Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development

PROFILE

2020

Profile 2020

Message from the Director

Contents

The Profile, an annual statistical fact book of Arlington County, has been produced by the Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (CPHD) since 1982. This report combines countywide data and provides a comprehensive outlook of the most current data on population, housing, employment, development, transportation, and community services. The Profile data are used to obtain an understanding of our community; for planning future services and needs; to guide policy decisions; and to secure grant funding.

12
Fast Facts Land Use & Development

• Population
• 3

• 5
• Housing

• 7
• Households

• 9
• Employment

11 13 15 17 18 19 21
Development Schools & Education Multi-Modal Transportation Community Services & Resources Health & Wellness Services Forecast

COVID-19 has had an immense impact on our daily lives. Profile 2020 is exceptionally important and considered as a benchmark year. Statistics found in this document can be used as a baseline to measure changes that may have occurred since early 2020.

Profile 2020 continues to include statistics from across departments. New this year, Arlington Public Library statistics highlight the number of library programs, services, and constituents served. Did you know that 47% of Arlington households are active library patrons? Find out more about libraries on page 17.

Glossary

In addition to the Profile 2020 report, an interactive Planning Corridors visualization tool is available on the profile webpage (arlingtonva.us/profile) and supports the comparison of demographics across the Rosslyn-Ballston, Richmond Highway, and Columbia Pike Corridors with the rest of the County. All data found in the Profile are available through the Arlington County Open Data Portal.

Arlington County Vision

“Arlington will be a diverse and inclusive world-class urban community with secure, attractive residential and commercial neighborhoods where people unite to form a caring, learning, participating, sustainable community in which each person is important . ”

The 2020 Census is currently underway. Please be sure to help your community and complete the 2020 Census, online, by phone, or by mail. It’s easy, safe and confidential, and impacts funding, representation, and planning over the next 10 years.

Thank you to all the staff and departments involved in updating the annual Profile report.

— Arlington County Board

I hope you find the information provided in the 2020 update helpful as we all work together to achieve Arlington County’s vision.

CPHD Mission Statement

Promoting the improvement, conservation and revitalization of Arlington’s physical and social environment.
Claude A. Williamson, AICP
Director, CPHD

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

1

Profile 2020

Fast Facts

Location

Arlington is an urban county of about 26 square miles located directly across the Potomac River from Washington DC.

Housing

There are 117,300 housing units in the County, 60% of which are renter occupied.

26

Square Miles

People

51% of Arlington’s residents live in planning corridors, which make up 22% of the County’s land area.

Households

Since 1980, the majority of Arlington households consist of a single person or nonrelated
Arlington is one of the highest educated localities in the Nation, with 40% of residents holding a Graduate or Professional Degree. individuals.
53% of Arlington’s population is between the ages of 25 and 54 - prime working age.

Multi-Modal Transportation

There are 11 Metrorail stations in Arlington that average 89,545 entries and 88,106 exits daily.

Development

With 41.9 million square feet of rentable building area, Arlington has more private office space than the downtowns of Los Angeles, Denver, and Atlanta, and the Central Business Districts of Dallas and Seattle.
31% of Arlington residents take the train to work, compared to 23% of those that work in Arlington.

• Students
• Employment
• Parks

In 2019, the
99% of
28,050 students unemployment rate

in Arlington was 1.9%, compared to 3.1% for the Metropolitan Statistical Area. residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. enrolled in APS in the fall of 2019. 51% of those students were in elementary school.

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

2

Profile 2020

Land Use & Development

General Land Use Plan

Arlington County’s General Land Use Plan (GLUP) is the primary policy guide for future development in the County. The GLUP was first adopted by the County Board in 1961 as one of the first four elements of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Amended over time, the GLUP reflects the County’s smart growth principles, concentrating future development along its transit corridors to increase the benefits of its multi-modal transportation options and existing infrastructure. The GLUP also endeavors to balance Arlington’s range of land uses with its cultural and natural resources. Through its commitment to careful and thoughtful community planning, along with its adherence to its established policies, Arlington had become a world-class community.

