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Arlington County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Arlington County, Virginia has a population of 236,254, the 8th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $142,114 and the median home value is $895,000. The poverty rate is 7.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Arlington County Quick Facts

Population 236,254
Median Household Income $142,114
Median Home Value $895,000
Poverty Rate 7.4%
Unemployment Rate 3.3%
Median Age 35.5 years
Homeownership Rate 41.3%
Affordability Ratio 6.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 77.1%
High School Graduation 95.2%
Cities/Places 1
Population 236,254 8th of 133
Median Income $142,114 53% higher than state
Poverty Rate 7.4%
Unemployment 3.3%

How Arlington County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population235,463236,254+0.3%
Median household income$140,160$142,114+1.4%
Median home value$864,800$895,000+3.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.2%
$25K-$50K 7.5%
$50K-$100K 18.6%
$100K+ 65.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.9%
$10K-$15K
1.7%
$15K-$20K
1.2%
$20K-$25K
1.4%
$25K-$30K
1.5%
$30K-$35K
1.6%
$35K-$40K
1.3%
$40K-$45K
1.8%
$45K-$50K
1.3%
$50K-$60K
3.4%
$60K-$75K
5.3%
$75K-$100K
9.9%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
7.9%
$150K-$200K
14.8%
$200K+
32.6%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
77.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 41.3%
Renter 58.7%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,322/mo 19.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

62out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Arlington County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Arlington236,254$142,1147.4%$895,000

Population Overview

Arlington County is located in Virginia with a total population of 236,254. It is the 8th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Arlington County is 35.5 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Arlington County is $142,114. This is 53% higher than the state median of $93,170. It is also 76% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $895,000. Housing costs are 133% higher than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 41.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Arlington County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (10.5% vs 6.9%).

Education

77.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Arlington County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%. Notably, 41.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Arlington County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Arlington County, Virginia?

Arlington County has a population of 236,254, making it the 8th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Arlington County?

The median household income in Arlington County is $142,114 with a poverty rate of 7.4%.

How many cities are in Arlington County, Virginia?

Arlington County contains 1 Census-designated place.