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Buying a home in Arlington County, Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Arlington County is worth about $895,000, 2.3 times the Virginia median of $383,700 and 2.7 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,153 a year in property taxes, about 0.91% of their home's value, higher than the Virginia rate of 0.73%. The median household earns $142,114 a year, so the median home costs 6.3 times the median income (4.1 times for Virginia). 41% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 72% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Arlington County at a glance

Arlington County Virginia U.S.
Median home value $895,000 $383,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $8,153 $2,790 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.91% 0.73% 0.94%
Median household income $142,114 $93,170 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 41% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 72% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,649 $2,127 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.6% 20.1% 21.0%
Median rent $2,322 $1,579 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.5% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1976 1984 1980
Vacant homes 8.2% 8.7% 10.1%
Population 236,254 8,705,170 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Arlington County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Arlington County home of $895,000 with 20% down costs about $5,868 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,503, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $251,495 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 50% of the median Arlington County household income of $142,114; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $506,000.

The median rent here is $2,322 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,546 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$179,000
Loan amount$716,000
Principal and interest$4,817
Property taxes (0.91% a year)$679
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$373
PMI$0
Total per month$5,868

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$31,325
Loan amount$878,789
Principal and interest$5,912
Property taxes (0.91% a year)$679
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$373
FHA mortgage insurance$540
Total per month$7,503

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Questions about home buying in Arlington County

What is the median home value in Arlington County?

About $895,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Arlington County?

Homeowners pay a median $8,153 a year, which is about 0.91% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Arlington County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,868 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $251,495 a year.

More about Arlington County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data