Near National AverageSafer than AverageArlington County Public Schools
Rosslyn Skyline from Theodore Roosevelt Bridge · Ejsamps / CC BY-SA 4.0Arlington House · Protoant / Public domainHonorary Marine Daran Wankum, third from left, salutes during a wreath laying ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va, June 13, 2013 130613-M-KS211-013 · Cpl. Tia Dufour / Public domainThe Pentagon January 2008 · David B. Gleason from Chicago, IL / CC BY-SA 2.0
Arlington is a mid-sized city of 235,845 in Virginia, with a median household income of $137,387
and a 2.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is
9% above the national average.
Strengths:
Arlington stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Arlington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Arlington city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 108.6
Arlington's overall cost of living index is 108.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Arlington costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.
Metric
Arlington, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$833,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$2,227
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
42.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$137,387
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Arlington's violent crime rate is 254.4 per 100,000 residents
— 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
254.4 /100k
Property Crime
1736.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Arlington is served primarily by Arlington County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Arlington, VA
National Avg
School District
Arlington County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
25
—
Middle Schools
6
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
76.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Arlington sees average highs of 44.8°F in January
and 89.6°F in July,
with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.7 inches of snow per year.
Arlington's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average.
That puts Arlington roughly 9% above the national average in cost.
The median home price is $833,300 and median rent is $2,227/month.
Arlington's violent crime rate is 254.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1736.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Arlington are operated by Arlington County Public Schools.
The district has 25 elementary, 6 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 76.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Arlington, VA has a population of 235,845, a median household income of $137,387, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Arlington averages 44.8°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches
with about 13.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Arlington, VA is covered by 11 ZIP codes: 22207, 22204, 22202, 22205, 22201, 22206, 22203, 22211, 22209, 22213, 22214.
The population of Arlington, Virginia is 235,845 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Arlington: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $833,300, median household income $137,387, crime index 73 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arlington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
