Arlington County, Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Arlington County, Virginia had an estimated 239,807 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 238,646, across 26 square miles. County output reached $49.08 bn in 2024, 6,334 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 196 7(a) approvals worth $85.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Arlington County
How many people live in Arlington County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024236,254
- Households112,027
- Average household size2.11
- Median household income$142,114
- Median age35.5
- Median gross rent$2,322 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$895,000
- Home value to household income6.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher77.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree41.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over173,940
- Population under 1842,601
- Share under 1818.0 percent
- Population 65 and over28,123
- Share 65 and over11.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64165,530
- Civilian labor force150,026
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over77.5 percent
- Rank by population among Virginia counties8th of 133
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included298th of 3,222
Arlington County is the 8th largest of 133 Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 6.3 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.0 percent against 11.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Arlington County
Is Arlington County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024239,807
- Census 2020 base population238,646
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.49 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20244,626
- Births, 20242,478
- Deaths, 20241,032
- Natural change, 20241,446
- Net domestic migration, 2024-310
- Net international migration, 20243,482
- Total net migration, 20243,172
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-14,273
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1660th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.49 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Arlington County
Where are people moving to Arlington County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving16,901
- People arriving, from those returns22,707
- Tax returns filed by households leaving19,408
- Net household movement-2,507
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.72 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-875.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$101,989
- Average income of a leaving household$133,944
- Largest single originFairfax County (2,575 households)
- Largest single destinationFairfax County (3,960 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | 2,575 | 3,485 | $257.6 m |
| District of Columbia | 1,885 | 2,359 | $254.2 m |
| Alexandria city | 1,099 | 1,564 | $106.4 m |
| Montgomery County | 723 | 879 | $64.4 m |
| Loudoun County | 387 | 536 | $39.2 m |
| Prince George's County | 380 | 555 | $21.4 m |
| Prince William County | 374 | 523 | $24.4 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 255 | 595 | $35.9 m |
Households arriving report $31,955 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Fairfax County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Arlington County
What is the Arlington County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$49.08 bn
- County GDP, 2023$46.91 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years28.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Virginia areas BEA publishes2nd of 105
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes120th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$207,733
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 28.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Arlington County
Employment by industry in Arlington County
- Covered employment, annual average179,244
- Establishments reporting9,629
- Average annual pay$122,856
- Average weekly wage$2,363
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment49,208
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$158,246
- Accommodation and food services, employment14,900
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$37,517
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,043
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$83,497
- Other services, except public administration, employment11,014
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$118,949
- Transportation and warehousing, employment10,808
- Retail trade, employment7,559
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 49,208 | 2,710 | $158,246 |
| Accommodation and food services | 14,900 | 652 | $37,517 |
| Health care and social assistance | 11,043 | 821 | $83,497 |
| Other services, except public administration | 11,014 | 2,006 | $118,949 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10,808 | 86 | $123,483 |
| Retail trade | 7,559 | 486 | $50,240 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,938 | 452 | $68,398 |
| Information | 5,652 | 317 | $152,848 |
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 49,208 jobs, 27.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Arlington County
How many businesses are in Arlington County?
- Establishments, all industries6,334
- Employment at those establishments159,716
- Annual payroll$18.15 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Arlington County
Building permits in Arlington County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024621
- Declared construction value permitted$210.8 m
- Single family units authorized190
- Multifamily units authorized431
- Multifamily share of units69.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$339,450
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.5
Multifamily is 69.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Arlington County
SBA loans in Arlington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded196
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$85.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$437,829
- Median 7(a) approval$206,500
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,182,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,612
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active43
- Distinct industries receiving approvals79
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer2.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter173
- Franchise loans26
- Franchise share of approvals13.3 percent
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (38)
- 504 approvals recorded24
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.4 m
- Average 504 approval$933,458
- Median 504 approval$649,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval14.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.0
- Most active CDCBusiness Finance Group, Inc. (21)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$108.2 m
The average approval of $437,829 sits well above the median of $206,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 2.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Arlington County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Arlington County
Do SBA loans in Arlington County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded31
- Paid in full25
- Charged off6
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans19.4 percent
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Paid in full25
- Status: Exempt from disclosure116
- Status: Cancelled35
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed14
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 19.4 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Arlington County
SBA lending by place in Arlington County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Arlington, approvals193
- Jacksonville, approvals1
- Edgewater, approvals1
- Fairfax, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 193 | $84,323,000 |
| Jacksonville | 1 | $788,000 |
| Edgewater | 1 | $678,400 |
| Fairfax | 1 | $25,000 |
Arlington accounts for 193 approvals against 1 in Jacksonville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Arlington County
How large is Arlington County?
- Land area26 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Virginia counties106th of 133
- Width, east to west7.6 mi
- Height, north to south7.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land9,087
- Establishments per square mile243.62
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Arlington County
Flood risk in Arlington County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Arlington County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 515520
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Arlington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Arlington County (community 515520), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Arlington County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Arlington County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Arlington County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024236,254
- Households112,027
- Average household size2.11
- Median household income$142,114
- Median age35.5
Common questions
Arlington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Arlington County, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 239,807 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 236,254, in 112,027 households, ranking 8th of 133 Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Arlington County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.49 percent since the 2020 census base of 238,646, to 239,807 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,478 births against 1,032 deaths, with net migration of 3,172. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Arlington County?
$142,114. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $895,000, which is 6.3 times income, and median gross rent is $2,322 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Arlington County?
6,334 establishments, employing 159,716 people with an annual payroll of $18.15 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Arlington County?
Professional, scientific and technical services is the largest private sector at 49,208 jobs, 27.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 179,244 jobs at an average annual pay of $122,856, or $2,363 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Arlington County?
196 7(a) approvals totaling $85.8 m since FY2020, across 43 lenders, with a median approval of $206,500, plus 24 504 approvals worth $22.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Arlington County get paid back?
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 25 were paid in full and 6 charged off, a charge-off rate of 19.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Arlington County?
621 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $210.8 m. Multifamily was 69.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Arlington County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Arlington County come from?
The largest single origin is Fairfax County, with 2,575 households. Arriving households report an average income of $101,989 against $133,944 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Arlington County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Arlington County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
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