Arlington, Virginia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Arlington, VA.
This profile is Arlington, VA. Looking for Arlington, TX?
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Arlington, VA?
Arlington planning snapshot: population 235,463, housing index 227 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $864,800, median rent $2,275, and income near $140,160. Expect 88°F summer highs, 32°F winter lows, and about 28-minute one-way commutes. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 227U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $864,800U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,275U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $140,160U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 2.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 28 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 88°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Arlington compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 235,463City limits · not metro/MSA
- Median household income
- $140,160Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year78% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 227ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year127% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $864,800City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year185% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,275City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year69% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 2.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20261.3 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 28 min12% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 7158% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI data gap
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates · older data (2019) - Summer high
- 88°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 32°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 41.8 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals26% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 247As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Is Arlington, VA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Arlington runs 127 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 227 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $864,800 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,275 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Arlington, VA?
Budget first around $2,275/month rent or $864,800 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $864,800
- Median rent $2,275/month
- Median household income $140,160
What is the job market like in Arlington, VA?
Labor-market context for Arlington: unemployment 2.9% and median income $140,160. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 2.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $140,160
How long is the typical commute in Arlington, VA?
Plan on roughly 28 minutes each way in Arlington. Walk Score estimates around 71 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 28 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 71/100
Is Arlington, VA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Citywide FBI rates are marked unavailable here — do not infer safety from a placeholder index. Neighborhood due diligence is required.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Arlington, VA?
Arlington's climate profile: 88°F summer peaks, 32°F winter mornings, 41.8" annual rainfall, and 247 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 88°F
- Winter low 32°F
- 41.8 in rain · 247 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Arlington, VA?
Clarendon is the name relocators hear first; compare it with Ballston and Rosslyn once you know your job location.
- Clarendon
- Ballston
- Rosslyn
Federal-contractor suburbs and Atlantic coastal towns pull different budgets. Expect summer highs near 88°F and winter lows around 32°F. Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 71/100. A recent county unemployment reading near 2.9% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Crime rates are marked unavailable for this municipality; do not rely on a citywide index.
About 235,463 people live in Arlington, VA. With median income around $140,160 and a cost index of 227, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $864,800 push many newcomers toward renting first.
If you only tour one corridor, make it Clarendon; if you have a weekend, contrast it with Ballston and the quieter edges near Rosslyn. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Arlington with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Clarendon
- Ballston
- Rosslyn
- Crystal City
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Arlington CDP, Virginia, 1600000US5103000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Arlington County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013743 WASHINGTON REAGAN AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19