Arlington, Virginia Property Management Services

Location of Arlington

Arlington (it’s actually a county, not an independent city or incorporated town) is located in Northern Virginia (NOVA) and is situated on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River. It sits directly across the river from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part (under the name of Alexandria County).

With a land area of 26 square miles, Arlington is geographically the smallest self-governing county in the United States. It’s also the 11th most densely populated county in the U.S.

Population and Demographics

The estimated population in Arlington in 2022 is 233,464, an increase of over 12% since the 2010 U.S. Census. Its racial composition is 71.49% white, 10.26% Asian, and 9.15% Black or African American, with the balance split among other races. 

Residents of Arlington are highly educated, with over 75 percent having a bachelor’s degree and/or a graduate degree. Arlington’s income levels reflect the large number of residents with college degrees: the median household income is $120,000, and the median income for married families is just under $180,000.

Area History

Arlington County was originally part of the ten-mile square surveyed in 1791 for the Nation’s Capital. From 1801 to 1847, what are now Arlington and a portion of the City of Alexandria were known as Alexandria County, District of Columbia.  In 1847, at the request of the local residents, Congress retroceded Alexandria County to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 1870, Alexandria County and the City of Alexandria were formally separated, and a post-Civil War government held regular elections. Subsequently, in 1920, Alexandria County was renamed Arlington County to eliminate the confusion between these two adjacent jurisdictions. The name “Arlington” was chosen because General Robert E. Lee’s home of that name is located in the County, on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

In the 1930s, Hoover Field was established on the present site of the Pentagon; in that decade, Buckingham, Colonial Village, and other apartment communities also opened. World War II brought a boom to the county, but one that could not be met by new construction due to rationing imposed by the war effort. As a result, in October 1942, not a single rental unit was available in Arlington.

The Pentagon has been an essential element of Arlington’s history for decades but was never as visible to the world as it was on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and deliberately crashed into the Pentagon, killing 115 Pentagon employees, 10 contractors in the building, as well as all 53 passengers and six crew members aboard Flight 77.

Arlington’s explosive growth has continued in the 21st century. The Turnberry Tower was completed in 2009 and was the tallest residential building in the Washington metropolitan area at the time. In 2018, Amazon announced it would build its co-headquarters in the Crystal City neighborhood.

Education

Arlington Public Schools operates the county’s public K-12 education system consisting of 22 elementary schools, six middle schools, and three public high schools. The prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax also accepts a limited number of students who reside in Arlington.

Marymount University is the only university with its main campus located in Arlington. George Mason University operates an Arlington campus in the Virginia Square area, and in June 2011, Virginia Tech opened the Virginia Tech Research Center in the Ballston area.

In addition, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Northern Virginia Community College, and Troy University all have campuses in Arlington. 

Things to Do

Arlington residents and visitors find Arlington full of fascinating things to do and see.

Arlington National Cemetery is at the top of most people’s list when getting out and about in Arlington. It is the home to the Tomb of the Unknowns and the eternal flame marking President John F. Kennedy’s grave, and the final resting places of many other famous Americans.

The Pentagon is the world’s largest office building and is the headquarters for the Department of Defense. Guided tours are available for select sites in the interior, such as the Hall of Heroes. The grounds are also the setting for the Pentagon Memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Mount Vernon Trail is part of the larger Potomac Heritage Scenic Trail. The 17-mile paved hiking and bicycling path travels between Mount Vernon and Rosslyn, paralleling the George Washington Memorial Parkway. 

The Arlington Farmers Market draws farms from all over Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey every Saturday all year round. They come loaded with seasonal produce, artisanal cheeses, jams, jellies, baked goods, and much more. 

The DEA Museum opened in 1999 and contains interactive exhibit and displays chronicling the history of the law enforcement agency, as well as illicit drugs and their abuse over the past 150 years.

Home Prices and Trends

The median list price for a home in Arlington is $646,000, with resale inventory in the area typically under 1000 homes. Arlington’s median list price per square foot is $457, and the number of distressed properties, such as foreclosures and short sales, has remained relatively constant. Home prices are expected to continue to climb in 2022, though not as sharply as they did the previous year.

Arlington rental properties are considered a good option for those looking for a long-term investment in a stable economy. Many workers in Arlington work on employment contracts and look for rentals with leases of twelve months or less. Multiple applications for homes for sale or rent are common.

Is Arlington the Best Place for You?

Is Arlington the right location for your next Northern Virginia home? It could be if:

You love history. All of the history you can handle is located in Arlington and the District of Columbia, which is just a short trip via private vehicle or public transportation.

You love the outdoors. There is no shortage of parks and natural settings in the Arlington area. You can easily be out of the metropolitan D.C. area and enjoy the countryside in minutes. 

You’re looking for a place to put down roots. Corporations like Amazon are relocating to Arlington because of its location and quality of life. Housing is expensive, yet affordable because of the excellent income opportunities available here.

Whether you currently have rental property or are looking to buy one in the Arlington area, we invite you to contact our team at RentSimple. Let us show you that your priorities are what matter most to us.