What’s the best part of Arlington?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Arlington are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Arlington neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Virginia and Arlington is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Arlington for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Dover Crystal looks to be the best Arlington neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Arlington that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Arlington.
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Arlington
Population: 487
Median Home Value: $1,202,800 (best)
Median Income: $244,018 (Fifth best)
More on Dover Crystal: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,308
Median Home Value: $963,500 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $153,559 (25th best)
More on Lyon Village: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,888
Median Home Value: $966,020 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $193,072 (12th best)
More on Cherrydale: Data | Real Estate
Population: 213
Median Home Value: $1,202,800 (best)
Median Income: $245,875 (Fourth best)
More on Riverwood: Data | Real Estate
Population: 894
Median Home Value: $1,123,400 (Third best)
Median Income: $250,001 (best)
More on Bellevue Forest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 378
Median Home Value: $941,800 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $205,956 (Eighth best)
More on Stafford Albemarle Glebe: Data | Real Estate
Population: 221
Median Home Value: $941,800 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $205,956 (Eighth best)
More on Chain Bridge Forest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 251
Median Home Value: $1,123,400 (Third best)
Median Income: $250,001 (best)
More on Rivercrest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,515
Median Home Value: $878,050 (16th best)
Median Income: $188,526 (13th best)
More on Yorktown: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,536
Median Home Value: $873,800 (17th best)
Median Income: $175,927 (15th best)
More on Williamsburg: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Arlington, VA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Arlington, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 53 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Arlington.” We’re lookin’ at you, Dover Crystal.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Arlington, Virginia has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Arlington.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Arlington
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Arlington where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Arlington are Dover Crystal, Lyon Village, Cherrydale, Riverwood, Bellevue Forest, Stafford Albemarle Glebe, Chain Bridge Forest, Rivercrest, Yorktown, and Williamsburg.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Arlington aren’t all good. Forest Glen takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Arlington.
The worst neighborhoods in Arlington are Forest Glen, Foxcroft Heights, Glencarlyn, Columbia Heghts, and Penrose.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Virginia reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Arlington For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover Crystal | 487 | $1,202,800 | $244,018 |
| 2 | Lyon Village | 4,308 | $963,500 | $153,559 |
| 3 | Cherrydale | 3,888 | $966,020 | $193,072 |
| 4 | Riverwood | 213 | $1,202,800 | $245,875 |
| 5 | Bellevue Forest | 894 | $1,123,400 | $250,001 |
| 6 | Stafford Albemarle Glebe | 378 | $941,800 | $205,956 |
| 7 | Chain Bridge Forest | 221 | $941,800 | $205,956 |
| 8 | Rivercrest | 251 | $1,123,400 | $250,001 |
| 9 | Yorktown | 3,515 | $878,050 | $188,526 |
| 10 | Williamsburg | 3,536 | $873,800 | $175,927 |
| 11 | Waycroft-Woodlawn | 1,733 | $765,667 | $201,074 |
| 12 | Woodmont | 782 | $1,045,150 | $206,375 |
| 13 | Arlington-East Falls | 6,264 | $815,625 | $200,448 |
| 14 | Arlington Heights | 2,985 | $692,333 | $163,857 |
| 15 | Donaldson Run | 2,382 | $1,001,400 | $248,041 |
| 16 | Lyon Park | 5,861 | $1,014,283 | $142,776 |
| 17 | Old Diminion | 1,431 | $930,133 | $213,751 |
| 18 | Waverly Hills | 3,026 | $781,500 | $129,015 |
| 19 | Dominion Hills | 1,989 | $828,400 | $156,072 |
| 20 | Leeway | 2,346 | $889,750 | $170,806 |
| 21 | Tara-Leeway Heights | 2,486 | $898,333 | $177,947 |
| 22 | Highland Park-Overlee Knolls | 1,601 | $764,875 | $175,183 |
| 23 | Arlington Ridge | 5,642 | $762,480 | $140,308 |
| 24 | Maywood | 892 | $887,500 | $166,875 |
| 25 | Bluemont | 7,513 | $686,520 | $172,202 |
| 26 | Ballston-Virginia Square | 13,585 | $557,354 | $138,995 |
| 27 | North Rosslyn | 2,808 | $725,280 | $127,447 |
| 28 | North Highland | 3,672 | $619,943 | $107,908 |
| 29 | Clarendon-Courthouse | 9,742 | $729,067 | $134,527 |
| 30 | Boulevard Manor | 2,135 | $787,100 | $157,952 |
| 31 | Westover Village | 1,868 | $856,100 | $150,277 |
| 32 | High View Park | 2,061 | $825,620 | $162,203 |
| 33 | Ashton Heights | 5,280 | $718,471 | $138,581 |
| 34 | Arlington Forest | 2,658 | $709,500 | $168,843 |
| 35 | Aurora Highlands | 14,687 | $696,714 | $120,147 |
| 36 | Fairlington-Shirlington | 10,634 | $440,233 | $122,000 |
| 37 | Arlington View | 1,610 | $629,950 | $131,080 |
| 38 | Nauck | 5,477 | $520,367 | $114,516 |
| 39 | Alcova Heights | 2,470 | $682,533 | $127,157 |
| 40 | Radnor-Ft Myer Heights | 11,938 | $507,543 | $111,066 |
| 41 | Columbia Forest | 6,004 | $383,783 | $103,407 |
| 42 | Buckingham | 6,495 | $695,520 | $85,774 |
| 43 | Colonial Village | 3,244 | $511,000 | $129,188 |
| 44 | Douglas Park | 10,273 | $598,000 | $109,851 |
| 45 | Claremont | 2,599 | $492,783 | $107,823 |
| 46 | Long Branch Creek | 4,042 | $530,975 | $91,386 |
| 47 | Barcroft | 3,485 | $641,033 | $109,519 |
| 48 | Columbia Heights West | 7,321 | $270,140 | $71,130 |
| 49 | Penrose | 4,816 | $573,700 | $106,436 |
| 50 | Columbia Heghts | 6,804 | $315,933 | $88,930 |
| 51 | Glencarlyn | 2,271 | $619,725 | $107,800 |
| 52 | Foxcroft Heights | 1,367 | $590,600 | $97,892 |
| 53 | Forest Glen | 626 | $403,000 | $62,630 |