Arlington, VA, is one of the great destinations to relocate to in the Mid-Atlantic region. This city is known for many things including its monuments and memorials, like the Arlington National Cemetery and the Arlington House. Other points of interest include the United States Marine Corps War Memorial, the United States Air Force Memorial, and the Pentagon Memorial.
For homebuyers, you’ll find that the median home sale price is $650,000, the average sale price per square foot is $428, and the housing market is somewhat competitive. And if you’re considering renting an apartment in Arlington, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $3,093.
If those prices are out of your budget, don’t worry, we’ve got options to help you find a home. We’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best affordable Arlington suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under a 20-minute drive from the city. You’ll still be close enough to Arlington to explore the city’s great neighborhoods without the price of living there.
#1: Tysons
Median home price: $485,000
Average sale price per square foot: $384
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
Tysons, VA homes for sale
Tysons, VA apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $485,000, Tysons is the most affordable Arlington suburb on our list. Just about a 15-minute drive away from Arlington, you won’t miss out on what the city has to offer. If you’re considering moving to this area, check out everything that makes this suburb an awesome place to move to.
#2: Merrifield
Median home price: $562,450
Average sale price per square foot: $405
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
Merrifield, VA homes for sale
Merrifield, VA apartments for rent
Merrifield is just a little more expensive than Tysons. The same distance from Arlington as Tysons, you can shop and dine in Ballston Quarter in no time. When living in this suburb of 20,500 people, make sure to explore Towers Park or spend the day checking out the charming downtown.
#3: Lincolnia
Median home price: $575,000
Average sale price per square foot: $296
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
Lincolnia, VA homes for sale
Lincolnia, VA apartments for rent
15 minutes away from downtown, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Lincolnia. Even with a population of about 22,900, there are plenty of fun things to do in Lincolnia. If you move here, explore the beautiful Green Spring Gardens or play golf at Pinecrest Golf Course.
“As a coffee person, the best budget-friendly thing to do in Lincolnia, Arlington is absolutely spending time in coffee places. For Five Coffee and grounded coffee shop are my favorite cafes,” recommends Operator Coffee Co. “Their cozy environment and freshly roasted coffee always make me feel relaxed.”
#4: Annandale
Median home price: $580,000
Average sale price per square foot: $315
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,978
Driving distance from Arlington: 20 minutes
Annandale, VA homes for sale
Annandale, VA apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Lincolnia is none other than Annandale. About 43,400 people live in this Arlington suburb and there are plenty of activities to do and places to see. You can shop and dine at the Annandale Towne Center, head to Mason District Park to explore the trails at Mill Creek Park, or take a guided tour of the historic Hooff’s Run Stone House.
#5: Idylwood
Median home price: $605,000
Average sale price per square foot: $353
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
Idylwood, VA homes for sale
Idylwood, VA apartments for rent
Only a 15-minute drive into the city, consider adding Idylwood to your list of Arlington suburbs to consider moving to. With about 18,000 people living in this affordable town, Idylwood is a great option to consider if you’re looking to stay close to Arlington without paying the premium for a home in the city. In Idylwood, you’re never far from something cool to do or explore.
#6: West Falls Church
Median home price: $701,200
Average sale price per square foot: $366
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
West Falls Church, VA homes for sale
West Falls Church, VA apartments for rent
Another noteworthy Arlington suburb is West Falls Church. Home to roughly 30,200 people, West Falls Church is a great suburb to consider buying a home or renting an apartment in. There are lots of activities in this suburb – you can check out one of the parks like Roundtree Park, among many other local favorites.
#7: Falls Church
Median home price: $722,500
Average sale price per square foot: $365
Driving distance from Arlington: 10 minutes
Falls Church, VA homes for sale
Falls Church, VA apartments for rent
Seventh on our list of affordable Arlington suburbs is Falls Church, which is almost a 10-minute drive into the city center. With a population of nearly 14,700, living in Falls Church is a great alternative to city life. If you’re going to call this suburb home, plan time to spend the afternoon at a park or grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant.
#8: Pimmit Hills
Median home price: $740,000
Average sale price per square foot: $361
Driving distance from Arlington: 15 minutes
Pimmit Hills, VA homes for sale
Pimmit Hills, VA apartments for rent
Living in Arlington, it’s likely that you know of Pimmit Hills, the eighth suburb on our list. About 6,600 people reside in Pimmit Hills, so you’ll have a fraction of Arlington’s population while remaining only 15 minutes from the city. Be sure to stroll through Pimmit View Park once you move to the area.
#9: Seven Corners
Median home price: $795,000
Average sale price per square foot: $363
Driving distance from Arlington: 5 minutes
Seven Corners, VA homes for sale
Seven Corners, VA apartments for rent
Moving to Seven Corners will give you access to downtown Arlington in just about 5 minutes – as long as you don’t find yourself in traffic. Close to 9,100 people live in this suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by charming areas to explore in your free time.
#10: McLean
Median home price: $1,551,473
Average sale price per square foot: $402
Driving distance from Arlington: 20 minutes
McLean, VA homes for sale
McLean, VA apartments for rent
Rounding out our list of affordable Arlington suburbs, is McLean. While the home prices are higher, the average sale price per square foot is less than Arlington’s. This suburb has a population of 50,800, and you can take a walking tour of McLean Central Park, enjoy a day at Great Falls Park, explore the McLean Gardens and Greenways, and visit the McLean Historic District. There’s always something to check out while living in McLean.
Affordable things to do in around Arlington
1. Trail running
“Arlington has some great resources for running at all levels,” says DC Front Runners. “There are trails that go along the water, past monuments, and all over the city which allow runs ranging from casual to marathon training distances which connect to trails in Washington DC and neighboring areas.”
2. Volunteer at running events
“Anyone can participate in our single day to season-long volunteer opportunities with Girls on the Run. Volunteers get a truly unique experience, no matter what the role is, and witness how inspirational the program can be for participating runners,” suggests Sammy from Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia. “It’s about so much more than running, with our emphasis on teaching critical life skills like confidence and decision-making. Our social-emotional learning is taught through activities that get kids and adults moving and help them build a healthy relationship with physical activity.”
3. Hike
“My favorite affordable thing to do in Arlington is to hike the Potomac Heritage Trail along the Potomac River. It is beautiful and feels remote, even though it is in the middle of the city. The best place to access the trail is through Windy Run Park in Arlington,” recommends Natural Ecological Communities of Northern Virginia.
4. Biking
“My favorite affordable thing to do in Arlington, Virginia, is to bike on the world-class bike trails. Arlington is located between many exciting things to see. I like to bike to Gravelly Point to watch the airplanes at National Airport take off or land over me,” suggests Todd Wallace from I Love Arlington. “Sometimes I cross the Memorial Bridge to Washington, DC, to bike up and down the National Mall watching events and visiting museums. On days when I’m ambitious, I will bike the Mt. Vernon trail to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, a beautiful ride.”
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Arlington and under a 20-minute drive from downtown Arlington. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
Learn more about Arlington:
16 Unique Things to Do in Arlington, VA
Locals Rave About These 10 Beautiful Places in Arlington, Virginia