National Planning Achievement Award 2017

-American Planning Association

General Land Use Plan and Planning Corridors Map
Rosslyn - Ballston (R-B)
Corridor

Rosslyn
Court House

Clarendon
Virginia Square
Ballston

Legend

LAND USE CATEGORY

Low Residential (1-10 units/acre)

Pentagon

Low Residential (11-15 units/acre)

City
Columbia Pike

Low-Medium Residential Medium Residential High-Medium Residential High Residential Service Commercial General Commercial Service Industry

Crystal City

Columbia Pike
Corridor

Public Semi-Public

Richmond Highway
Corridor

Gorvernment and Community Facitlities Low Office-Apartment-Hotel Medium Office-Apartment-Hotel High Office-Apartment-Hotel Medium Density Mixed-Use High-Medium Residential Mixed-Use Coordinated Mixed-Use Development District Medium Resid. 1/3 and Low OAH 2/3 High-Medium Resid. 1/3 and Medium OAH 2/3 High-Medium Resid. 3/4 and Medium OAH 1/4 High Residential 1/2 and High OAH 1/2

E

3
Miles

• 4
• 0
• 0.5
• 1
• 2

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

3

Profile 2020

Population

Arlington has the highest percentage of prime working age adults, between the ages of 25 and 54, in the US.

2010

207,627

25 - 34

54,960

53%

26 square miles (16,640 acres)
8,853 persons/sq. mile
14 persons/acres

35 - 44

38,020

of Arlington’s

45 - 54

28,590

}

Population

2020 Population Estimate 2020 Daytime Population Estimate 2010 Decennial Census Population
228,400 311,800 207,627
Land Area Density

Age Distribution

Under 5

• January 2020
• Race and Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic or Latino White

2010 Census

13,740 30,790 15,590 54,960 38,020 28,590 22,470 21,280 2,960
6.0% 13.5% 6.8% 24.1% 16.6% 12.5% 9.8% 9.3% 1.3%

176,245 132,961 17,088 19,895
6,301
84.9% 64.0%
8.2%

5-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-84

Black or African American Asian or Pacific Islander Other or Multi-Racial Hispanic or Latino
9.6% 3.0%
31,382

207,627

15.1%
100.0%

Total Population

Source: 2010 Census

85 and over

Source: Arlington County, CPHD

2017 ACS
Migration

Moved In
29,233 24,207 5,026

• Median Age (2018 ACS 5-Year)
• 34.5 years

Domestic

Source: 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

From Abroad

• 2018 ACS 5-Year
• Place of Birth

Native (U.S. Born) Foreign Born

• Moved Out (Domestic Only)
• 28,593

76.4%

Net Migration (2017)

23.6%

Source: 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

• 2018 ACS 5-Year
• Civilian Veteran Population

Montgomery

5

T

9

4

-

County

I

E

• 10,602
• 84.9%
• Male

District of

Y

A

Columbia

W

T

• 1,888
• 15.1%
• Female

L

5

E

B

Fairfax County

5

L

A

T

• Total Veterans
• 12,490
• 100.0%

I

A

Source: 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Prince Georges County

Arlington County

• P
• O
• T
• O
• M
• A
• C
• R
• I
• V
• E
• R

2018

2,929 864

Vital Statistics

Births to Arlington Residents

3

Alexandria

Deaths of Arlington Residents

I-395

Source: VA Department of Health
Source: 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

4

Profile 2020

Population

of Arlington’s residents live in Planning Corridors.

½

2020 Population and Land Area

22%

8%
4%
25%

10%

• 2020
• Land

Area

49%

Population

51%

9%
78%
17%

• Non-Corridor Areas
• Columbia Pike Corridor

• R-B Corridor
• Richmond Highway Corridor

Source: Arlington County, CPHD

The population density of the R-B Corridor is 5-times greater than non-corridor areas of
9 persons per acre.

Density and Age by Corridor

• R-B
• Richmond Highway

Corridor
Columbia Pike

• Corridor
• Corridor

• Total Population
• 56,900

1,277
8%

• 20,100
• 39,900

1,690 10%
24

• Land Area (Acres)
• 667

Percent of Land Area Density (Person Per Acre)
4%

• 45
• 30

Under 5 years 5 to 19 years
3.9% 6.1%
3.1% 2.7%
7.1% 15.4% 4.9% 25.2% 17.1% 13.4% 8.1%
20 to 24 years 25 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 to 84 years 85 years and older
9.4% 39.3% 16.2% 9.9% 7.8% 6.3% 1.0%
10.2% 36.9% 17.7% 11.4% 8.8% 8.0% 1.1%
7.8% 1.0%

Source: Arlington County, CPHD and 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

5

Profile 2020

Housing

The majority of Arlington’s housing units are renter occupied and multi-family.

