Chantilly, Virginia

A suburb of Washington, D.C., Chantilly is a serene escape just 24 miles west of the city and just seven miles from Dulles International Airport—convenient for family vacations. The community is largely residential, with just over 25,000 people, but there’s plenty to do. Along Route 50 you’ll find a number of eateries and bistros, and where it intersects with Route 28, there’s a ton of places to shop.

One of Chantilly’s most notable attractions is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a branch of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. It showcases the country’s aeronautical history, with over 3,000 artifacts on display and a restoration hangar where you can watch specialists preserve the artifacts. There are also plenty of exhibits, including the Discovery space shuttle and the Enola Gay, deployed during World War II.

For those who like to spend time outdoors, the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park has 650 acres of trails, streams, and gardens, while Pleasant Valley Golf Club offers a scenic 18-hole course. There are also a number of breweries in the area, from Ono Brewing Co. to Honor Brewing Co. 

The median household income in Chantilly is $155,741, and the city has a Sharecare financial index score, which looks at managing economic life to reduce stress and increase security, of 67 out of 100—among the highest on this list.