Population 236,254 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Arlington County
Household size in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Arlington County is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.18 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Arlington County is 37.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.4, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in Arlington County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only six have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Arlington County
Renters in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.0% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 55.2% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.3% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 58.7% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Arlington County rent: 58.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 32.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Arlington County is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Washington area as a whole (5.9%). Vacancy has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Arlington County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the center, the oldest in the west.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,604 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,750 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,205 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,524 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$920 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Arlington County runs $2,524 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $920 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Arlington County
Bachelor's degrees in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.9% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 72.2% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 75.3% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.4% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Arlington County is highly educated: about three-quarters of adults 25 and older (76.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Virginia county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Arlington County: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only six have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Arlington County
| Period | Arlington County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.4% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Arlington County runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Arlington County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | 2.22 | 37.2 | 5.4% | 58.7% | 8.8% | 1973 | $2,524 | 76.4% | 94.9% | 3.4% |
| Alexandria City | 2.16 | 38.9 | 7.8% | 57.9% | 6.5% | 1973 | $2,278 | 64.9% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| Falls Church City | 2.45 | 40.2 | 6.1% | 47.5% | 5.1% | 1973 | $2,271 | 79.9% | 94.7% | 4.7% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Fairfax County | 2.85 | 40.1 | 7.6% | 31.4% | 4.6% | 1982 | $2,579 | 64.9% | 93.0% | 4.2% |
| Fairfax City | 2.74 | 36.8 | 6.5% | 30.1% | 3.4% | 1970 | $2,239 | 62.5% | 90.3% | 3.2% |
| Prince George's County | 2.84 | 39.7 | 14.8% | 37.7% | 5.8% | 1979 | $2,013 | 36.8% | 86.1% | 6.4% |
| Manassas Park City | 3.71 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 33.5% | 6.4% | 1983 | $2,042 | 25.7% | 78.8% | 5.5% |
| Manassas City | 3.17 | 35.3 | 12.6% | 28.5% | 3.3% | 1985 | $1,893 | 33.7% | 81.2% | 3.9% |
| Talbot County | 2.33 | 49.9 | 10.0% | 24.9% | 14.6% | 1982 | $1,411 | 40.0% | 92.1% | 4.2% |
| Warren County | 2.71 | 40.7 | 10.1% | 24.1% | 10.7% | 1985 | $1,260 | 25.1% | 88.9% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yuma County, AZ · York County, ME · Yolo County, CA · Mohave County, AZ · Chatham County, GA · Dona Ana County, NM · Erie County, PA · Gloucester County, NJ · Hawaii County, HI · Butte County, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Arlington County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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