Your EZ Search Guide to Moving to Arlington, VA

Want to live in a top-ranked place in the US? It doesn’t get more “US” than Arlington, VA, just across the Potomac River from our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Arlington and several of its neighborhoods have been featured in the top ten (if not the number 1 spot) as the best places to live over the years. 

You could think of it as being at the crossroads of the US: in the middle of the eastern seaboard, it’s in the long population chain from Boston down to Washington. But Arlington is more than just the sum of its neighbors. This riverside Virginia community, boasting nearly a quarter million residents, dates back to colonial times. As a modern city, it’s an economic powerhouse in Virginia and throughout the region. It features a bustling, high-employment economy overflowing with sophisticated and exciting career opportunities.

Are you thinking about moving to Arlington, VA? Learn all you can about Arlington real estate, the cost of living, and what it’s like to live in this thriving urban center. 

About Arlington, VA

Arlington, VA, isn’t like most towns. In fact, there’s a little confusion about the name. Many people use “Arlington” and “Arlington County” interchangeably: Arlington is the US census-designated place within Arlington County, while Arlington County encompasses the nearly 240,000 citizens who live in the same area. Think of Arlington County as the equivalent of “DC” to Washington; for most people from out of town, the two names refer to the same place. It’s also the nation’s smallest self-governing county. 

Arlington’s prominent position opposite the District of Columbia on the Potomac River has also made it host to one of the country’s most solemn locations: the Arlington National Cemetery. Odd fact: more people are buried at Arlington Cemetery (400,000) than live in Arlington itself. Former US presidents like John Kennedy and William Howard Taft, not to mention countless veterans of US wars, lie in rest here. It also includes the famous “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” where the US military’s “Old Guard” stands watch 24/7.

National pride is pervasive in Arlington. Not only is it the home of the cemetery, but influential organizations like the Pentagon are based here.

What’s it like living in Arlington? Expect hot summers along with mild-to-moderate winters. The area isn’t immune to the occasional snowstorm, “Nor’easter,” or hurricanes. But in a sign of dedication, when Hurricane Isabel hit the area in 2003, the members of the Old Guard refused to go inside for shelter.

High cost of living

The DC metro isn’t known for its affordability; if anything, it’s the opposite. Some of the highest home values in the country are around the nation’s capital. Given that Arlington is ideally placed for DC commuters, you can bet its cost of living is higher.

According to BestPlaces, the cost of living index in Arlington is 161 over 100, which means you can expect to pay 61% more than the national average for your essentials. That’s housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities. 

The high demand for homes around Arlington is a primary driver for its elevated cost of living. Housing costs were running 169% more than the national median. If you plan on moving to Arlington, you can expect a high barrier to entry. 

But being this close to the capitol and Arlington’s prominence on the Potomac River, you’ll pay more for everything. 

Diverse job market

The US Census reports a total employment of 140,834 as of 2021. That’s high for a population like Arlington’s, but an even greater number are commuters to the over 6,000 employers in the area. The city had a 2-3% unemployment rate, which isn’t just low for Virginia but low across the entire country.

As far as where you can work, Arlington has an extensive, diverse list of top employers. Bloomberg Industry Group, Deloitte, Gartner, Nestle, the Virginia Hospital Center, Lockheed Martin—it’s a bustling area thanks to its proximity to the nation’s capital, which is why so many people come to work in Arlington. 

Fortune 1000 and Inc. 5000 companies also call the Arlington area home: Boeing and Amazon, for example, have a strong presence. Green Powered Technology is another top name, highlighting the strong influence of green and tech innovation throughout the Potomac. And, of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the concentration of Federal agencies around DC and Arlington: the FDIC, the Department of Defense, the Office of Naval Research, and more.

You’ll notice that many of these companies and organizations call for high-tech, highly-skilled labor. Move to Arlington, and those advanced skills and degrees will be useful. In fact, 75% of its workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Nationally-ranked education

Public schools are fantastic in Arlington, with nearly 75% of all high school students going on to further their education. Additionally, APS, or Arlington Public Schools, is among the top-ranked school districts in the entire state. According to the Washington Post, Arlington high schools are in the top 2% of America’s most challenging high schools. 

