Arlington, VA, Virginia

Arlington Virginia is actually a county not a city but it is also considered the second-largest “principal city” of the DC metro area. Huh? Let’s just move past that technicality and note that Arlington is frequently ranked near or at the top of the rankings of best cities to live in the entire U.S. of A. https://www.arlnow.com/2016/06/15/arlington-ranked-best-city-to-live-in-america/

The reasons are varied but generally it's a combination of a great economy, extremely educated community, nightlife, outdoor activities and diversity of the population. It isn’t any one thing that puts Arlington over the top, it’s a blend of being great at a variety of things that makes it “the best”.

Here's a list of pros from a local:
- amazing public schools (ranked #1 in the state)
- lively bar and restaurant scene
- low crime and unemployment rate (well below average)
- very close to Washington D.C.
- extremely pet friendly
- huge amount of outdoor activities/amenities (parks, trails, playgrounds)
- strong public transit system
- diverse community
- great for seniors, millennials, college grads, and couples looking to start a family
- a very health conscious area, was ranked the healthiest, fittest city

Lots of places have bad traffic and a few worse than the DC area but traffic comes up the most in people’s complaints about commuting around Arlington, generally into the capital. While DC has pretty good public transport people coming in from Arlington suffer badly making that drive. If you move here, think twice about the commute and take the Metrorail into the District if you can.

Here are a few cons about Arlington from a local:
- heavy traffic
- extremely expensive, the average price of a home is $725,000 while the average cost of rental is $2,200 per month
- weather can be unpredictable

Arlington is tightly connected to DC; by transit system, by population and workforce, and by the history and gravitas of each “city”. If you live in Arlington you will spend much of your time in the District, possibly for work, for sure for culture and entertainment. Regardless, know that Arlington is also urban and those who live here have plenty to do with lots of great restaurants, bars and culture within the city. It is also the case that this is a seriously healthy city with cycling topping the list of popular ways to stay fit and tons of healthy foodie options after your workouts.

If you want to see what kind of shenanigans locals get up to in Arlington check out the calendar of events: https://www.stayarlington.com/events/