Living in Arlington, is Moving to Arlington the Right Move? (2021)

This guide is about Arlington, but first I do want to say now is the time to make the move if you are going to. With Amazon having just announced it's plans for their new Headquarters, the already high and steady real estate values are sure to rise further over the next few years.

Arlington, VA is directly southwest of Washington DC across the Potomac River. You've got three bridges to cross the Potomac from DC into Arlington, and it is also bordered by McLean, Annandale, and Alexandria.

Arlington is not inexpensive, and is known for its fantastic public school system and national landmarks; the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, the Iwo Jima (Marine Corps Memorial), and the Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington also has newer, impressive landmarks, such as the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and Air Force Memorials.

Living in Arlington means enjoying a remarkable city with a wonderful background full of history. If you are considering relocating to Arlington, this guide is meant to help you determine if the area is a good fit for you, for both your lifestyle and budget.

Table of Contents

• 1. Population & Demographics

• 2. Things to Do in Arlington

• 3. Arlington Restaurants You’ll Love

• 4. Cost of Living in Arlington

• 5. Great Arlington Neighborhoods

• 6. Local Arlington Schools

• 7. Jobs in Arlington

• 8. Comfortable Arlington Weather

• Tips for Moving to Arlington, VA

1. Population & Demographics Arlington is home to a population of 236,842 people (stat from 2019) with a median age of 34.5 years old. This area has been growing rapidly over the past few decades with more than 30,000 new residents moving to Arlington since 2010.

As for diversity in Arlington, the demographics with about 62.3% of the population being Caucasian, 15.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9% African American, and 10.2% Asian.

Many well-known people hail from Arlington, such as actress Sandra Bullock as well as famous physician Patch Adams and is home to numerous politicians, Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty. It is also the final resting place of many great military heroes and astronaut John Glenn, who are buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

I chose Lynchburg, VA because it is named the "most average city in the US", also neat, it is nearby in Virginia.

2. Great Things to Do in Arlington Here are a few of the many great Arlington activities:

• Arlington National Cemetery - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - This spectacular marble monument stands in the Arlington National Cemetery as a reminder of the sacrifices made by WWI soldiers and all those who have fought for our freedom since then. The tomb is constantly under the protection of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment known as “The Old Guard”. John F. Kennedy Grave Site

• Pentagon Memorial

• U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial - Iwo Jima Memorial

• Long Bridge Park

• Gravelly Point Park

3. Arlington Restaurants You’ll Love There has a ton of wonderful places to eat, it’s hard to narrow down the best choices. Here are a few great, top-rated picks:

El Pollo Rico - One of the most delicious and long-standing favorites, serving Peruvian dishes that make your mouth water. Here you'll find spit-roasted chicken and great sides like fries, coleslaw, and more.

SER Restaurant - family owned, award-winning neighborhood restaurant in Ballston serving up authentic comfort foods from Spain in a casual and friendly environment.

T.H.A.I. In Shirlington - This has been my favorite Thai place for many, many years, probably since they opened in 1995. The food and atmosphere location make T.H.A.I in Shirlington the perfect place for good friends & family come together and have a great time. When you dine with in their restaurant they strive to make it a delightful experience with great creative Thai food in an environment designed with individual touches unique to Arlington and the local area.

Lyon Hall - Very cool French-German brasserie offering a an extensive menu & a unique beer selection. It is a wonderful venue for a wide variety of events and gatherings.

4. Cost of Living in Arlington So, how much does it cost to live in this city? You’ll find the Arlington cost of living is about 69% higher than the national average. Even compared to the rest of Virginia it is about 65% higher with items like food, transportation, and housing being more expensive.

The biggest impact on the cost of living is the homes for sale in Arlington, VA? The Arlington real estate market shows the average sales price of a home as $751,270. While it is high, it is stable, and rarely has even small fluctuations downward in pricing. Part of why I like it as a Realtor, I feel comfortable recommending almost any property as a great investment for my clients.

