Located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Arlington County is a "hot spot" in Northern Virginia real estate. Geographically, it is the smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles.Known for its distinct communities and transit-oriented development, Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use.Arlington also boasts its own outstanding shopping, dining and nightlife.It is truly vibrant community in which to live!

As the home of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington attracts millions of visitors every year. Arlington also has become a vibrant business center, with US Airways, Macy's and Nordstrom's among the companies operating their headquarters here. With its distinction as a destination and business center, Arlington still maintains premier residential neighborhoods where some 200,000 people call home.

No incorporated towns or cities lie within Arlington's boundaries; rather, the county is made up of unique neighborhoods, or "urban villages," each with its own character and charm.Homebuyers can choose from neighborhoods along Wilson Boulevard such as Clarendon, Ballston and Courthouse that are host to new construction luxury high-rises or other, quieter locales such as Yorktown, with its classic single-family homes.

People and Homes

Arlington enjoys much racial, cultural and ethnic diversity among its residents, typical of a thriving urban area.It is one of six Northern Virginia counties listed among the 20 highest median household income counties of the 2006 census, as reported by Forbes.com.The average age of Arlington residents is 37 years old, with a median household income of $74,598.The median home cost in Arlington is $753,200.

Education

CNN/Money Magazine ranked Arlington as the most educated city in 2006, noting the high percentage of residents with graduate degrees.Arlington residents have easy access to renowned educational institutions located in our nation's capital.Marymount University has its main campus in Arlington, while other colleges have satellite campuses throughout the county.

Arlington County spends about half of its revenue on education, making it one of the top 10 per-pupil spenders in the nation, resulting in a superb public school system.Arlington is served by the Arlington Public Schools system.The high schools in Arlington are Yorktown High School, Washington-Lee High School, Wakefield High School, and the H-B Woodlawn program.

Transportation

Arlington is home to Reagan Washington National Airport, offering domestic service to our nation's capital.Centrally located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Arlington is easily accessed by car and public transportation.The average one-way commute takes 30 minutes, and nearly a quarter of commuters take mass transit to work.Arlington is served by the Orange, Blue and Yellow lines of the Metrorail.Additionally, the county is served by Virginia Railway Express (commuter rail), Metrobus (regional public bus), and a local public bus system, Arlington Transit (ART).