Apartments for Rent in Arlington, VA

Renter's guide to Arlington, VA

Arlington is situated in Northern Virginia on the Potomac River’s south bank, directly across from Washington, DC. At 26 square miles in size, Arlington County is the smallest self-governing county in the United States. Arlington is less than half the size of Washington, DC, both in size and in population, with Arlington County’s population estimated at slightly over 200,000.

At its closest point, Arlington is 2.5 miles from Washington, DC, and at its farthest point, about 6 miles from Washington. Several national monuments, including the Marine Corps War Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery are located in Arlington. The Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, is also based in Arlington.

Weather in Arlington, VA, is typical of the mid-Atlantic region. The city experiences four seasons: summer from June through August, autumn from September through November, winter from December through February, and spring from March through May. July is the hottest month, with an average high temperature of 88 degrees, and January the coldest, averaging a low of 29 degrees. Summers in Arlington are humid and hot, and the city averages 7 inches of snow in the winter months, which is below the national average.

In 2016, Niche ranked Arlington as the top place to live in America. Arlington also came in fourth place on the Trust for the Public Land ranking of best U.S. cities for parks.

Tips for renting in Arlington, VA

Things to do in Arlington, VA

Arlington residents have all of the cultural attractions and points of interest of the Washington, DC, metro area at their fingertips, but there is plenty to do in Arlington, too! Arlington is home to a handful of national monuments, including the Marine Corps War Memorial, the United States Air Force Memorial, and the Arlington National Cemetery, in which are housed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial.

Arlington also boasts many public parks and green spaces for recreational activity, playtime with children, or dog walking. In addition to popular neighborhood parks including Glencarlyn Park, Hayes Park, and Long Bridge Park, there are many biking and running trails throughout Arlington. The Mount Vernon Trail, a subsection of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, stretches from Rosslyn to George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon.

If you’re looking for a nice place to eat after work, Kabob Palace serves some delicious Middle Eastern fare like chicken and lamb curries, kabobs, and veggie specials. Another local favorite, Carlyle is the perfect spot for brunch in Arlington, and Pupatella spoils Italian-cuisine lovers with some amazing Neapolitan-style pizza.

Though many of the area’s prominent cultural venues, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, are located just across the Potomac River in Washington, DC, Arlington does have a few of its own cultural hotspots. Among them is the Signature Theater in Shirlington, a Tony-Award winning contemporary theater company; and the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, a historic 1930s art deco style theater where waiters serve a full restaurant menu of food and drinks inside the theater space.

Arlington, VA employment & economy

Arlington is a hub for national security and government work, which is reflected by the county’s largest employers. The Department of Defense, headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, employs over 10% of Arlington residents. The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and Department of State are among the top 6 employers in the area. In the private sector, Deloitte, Accenture, and Leidos all rank among the top 10. The Corporate Executive Board, National Science Foundation, and Bloomberg BNA are additionally headquartered in Arlington and are each among the area’s top 20 employers.

Education in Arlington, VA

The Arlington, VA, public school system serves over 25,000 K-12 students in its 23 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools. The Arlington Public Schools spend over $18,000 per student annually, a significantly higher per pupil expenditure than neighboring counties. The Archdiocese of Arlington additionally operates a network of Roman Catholic private schools, including one high school, and serves a total of approximately 2,000 area students.

Marymount University, a four-year Catholic college enrolling 3,600 students, is the only institution of higher learning to have its main campus based in Arlington. Several local universities operate satellite campuses in Arlington: George Mason University’s Arlington campus houses its School of Law and School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs; The University of Virginia offers its executive business programs out of a Rosslyn branch; and Strayer University has its corporate headquarters on its Arlington branch. Among others, Virginia Tech, George Washington University, and The Art Institute of Washington also offer programs in Arlington.