More than 55% of Arlington residents lease their homes and apartments, means there are a large number of rental options available. Arlington rent averages from $1,994 a month for a one-bedroom up to around $3,689 a month for a four-bedroom house.

5. Great Arlington Neighborhoods You’ll find a wide variety of safe, comfortable neighborhoods in Arlington. With everything from apartment complexes to gated communities, you can take your pick from the many great choices when relocating to Arlington. A handful of the top Arlington neighborhoods include:

• Bluemont - My favorite area, quiet neighborhood feel, wonderful parks, easy access to DC, great schools, is the No. 2 best place in the nation, according to Niche. I also grew up in this neighborhood, so I may be partial.

• Virginia Square - Very central, great public transport, and everything you could need right outside your front door.

• Crystal City - New Amazon building coming up here soon. This neighborhood is right over the bridge from DC and has wonderful public transport options.

• Cherrydale

• Aurora Highlands

Arlington County zip cides: 22044, 22046, 22101, 22201, 22202, 22203, 22204, 22205, 22206, 22207, 22209, 22211, 22213, and 22214. A new Arlington phone number will have either a 703 or 571 area code. All around town, you’ll find easy access to convenient shopping in Arlington with options like CVS, Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Potomac City and Ballston Quarter Malls.

6. Local Arlington Schools Only about 10% of the Arlington population are kids between the ages of 5 and 17 years old, that still is around 23,281 students living in the city. Parents are pleased to have their kids join the top-ranked Arlington County Public Schools system, providing quality education at each campuses. Some of the best schools in Arlington:

• Arlington Science Focus School

• Arlington Traditional School

• Swanson Middle School

• Williamsburg Middle School

• Yorktown High School

• Washington Lee High School

Marymount University is in Arlington and both Georgetown University and George Washington University are only four miles away. This gives local graduates living in Arlington access to a university ranked among the top 30 colleges in the nation and two other great universities. Also, one of the Northern Virginia Community College locations is in Arlington, which is a wonderful school offering a full and varied curriculum at local college pricing.

7. Jobs in Arlington5,000 jobs with the average income of over $100,000 as they will be hiring executives and all administrative support staff for this large project. This, and the proximity to the Federal Government, makes this a strong location for developing your career. Looking at local Arlington jobs points to many large employers such as: With a median household income of $117,374, people relocating to Arlington are joining an area that makes almost twice the national average salary. There are fantastic opportunities all over town as well as in surrounding cities. Amazon is building a new headquarters in Crystal City, Arlington, nicknamed National Landing, and began hiring in 2019. The actual Amazon Headquarters 2 has not even broken ground yet, so there is much more hiring to come. Their Arlington presence will directly create over 2

• Federal Government - up to 40% of Arlington residents work for the Federal Government

• Accenture,

• Deloitte,

• Virginia Hospital Center

• Booz Allen Hamilton

• CACI International

• AES Corporation

• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

Many locals also commute from Arlington, VA to Washington DC, about 5 miles. Which is normally a 15 to 20 minutes trip across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.

8. Comfortable Weather

Arlington experiences all four seasons throughout the year. There is a wide range of fun outdoor activities to enjoy. Among the best places to enjoy good weather in Arlington are the Crystal City Water Park and Bon Air Park Rose Garden. There is a large range of temperature variations with warm summers between the mid-70s and upper 90s. Winters cool down quite a bit with temps from the low 20s to the mid-40s. Snowfall can be over 15 inches per year, but speaking as a lifelong resident, we barely ever get more than 2 inches, and that doesn't always stick. There is about 43 inches of annual precipitation in Arlington.

9. Tips for Moving to Arlington, VA

• Joys of living in a place of national relevance and history.

• Experience many fun places to visit and wonderful restaurants.

• Top-ranked schools for both grade school and college students.

• Plan on weather that varies between warm, humid summers and freezing winters.

Living in Arlington, there is so much to see and do, which make it such a fantastic part of Virginia and the DMV. If you’re relocating to Arlington, please don't hesitate to reach out, I would love assist you!

To see what homes are available now, click here: Arlington Real Estate