60%
71%

of housing units in Arlington are of housing units in Arlington are renter occupied. multi-family.

2020 Housing Unit Estimate Housing Growth (2010-2020)
117,300
11%

• 2010 Decennial Census Housing Units
• 105,404

Average Apartment Rent

Efficiency

2020

$1,677 $2,024 $2,627 $3,367

$2,262
4.3%

Housing Unit Type

Single Family Detached Single Family Attached Multi-Family

January 2020

• 27,700
• 23.6%

• One-Bedroom
• 6,900
• 5.9%

• Two-Bedroom
• 82,700

117,300

70.5%

100.0%

Three-Bedroom

Total

Source: Arlington County, CPHD Note: Due to methodology change, distribution of unit type is not comparable to previous Profile versions.

Total Average Rent Percent change (2018-2019) Apartment Vacancy Rate

Source: CoStar May 2020

5.4%

Owner

86.4% 71.1%

Renter

13.6%

Occupancy (2020)

Single Family Detached Single Family Attached Condo
28.9%

• Rent Subsidy
• Housing Choice Housing

67.2% 0.0%
32.8%

• Program Recipients
• Voucher

691

Grant

301

• Apartments
• 100.0%

60.4%

Low-Income Families Persons with Disabilities Older Adults

• Total
• 39.6%

• 307
• 525

Source: Arlington County, CPHD

• 490
• 370

Total

• 1,488
• 1,196

Average Assessed Value

Single Family Detached Single Family Attached, Townhouse Condominium Townhouse Condos

2020

$949,500 $805,000 $683,900 $421,400 $154,600

$678,100
4.6%

Source: FY 2019 DHS Performance Measures

2019

630

Committed Affordable Units

Efficiency

• One-Bedroom
• 3,592

3,415
727

• Cooperatives
• Two-Bedroom

Total Average Assessment Percent change (2019-2020)

Three-Bedroom

• Total
• 8,377

Source: Arlington County, CPHD, Housing Division
Source: Arlington County, Department of Management and Finance as

of April 29, 2020.

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

6

Profile 2020

Housing

of housing units in the Richmond

100%

Highway Corridor are multi-family

Owner and Renter Occupancy by Corridor

10%
26%
32%

Richmond Highway Corridor
R-B
Corridor

34,600 Units

73%

Columbia Pike
Corridor

• 18,200 Units
• 15,200 Units

68%
91%

• Owner Occupied
• Renter Occupied

Source: Arlington County, CPHD

Housing Unit Type By Corridor

Columbia Pike Corridor
Richmond Highway Corridor
R-B Corridor

• 13%
• 7%
• 79%

100%

• 4% 5%
• 91%

• 0%
• 20%
• 40%
• 60%
• 80%
• 100%

• Single Family Detached
• Single Family Attached
• Multi Family

Source: Arlington County, CPHD

Committed Affordable Units (CAFs) By Bedroom Type by Corridor (2020)

• R-B
• Richmond Highway
• Columbia Pike

• Corridor
• Corridor
• Corridor

• Efficiency
• 85

1,067
891 239
1
63 327 58 0
237

• One-Bedroom
• 919

• Two-Bedroom
• 1,094

• 207
• Three-Bedroom

• Four-Bedroom
• 0
• 1

Total

• 2,283
• 448
• 2,458

Source: Arlington County, CPHD, Housing Division

CPHD: Director’s Office, Research and Strategic Initiatives Group

7

Profile 2020

Households

Average Household Size (2018 ACS) Average Family Size (2018 ACS)

• 2020 Households Estimate
• 108,000

2.18

• 2010 Decennial Census Households
• 98,050

Average Household Size (2010 Census) Average Family Size (2010 Census)
2.09

• 2.92
• 2.99