Arlington: Demographics & People

Arlington's population stands at 236,254 people, in 112,027 households. Population grew 0.3% from 235,463 (2022) to 236,254 (2024). Median age 35.5 years. (2.3y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 18% of the population. Population is 58% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.55). 44% of households are family-led. County is losing 5,365 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 26% adult obesity, 10% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 0.3% from 235,463 (2022) to 236,254 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~237,057 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 238,142.

Census data vintage2024
Population238,643 people
Annual growth rate · Population change0.3%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)235,463
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)236,254
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorystable
Population236,254 people (vs Virginia 42,214) population: 6 observations from 2026-04-17 to 2026-04-29
Population Estimate238,142

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 35.5y is 3.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 18% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age35.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y)
Age Summary · Children Pct18.0%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop236,254
Age Summary · Under 1842,601
Age Summary · 18 To 3473,196.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 6492,334.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus28,123
Population under 1842,601
Median age35.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 236,254 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.55 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.

White residents147,496
Black residents22,214
Asian residents24,719
Hispanic or Latino residents37,054
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)54.8%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelmoderately diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share63.7%
Asian population10.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%)
Black population9.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%)
Hispanic or Latino population15.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%)
White (non-Hispanic) population58.0% (vs Virginia 53.8%)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Asian
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
Polish

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 3.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 22% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state51,539
Residents born in another state124,082
Share born in this state21.8%
Share born in another state78.2%
Native-born U.S. citizens52.5%
Foreign-born residents3.2%
Naturalized citizens22.4%
Total foreign-born residents52,494
From Europe7,052
From Asia190
From Africa20,492
From Latin America498
Census Foreign Born · Caribbean182
Census Foreign Born · Central America53
Census Foreign Born · South America234

Households & Family Composition

112,027 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 44% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 49,741 families, 35% are married couples with children.

Children under 1842,754
Total families49,741
Married couples with children17,585
Single-parent households1,193
Average household size2.08
Women who gave birth (past year)9.5%
Grandparents living with grandchildren837
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren165
Family households49,498 households (vs Virginia 9,367)
Households that are families44.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%)
Total households112,027 households (vs Virginia 14,324) total_households: 4 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-29

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 21.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 5,365 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)21.3%
Migration · People moving in (annual)237,753
Migration · People moving out (annual)243,118
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-5,365
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability7,392
Disability rate3.2%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3,053 residents live in group quarters (1.3% of population).

Living in group quarters3,053

Veterans

Veterans Services · Total count2

Sources: IRS BMF keyword

Other

Congressional District · District8
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips51013
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips51
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips013
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyArlington
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate6.7%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci5.70
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci7.90
Cdc Mortality · Fips51013
Cdc Mortality · CountyArlington County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralLarge central metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20235,109
Cdc Vaccination · Fips51013
Cdc Vaccination · CountyArlington County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct95.0%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct76.3%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct35.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019236,842
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score10
Family Score · Schools42
Family Score · Childcare Centers66
Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs4
Family Score · Children Pct18.0%
Family Score · Ratingexcellent
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 236,254, stable, family-oriented, affluent, white collar
Town Summary · Population236,254 people (vs Virginia 42,214)
Town Summary · CountyArlington County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade