5 Things Every Home Buyer Wants to Know Before Moving to Arlington, VA

🌄 Introduction: Why Arlington, VA Is One of the Most Desirable Places to Live in the Entire D.C. Metro Area

If you’ve lived in Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C. for any length of time, you already know that Arlington is one of the hottest, most in-demand places to live—not just in Virginia, but in the entire country.

For decades, Arlington has been the go-to destination for buyers who want:

• Close proximity to Washington, D.C.

• Top-ranked schools

• Walkability

• Vibrant restaurant and nightlife scenes

• Beautiful parks and trails

• Access to major employers

• A strong community culture

As someone who has watched Arlington grow over the years—from the rise of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor to the tech boom surrounding Amazon HQ2—it’s clear that the area keeps evolving, modernizing, and climbing in demand… yet it still manages to maintain its neighborhood charm, historic roots, and close-knit community feel.

Whether you're a young professional seeking walkability, a military family wanting convenience to the Pentagon, a first-time buyer looking for a smart investment, or a growing family wanting top-tier schools and parks within walking distance—Arlington has something for everyone.

This is a deep, insider-focused guide for anyone considering a move to Arlington. You won’t find generic MLS descriptions here—just real local insight.

Let’s get started.

1. Lifestyle & Local Vibe

Arlington has a personality unlike anywhere else in the D.C. region. It’s energetic, socially active, diverse, innovative, and walkable—yet still grounded and neighborhood-oriented.

🌆 Urban-Suburban Hybrid Living

What makes Arlington special is that it offers city convenience without full city chaos. You can live in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood and still walk to restaurants, coffee shops, Metro, and major employers.

It’s the best of both worlds:

• Suburban comfort

• Urban energy

• Small-town charm

• World-class amenities

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Lives in Arlington?

Arlington attracts a wide mix of people, including:

• Young professionals working in D.C., Tysons, or Amazon HQ2

• Government and military families (Pentagon, Fort Myer, DHS, DoD contractors)

• Tech and consulting employees

• Empty nesters downsizing from larger homes

• Long-time residents who’ve lived here for decades

It’s one of the most educated and diverse populations in the U.S.

☕ Lifestyle, Social Scene & Culture

Arlington’s lifestyle is active and social. Locals love:

• Brunch weekends

• Biking the W&OD or Mount Vernon Trail

• Rooftop bars in Clarendon

• Community events in Courthouse and Ballston

• Outdoor dining on Wilson Boulevard

• Boutique fitness classes (OrangeTheory, F45, barre, etc.)

• Farmers markets

It’s easy to meet people, walk around, and get involved in the community.

🌳 Parks & Outdoor Living

Arlington has some of the best parks in the region:

• Theodore Roosevelt Island

• Long Bridge Park

• Potomac Overlook Regional Park

• Lubber Run Park

• Rocky Run Park

• W&OD Trail

• Mount Vernon Trail

Residents stay active year-round with easy access to trails, biking, rowing, hiking, and outdoor sports.

🎉 Local Events & Traditions

Arlington hosts:

• Arlington County Fair

• Rosslyn Jazz Fest

• Holiday Markets in Clarendon & Ballston

• Taste of Arlington

• Marine Corps Marathon route through the county

These events strengthen the sense of community and make Arlington feel both vibrant and welcoming.

2. Schools & Education

Arlington Public Schools (APS) is one of the highest-rated school districts in the country. Families move here specifically for the education options.

🏫 Public Schools Serving Arlington

Elementary Schools

• Taylor Elementary

• Nottingham Elementary

• Discovery Elementary

• Tuckahoe Elementary

• Arlington Traditional School (ATS)

• Jamestown Elementary

• Ashlawn Elementary

Middle Schools

• Williamsburg Middle

• Swanson Middle

• Glebe Middle

High Schools

• Yorktown High School — exceptional athletics & academics

• Washington-Liberty High — IB program, strong diversity

• Wakefield High School — excellent programs and facilities

🎓 Private & Specialty Schools

• Bishop O’Connell High School

• St. Thomas More

• Potomac School (nearby McLean)

• Montessori programs throughout the county

🌟 Why Schools Drive Demand

Arlington’s school district is known for:

• Highly educated teachers

• Small community school feel

• Strong arts, STEM, and AP programs

• High graduation and college acceptance rates

• Strong parental involvement

• Consistent performance

Homes in Yorktown and Washington-Liberty boundaries often experience extremely strong buyer demand and steady long-term value.

3. Real Estate Market & Home Styles

Arlington’s real estate market is diverse, dynamic, and highly competitive. It offers everything from high-rise condos to mid-century homes to luxury new construction.

