Arlington’s getting As from everyone! Opendoor named Arlington the third-best family-friendly city in the United States, praising the city for its incredible selection of restaurants, beautiful outdoor spaces, and eclectic neighborhoods. There are 13 official Arlington neighborhoods and several unofficial communities. Some Arlington VA neighborhoods are great for families, while others are better for singles, couples, and retirees.
When you’re thinking about moving to Arlington, you should cast your net wide and look at several different neighborhoods in Arlington VA in addition to Arlington suburbs. Here are some of the best places to live in Arlington VA.
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Bluemont | Safe and Family-Friendly Arlington Neighborhood
- Population: 5,850
- Average rent: $2,612
- Median home price: $940,000
- Bluemont crime: 822 offenses per 100,000 people (51% lower than the state average, 65% lower than the national average)
Bluemont is close to the Arlington city center and adjacent to Interstate 66 and Virginia State Route 120, making it the best place to live in Arlington for commuters and frequent travelers. The neighborhood also borders Bon Air Park Rose Garden and Bluemont Park, providing noise barriers and quaint outdoor spaces.
Bluemont VA is predominantly residential, though it contains a few small restaurants and parks. The neighborhood is very walkable, with paved sidewalks, trees that provide plenty of shade, and well-organized blocks with clear street signs. You can also ride your bike throughout the neighborhood and visit the parks on your bike. Bluemont is known as one of the safest neighborhoods in Arlington VA, so you can walk and bike at night. Bluemont’s crime rate is 43% lower than the Arlington VA crime rate.
Most properties in Bluemont VA are single-family residences with three or more bedrooms covering more than 2,000 square feet. You can find a variety of architectural styles, including compact Cape Cod homes and more spacious colonial properties. Many properties are available for less than $2 million.
Bluemont Virginia is a hub for New Age and alternative spiritual practices in Arlington. Arlington Metaphysical Chapel is home to intuitive and psychic readings and multifaith Sunday worship services. You can also find psychic mediums in the community.
Clarendon-Courthouse | Urban Arlington Neighborhood With Cool and Affordable Condos
- Population: 8,722
- Average rent: $2,532
- Median home price: $670,500
- Clarendon-Courthouse crime: 974 offenses per 100,000 people (41% lower than the state average, 58% lower than the national average)
Some people separate Clarendon and Courthouse into two separate Arlington neighborhoods, while others combine them together. The two communities are very close together and share numerous features, so it makes sense to treat them as one Arlington neighborhood.
The neighborhood is centrally located and conveniently near numerous attractions. Clarendon-Courthouse is in eastern Arlington, bordering Arlington Boulevard. The neighborhood is two miles from Arlington National Cemetery and Georgetown University. Courthouse Arlington gets its name from the Arlington courthouse complex within its borders. The community contains several bus stops, making it an excellent choice for commuters, as well as restaurants and shopping centers like The Crossing Clarendon.
Clarendon-Courthouse has fewer single-family homes than Bluemont but more condos and apartments. Courthouse Arlington Virginia condos contain one or two bedrooms and cover less than 1,500 square feet, making them good for singles and couples but not families. Most condos cost less than $500,000 before HOA fees. Many condominium complexes in Clarendon Arlington Virginia offer luxurious perks and services like 24-hour concierge, on-site business centers, and rentable party rooms. You can find three and four-bedroom apartments, though they tend to cost more than $5,000 a month.
Ashton Heights | Best Place to Live in Arlington VA for Historic Homes for Sale
- Population: 3,962
- Average rent: $2,563
- Median home price: $1,350,000
- Ashton Heights crime: 880 offenses per 100,000 residents (47% lower than the state average, 62% lower than the national average)
Ashton Heights is on the opposite side of Route 120 from Bluemont. Unlike Bluemont, it borders Arlington Boulevard, connecting the community to Washington and Washington DC suburbs. It also contains a major shopping center, Ballston Quarter, which contains dozens of stores and eateries, making it one of the best neighborhoods in Arlington VA for shopping.
Ashton Heights Historic District lies within the neighborhood. Properties within the district date to the early 20th century and are not frequently renovated, giving the district a quaint and historic appearance. You can find bungalow and craftsman Arlington VA houses for sale with simple floorplans and sloping roofs that direct rain and snow away from your home.
Properties toward the southern part of the neighborhood and close to Columbia Gardens Cemetery tend to be bigger and more expensive than ones in the north. You can also rent homes throughout Ashton Heights Arlington, including four-bedroom properties covering 3,000 square feet for less than $6,000 a month, helping you reduce the cost of living in Arlington.
