Cost of Living in Arlington County, Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Arlington County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Arlington County ranks #3,136 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Arlington County Median Home Value Reaches $895,000
Arlington County’s median home value was $895,000, which is $599,192 higher than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $295,808. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $2,322 per month, $1,152 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.5%, which is 2.1 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. Renter-households in the county had a median income of $107,656. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,966, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,190. These findings are based on data from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Data Version: acs5-2020-2024. Methodology Version: cost-brief-v1. Last Reviewed At: 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Arlington County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.5% of renter household income in Arlington County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,322 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,966. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $92,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Arlington County's $2,322 median is 98.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Arlington County
Rent Burden
19.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,316
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.0%
of gross income
The median home in Arlington County may be a stretch
Median home value is $895,000. Estimated monthly cost: $7,145 vs. your max of $3,316.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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