Arlington has a culture of advanced skills and degrees. While no higher education is inside the county, no worries. Across the river, you’ll find prominent universities like George Washington University, Howard, and Georgetown. The University of Maryland, George Mason University, and American University are also reasonable commutes from Arlington.

Arlington real estate

According to the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS, by the end of September 2023, homes in Arlington were at an average of $846,713, with a median of $700,000. Both numbers are double-digit percentage increases of just over 25% yearly.

Arlington home sales have also decreased in the same period, declining 17.8% to 171 for September 2023. This confirms what AreaVibes says about living in Arlington: A+ amenities and an A+ commute, but with a drastically high cost of living that can be too cumbersome for many to manage.

Niche.com ranked three Arlington neighborhoods among the best places to live in the US. Colonial Village has no. 2, while Ballston/Virginia Square and Radnor/Fort Myer Heights made the top 50. 

You’ll find historic homes packed in tight historic districts, while much of the new construction trends towards condos and multi-family living.

Getting around Arlington

With a healthy population to support and proximity to Washington, DC, being a priority, Arlington has plenty of transportation available. Arlington Transit, or ART Bus, will connect Arlington neighborhoods to the Virginia Railway Express and Metrorail. The metro is easy to access, with 11 stations in the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority in Arlington.

You can find connections to DC on several famous bridges, from the Arlington Memorial Bridge (on its way to the Lincoln Memorial) to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Interstate 395 moves as an artery through the southeast portion of the area, connecting Washington and Arlington to much of eastern Virginia. 

Despite the relatively congested nature of the DC area, the commute is remarkably peaceful, with AreaVibes scoring it an “A+” for traffic.

Arlington weather

The summers tend to be hot and humid, while the winters tend to be mild. Being part of the eastern seaboard, a “subtropical” warmth and humidity is prevalent year-round. The nearby Atlantic Ocean serves as a weather moderator.

That ocean isn’t always moderate, however. The area along the eastern seaboard has some vulnerability to hurricanes, with the most recent prominent example being Isabel in 2003. Irene also moved through DC in 2011.

According to BestPlaces, Arlington averages far below the US 28-inch snow total (just 15 for Arlington) but gets a tad more rain—43 inches over the average of 38 inches. 

Things to Do in Arlington

This would be a long list if we included nearby Washington, DC, so let’s keep it to the Virginia side for this brief tour of things to do in Arlington. But keep in mind that if you travel to Arlington, our capital’s famous and historical sites are just a hop and a skip away. Fortunately, there’s enough to do on this side of the Potomac to keep you busy.

• For the bucket list: You must see the Arlington National Cemetery, which includes the silent Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the final resting places of American presidents, famous military officials, and countless soldiers. In fact, there are probably too many individual sites in Arlington National Cemetery to mention here.
• Shopping: The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is a large, multi-story mall home to all sorts of high-end shopping and dining spots. Forever 21, Apple, L’Occitane, and the Swiss chocolatier Läderach all have shops in this metro-accessible shopping district.
• Food and dining: Top restaurants in Arlington include Ruthie’s All Day, a spot for fantastic southern comfort food, and Preservation Biscuit—a place to get your carb on. You can check out all sorts of international fare as well, including Thai Noy, where the big-time sweet-and-sour contrasts of Thai cooking are available.
• Arts and culture: Arlington is second to DC for all the arts and culture attractions. With its own contemporary art museum, seven community theaters, and a public art collection, you can appreciate creativity all the time. The summer is the busiest month, with street fairs and live music somewhere in a park every weekend.
• Outdoor recreation: For a small city, Arlington has over 54 miles of off-street pedestrian pathways, 42 parks, 13 community centers, and more ways to stay active and be outside.

Moving to Arlington, VA

Ready to move to Arlington and join one of the most prominent and bustling communities on the eastern seaboard? You’ll find Arlington is more than the other side of the Potomac. It’s a vibrant community with solemn monuments, thriving job opportunities, and excellent education for raising a family.