🏡 Types of Homes You’ll Find in Arlington

• High-rise condos in Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston

• Townhomes in Ballston, Shirlington, Columbia Pike

• 1940s–1960s ramblers & Cape Cods in North Arlington

• Craftsman new builds replacing older homes

• Luxury single-family homes (especially in Lyon Village, Country Club Hills, Arlington Forest)

• Garden-style condos for first-time buyers

There is something for every price point—although Arlington is known for its premium pricing.

📍 Popular Neighborhoods

• Clarendon — shops, bars, restaurants, top walkability

• Ballston — new developments, metro, dining

• Rosslyn — closest to DC, high-rise living

• Courthouse — balance of condos + walkability

• Lyon Village — historic charm + high demand

• Ashton Heights

• Cherrydale

• Lee-Harrison

• Yorktown area (schools + homes = huge demand)

• Shirlington — artsy, dog-friendly, village feel

💰 Typical Price Ranges (current trends)

• Condos: $350,000–$850,000

• Townhomes: $750,000–$1.4M

• Single-family homes: $950,000–$2M

• Luxury new construction: $1.9M–$3.5M+

📉 Is It a Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?

Arlington is historically a strong seller’s market due to:

• Location

• Limited land supply

• Strong schools

• Job proximity

• Amazon HQ2 demand

Homes in North Arlington especially move quickly and often get multiple offers.

4. Commute & Connectivity

Arlington is arguably the best-located community in the entire D.C. region. Whether you commute daily or work hybrid, the connectivity is unmatched.

🚇 Public Transit Access

Arlington has:

• 6 Metro stations

  • Rosslyn

  • Courthouse

  • Clarendon

  • Virginia Square

  • Ballston

  • Pentagon City

• ART Bus + Metro Bus service

• Quick access to VRE (nearby Crystal City + Alexandria)

🚗 Major Highways

• I-66

• Route 50

• George Washington Parkway

• I-395

• Columbia Pike

You can get anywhere quickly:

• Downtown DC: 5–15 minutes

• Pentagon: 5–12 minutes

• Tysons Corner: 10–20 minutes

• Alexandria: 10–15 minutes

• Dulles Airport: 25–35 minutes

• Reagan National Airport: 5–10 minutes

🛍️ Shopping, Retail & Convenience

Arlington residents enjoy:

• Pentagon City Mall

• Clarendon shops (Apple, Lululemon, Whole Foods)

• Ballston Quarter

• Harris Teeter, Giant, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods

🏥 Healthcare

• Virginia Hospital Center (Arlington)

• Inova locations nearby

Living in Arlington means you’re always minutes from everything—jobs, transit, airports, shopping, parks, and entertainment.

5. Things To Do & Local Hot Spots

Arlington is packed with restaurants, nightlife, parks, history, arts programming, and local gems.

🍽️ Restaurants Locals Love

• Ambar — unlimited Balkan small plates

• Lyon Hall — French brasserie

• Osteria da Nino — Italian in Shirlington

• Texas Jack’s BBQ — nationally ranked

• Green Pig Bistro — rustic, trendy favorites

• Ser Restaurant — Spanish cuisine

• Claredon’s Wilson Boulevard strip — nightlife and brunch

• Northside Social — famous coffee + wine café

☕ Coffee Shops & Cafés

• Northside Social

• Detour Coffee Co.

• Compass Coffee

• Idido Coffee

Perfect for remote workers and weekend brunch lovers.

🍺 Breweries & Cocktails

• Heritage Brewing (Arlington)

• The Board Room (beer + board games)

• Clarendon nightlife

• Crystal City wine bars + craft cocktail lounges

🎭 Museums & History

• Arlington National Cemetery

• Air Force Memorial

• The Pentagon & 9/11 Pentagon Memorial

🎡 Parks & Recreation

• Theodore Roosevelt Island

• Long Bridge Park

• Lady Bird Johnson Park

• W&OD Trail

• Mount Vernon Trail

• Arlington Forest Club & neighborhood pools

💎 Local Hidden Gems

• Village at Shirlington — arts, theater, dining

• Lubber Run Amphitheater — free concerts

• Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse — comedy + movies

• Heurich Park — sports fields & playgrounds

Arlington is the kind of place where the “things to do” list never runs out.

🏁 Conclusion: Is Arlington, VA Right for You?

Arlington is one of the most well-rounded, convenient, and stable real estate markets in the D.C. area. It’s perfect for you if you want:

• Walkability

• Top-tier schools

• Easy access to D.C.

• Safe, clean neighborhoods

• Strong community feel

• Great restaurants and nightlife

• Exceptional job proximity

• A smart long-term investment

It’s vibrant enough for young professionals, stable enough for families, and convenient enough for commuters and retirees — a rare combination.

💬 Ready to Explore Homes in Arlington, VA?

“Ready to see what life in Arlington VA could look like? Explore the latest homes for sale or connect with a local real estate expert who knows every neighborhood, school, skyline view, bike trail, and hidden gem in town.”