Located on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, Arlington is a beautiful county in the state of Virginia. Considered to be the second-largest "principal city" of the Washington metropolitan area, Arlington is the 5th highest-income county in the U.S. by median family income, and the 11th most densely populated county in the United States. 

What is the community of Arlington like?  

Ranked by Niche as the second-best “city” to live in America, Arlington is a relatively affluent city home to around 237,000 residents and spanning over 57 constituent neighborhoods, making it the fourth-largest community in Virginia.  
Just minutes away from the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., Arlington has deep historic roots and plays home to such iconic places as the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, and Arlington National Cemetery. The city is also home to satellite campuses of the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, as well the Amazon HQ2, the co-headquarters of Amazon. 
Although Arlington can easily act as the perfect launching point for a crash course in American politics or a place to tour several historical landmarks, the city is anything but somber – playing home to a hot spot for global dining, hip nightlife, and major shopping destinations.  
If history interests you, Arlington is the place to be. You can tour The Pentagon or visit the Arlington National Cemetery. On the Arlington National Cemetery Tour, you’ll stop by all of the most notable graves and learn about the cemetery’s rich history. At the Marine Corps War Memorial, you can see the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph brought to life by sculptor Felix W. de Weldon. On Theodore Roosevelt Island, walk the trails or canoe and kayak after you take in the monument to the nation’s 26th president. 
The city offers a plethora of opportunities for exceptional outdoor recreation. Enjoy the great outdoors by picnicking, boating, or just watching the planes take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at Gravelly Point Park, on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. You can also hop on an Arlington History Bike Tour, which takes you on a 37-kilometer historical circuit, or tap into Arlington’s creative scene and catch a performance at Signature Theatre, a Tony Award-winning professional company. 

What is Real Estate like in Arlington?     

Real estate in Arlington has shown a staggering average growth of 5.07% per year since the year 2000. Since 2000, the prices of homes in Arlington have overall appreciated by a strong 185.86%. National real estate firm, Berkshire Hathaway, categorizes Arlington’s housing market as ‘very competitive.’ The sale prices of homes in Arlington have experienced strong growth of more than 15.5% since May last year.   
The median home price in Arlington is around $675,000. Currently, there are 992 active homes for sale in Arlington, and at present, it typically takes just 40 days for a listed home to sell. The average cost to rent a house in Arlington is $2,528 per month. Currently, there are 107,032 homes and apartments in the city, 42.1% of which are owned, and the remaining 57.9% are rented.  

How is the economic landscape of Arlington?    

Arlington has consistently had the lowest unemployment rate of any jurisdiction in Virginia. Some of the companies headquartered in Arlington include Alcalde and Fay, Arlington Asset Investment, AvalonBay Communities, Corporate Executive Board, ENVIRON International Corporation, FBR Capital Markets, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Pacific Architects and Engineers, and Nestlé.  
Over the last year, Arlington’s job market has grown by 1.9%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 4.0%. The US average is 6%. Also, the city’s job market is expected to grow by 39.1% over the next ten years.  
On average, an Arlington resident earns around $62,800 per annum, substantially higher than the US average of $28500. The city’s median household income of over $105,000 per resident is also much greater than the US average of approximately $53000. Most of the residents of Arlington work in construction, retail, finance, information, and real estate. 

How are the schools in Arlington?     

Arlington is covered by Arlington County Public Schools, which encompasses 37 schools and more than 23,000 enrolled students. Arlington also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Potomac College Washington, Corcoran College of Art and Design, and Chamberlain College of Nursing Virginia. 
When it comes to higher education, Arlington lies in the vicinity of several top-notch universities, most prominent among them being the prestigious Georgetown University. Founded in 1789 as Georgetown College, Georgetown University has grown to comprise ten undergraduate and graduate schools, among which are the School of Foreign Service, School of Business, Medical School, Law School, and a campus in Qatar.    
In addition, Georgetown is ranked among the top universities in the United States and admission is highly selective. The university offers degree programs in forty-eight disciplines, enrolling an average of 7,500 undergraduate and 10,000 post-graduate students from more than 135 countries.  

Arlington in a nutshell        

To sum up, Arlington is a vibrant, relatively affluent county offering the highest quality of life and playing home to some of the region’s most iconic historical sites and landmarks. Often referred to as a “city,” Arlington offers its residents an array of incredible outdoor recreational, professional, and business opportunities just a hop away from Washington D.C. Should you decide to move near the District of Columbia or to Virginia, Arlington would make an excellent place to call home.