What it's like to live in Arlington
Arlington is a small city in Washington with a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Arlington deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Arlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Arlington
Based on Arlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,810
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,200 a year
- 52% of Arlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$107,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $53,880
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 35% above US
$1,905/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,905 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $538,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $538,800 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Snohomish County is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Snohomish County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 26% below US
245 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1754/100k · Arlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 15% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 75°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 42% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (25 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Arlington's strongest point is a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,905/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Arlington
All Washington guides →Moving to Marysville →
6 mi away · pop. 73,002
Rent $1,997/mo · Income $103,974
Compare with Arlington →Moving to Lake Stevens →
12 mi away · pop. 40,253
Rent $2,224/mo · Income $122,336
Compare with Arlington →Not sure Arlington is the one?
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