The Town FilesArlington, Virginia
Community in Arlington County · population 238,643 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $895,000
- Household income
- $142,114
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.5
Arlington is a community of 238,643 people in Arlington County, Virginia. The median home is worth $895,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Virginia towns, better transit than 100% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Virginia towns.
How Arlington ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arlington is worth $895,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $142,114, which is more affordable than 3% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,322 a month. 41.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arlington | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $895,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,322 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $142,114 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Arlington
| People | Arlington | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.4% | — |
| Work from home | 35.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Arlington
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arlington since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Arlington County since 1996
Arlington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Arlington County
Arlington County had 179,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $122,856 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Arlington itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Arlington
42 public schools with 27,508 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Liberty High | 9-12 | 2,900 | 17.4 |
| Wakefield High | 9-12 | 2,716 | 18.0 |
| Yorktown High | 9-12 | 2,494 | 17.4 |
| Jefferson Middle | 6-8 | 1,088 | 13.6 |
| Gunston Middle | 6-8 | 1,031 | 13.7 |
| Kenmore Middle | 6-8 | 1,004 | 13.4 |
| Swanson Middle | 6-8 | 964 | 14.2 |
| Dorothy Hamm Middle | 6-8 | 932 | 13.5 |
| Williamsburg Middle | 6-8 | 855 | 15.5 |
| Abingdon Elementary | PK-5 | 717 | 12.6 |
| Cardinal Elementary | PK-5 | 714 | 15.9 |
| Arlington Traditional | PK-5 | 663 | 17.9 |
Towns near Arlington
- Seven Corners, VA2.5 mi · 9,131 people · home $318,700
- Bailey's Crossroads, VA2.7 mi · 24,749 people · home $416,600
- Lake Barcroft, VA3.6 mi · 9,770 people · home $887,300
- Falls Church, VA4.1 mi · 14,658 people · home $1,055,600
- Alexandria, VA4.2 mi · 159,467 people · home $735,100
- West Falls Church, VA4.8 mi · 30,243 people · home $706,800
- Washington, DC4.9 mi · 689,545 people · home $737,100
- Lincolnia, VA5.2 mi · 22,922 people · home $647,400
Arlington questions
Is Arlington, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arlington scores better for retirees than 24% of Virginia towns and quieter than 7%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Arlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Arlington is valued at $895,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $142,114, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $2,322 a month.
What is the weather like in Arlington?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.7 inches of snow.
Does Arlington get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)