors like Route 50 and I-66 lack dedicated bike infrastructure.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Extremely low rates of violent and serious property crime compared to national benchmarks
- High median household incomes, strong local employment, and excellent public infrastructure
- Well-maintained residential properties, low housing vacancy, and scenic golf course grounds
Cons
- Highly car-dependent layout bounded by fast-moving arterial highways
- Occasional opportunistic suburban vehicle break-ins if cars are left unlocked
- Limited walkable nightlife or cultural amenities directly inside the neighborhood
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within Penderwood. Occasional panhandling may rarely occur near major retail highway intersections along US-50.
What Penderwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and quiet with residents jogging along neighborhood sidewalks and golfers heading to the links.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pleasant and peaceful around residential courts with light local traffic and active recreation.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Low-key and secure as residents return home, maintaining a very calm neighborhood feel.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Exceedingly quiet and dark with virtually no foot traffic; street safety remains exceptionally high.
Transit, parking and getting around
Local transit is operated by Fairfax Connector bus routes, which provide connecting service to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail Station (Orange Line) located about 5 miles east.
Parking is abundant and free, with designated resident and visitor spaces in townhome clusters and ample surface lot parking at the golf clubhouse and local plazas.
Things to do in Penderwood
- Play 18 holes on the picturesque public course at Penderbrook Golf Club
- Explore the extensive shopping and dining options at neighboring Fair Oaks Mall
- Walk or jog along the wooded trails at nearby Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
Local favorites
- Penderbrook Golf Club · Golf Course · 4.1★ (450)Challenging 18-hole public golf course featuring scenic fairways, water hazards, and a welcoming clubhouse grill.
- Coastal Flats · Seafood Restaurant · 4.6★ (3600)Lively upscale-casual dining spot nearby known for fresh seafood, warm rolls, and craft cocktails.
- Megabytes Eatery · Cafe / Diner · 4.8★ (1150)Tech-themed casual eatery serving creative breakfast platters, handcrafted sandwiches, and specialty burgers.
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.