Real Estate Investing in Arlington, Virginia (22204)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Arlington County • Population: 51,971 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 22204 (Arlington, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.2% CAGR).

What’s happening in Arlington, VA (22204)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $607,172
Avg Monthly Rent $2,254
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $105,674
% Renters 58.4%

Market Analysis: 22204 Arlington

Meanwhile, ZIP 22204 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $607K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 22204 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 22204 sits on the difficult end of the VA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 22204 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 22204 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Arlington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,254/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 22204

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+4.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$228,583/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $287,720 $1,980 5.0% +1.4% $287,720
2BR $473,845 $2,210 3.4% +2.6% $236,923
3BR $781,570 $2,790 2.6% +3.0% $260,523
4BR $979,098 $3,280 2.4% +3.5% $244,774
5BR $1,142,917 +4.3% $228,583

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$643K$579K$516K$452K$389K$325KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,331$2,196$2,061$1,925$1,790$1,655Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 22204 Compare?

Metric 22204 Arlington Virginia
Home Value $607,172 $739,441 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 1.2% 1.5% 6.4%
Avg Rent $2,254 $2,997 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 22204? Click to expand

58% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 22204 (Arlington, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.2%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $607,172
Monthly Rent $2,254
Price-to-Rent 22.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 4.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.2%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 22204

Population: 51,971

💰 Median Household Income
$105,674
This area
$105,674
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
58.4%
This area
58.4%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.7%
This area
61.7%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 50.4%
Other/Mixed 20.8%
Black/African American 17.2%
Hispanic/Latino 16.2%
Asian 11.7%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.2%
This area
10.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 22204

A+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
12.4:1 Avg Class Size
$27,865 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Barcroft Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Campbell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Carlin Springs Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
547 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Hoffman-Boston Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
600 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Randolph Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Alice West Fleet Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
593 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A Very Good

Montessori Public School of Arlington

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A Very Good

Jefferson Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,088 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A Very Good

Kenmore Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,004 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
A Very Good

Arlington Community High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
149 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$27,865 Per Student
B Good
💰
$27,865 Per Student
B Good

Technical Education & Career Center

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$27,865 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby
D
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington
211 students · 1.4 mi
D
Strayer University-Virginia
2,382 students · 2.2 mi
C
DeVry University-Virginia
32 students · 2.6 mi
C
University of Management and Technology
1,167 students · 2.9 mi
D
Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage
87 students · 3.4 mi
C
Marymount University
3,667 students · 3.5 mi
B+
Georgetown University
20,392 students · 3.6 mi
B
George Washington University
25,568 students · 3.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Arlington, VA?

Homes in Arlington, VA typically sell near $607K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which stable long-term demand.

Is Arlington, VA a friendly market for rental owners?

VA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Arlington inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What kind of tenants rent in Arlington, VA?

Working renters make up the core of the Arlington, VA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Arlington, VA a good place for real estate investing?

Our data puts Arlington, VA at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $607K and rents around $2,254/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What are rental rates like in Arlington, VA?

The typical rental in Arlington, VA commands about $2,254/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $607K purchase basis.

You know 22204 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 22204 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 22204 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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