Aurora Highlands | Diverse and Walkable Arlington Neighborhood Popular With Young Professionals
- Population: 10,935
- Average rent: $2,558
- Median home price: $843,750
- Aurora Highlands crime: 1,032 crimes per 100,000 people (38% lower than the state average, 56% lower than the national average)
Ask an Arlington resident to describe Aurora Highlands in one word, and they’ll say “walkable.” The neighborhood is compact, contains numerous paved and well-maintained sidewalks, and has plenty of shade. The streets are organized into neat blocks, so it’s easy to get around Aurora Highlands. Reagan Airport, The Pentagon, Army Navy Country Club, and more than a dozen different bus stops are all within walking distance of the community.
The neighborhood is one of the best Arlington neighborhoods for young people; nearly 50% of residents are between the ages of 20 and 35. The median sales price per square foot in the community is $482, making condos and homes for sale in Arlington VA affordable for most young professionals and couples.
You can also find very affordable apartments in the neighborhood. One and two-bedroom apartments covering 800 to 1,000 square feet are available for less than $2,500 a month. Crystal House is one of the most popular apartment complexes in the city, as it contains numerous amenities like an Olympic-size pool and two rooftop decks. One-bedroom apartments covering 900 square feet start at $1,890 a month.
Aurora Highlands is one of the most diverse communities in Arlington. More than 17% of residents identify as Asian, and more than 10% identify as Black or African-American.
Ballston-Virginia Square | One of the Best Places to Live in Arlington VA for Students and Trendy Clubs
- Population: 13,748
- Average rent: $2,563
- Median home price: $480,000
- Ballston-Virginia Square crime: 924 offenses per 100,000 people (45% lower than the state average, 61% lower than the national average)
Ballston-Virginia Square is in the city center, just north of Ashton Heights. The community contains Antonin Scalia Law School and Mason Square, both of which are run by George Mason University. The community is one of the best neighborhoods in Arlington for students, though single professionals can also enjoy living in Ballston-Virginia Square.
Ballston also contains Washington Liberty High School. US News and World Report ranks Washington-Liberty in the top 1,000 high schools in the country and the top 25 in the state. 89% of students test at or above the proficiency level in science, and more than 50% of students pass at least one AP test.
Virginia Square contains some of the trendiest clubs in Arlington Virginia neighborhoods, including Crafthouse. However, you can find quiet places to live in the eastern and southern parts of Virginia Square. Two and three-bedroom Arlington VA homes for sale covering 1,300 square feet are available in Virginia Square Arlington VA for roughly $800,000.
Shirlington | Up and Coming Arts and Cultural Center With Affordable Townhouses
- Population: 10,292
- Average rent: $2,222
- Median home price: $554,000
- Shirlington crime: 990 offenses per 100,000 people (41% lower than the state average, 58% lower than the national average)
Shirlington is the hub of the arts and culture scene in Arlington. The neighborhood contains Signature Theatre, Busboys and Poets, and AMC Shirlington 7. You can attend numerous public and free cultural events in the neighborhood throughout the year, including the Shirlala Music Festival.
The Village at Shirlington is a shopping mall with apartment buildings, stores, restaurants, and public services. Popular Shirlington restaurants include Palette 22, a tapas-inspired small plates restaurant that serves brunch and happy hour specials.
Shirlington is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Arlington, though it’s also very competitive. Townhouses are the most common properties for sale in the community, and many of them were built in a colonial style. Most townhouses for sale contain two or three bedrooms and cover 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, making them good for couples and small families. They cost around $500,000 to purchase, and you can pay HOA fees to receive services like landscaping.
Colonial Village | One of the Best Arlington Virginia Neighborhoods for Friendly Neighbors and Affordable Condos
- Population: 2,570
- Average rent: $2,586
- Median home price: $422,000
- Colonial Village crime: 953 crimes per 100,000 people (43% lower than the state average, 59% lower than the national average)
Colonial Village is in northeast Arlington, just south of Interstate 29 and west of Washington, DC. The neighborhood is one of the smallest Arlington Virginia neighborhoods, with only a few blocks of homes, allowing neighbors to get to know each other easily. The community contains several condominium complexes, some of which have been recently renovated to add eco-friendly features.
Most condos available for purchase and Colonial Village apartments have one or two bedrooms. However, they contain special features like multiple large closets, granite countertops, and storage rooms. They cover less than 1,000 square feet, but they cost less than $400,000 to purchase, making Colonial Village one of the best neighborhoods in Arlington VA for people looking for affordable housing.
The community borders Wilson Boulevard, which has several bus stops and popular restaurants. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen is one of the most popular eateries in the city, serving classic Southern staples in a warm and casual setting.
Arlington VA Neighborhoods Map
You can take a look at the best neighborhoods in Arlington using this Arlington neighborhoods map!
You have many exciting options for Arlington neighborhoods! Families love living in Ballston-Virginia Square and Shirlington, single professionals love Clarendon-Courthouse, and retirees love Colonial Village.
Regardless of which Arlington neighborhood you want to live in, you should hire a team of the best Arlington movers to create a stress-free journey. Suburban Solutions has a customer referral rate of 98%. Get a free Arlington moving quote by calling 301-928-8669.
