Nestled along the banks of the mighty Potomac River, Arlington, Virginia is a vibrant city on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. Arlington is most widely regarded as home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. But there is so much more to this area. Its neighborhoods have won awards for their managed growth policies and implementation. Residents are actively involved in their community, reflected in Arlington's more than one hundred community service groups, fifty civic associations, and dozens of citizen boards and commissions.

Arlington is composed of five distinct urban neighborhoods, with the highest density housing areas concentrated around the Metro stops in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and Jefferson Davis corridor. The city combines a diverse population, world-class restaurants, hot nightlife, unique boutiques and memorials to the American military and its role is our nation's history. Arlington is served by the D.C. Metro transit system, widely regarded as one of the cleanest and easiest to navigate in the world.

Arlington is an incredibly desirable place to live. There are currently some 189,453 residents living in the city, with a median age of thirty four years old. Of the city's working age population, the single largest employment sector is professional or managerial services, employing over sixty two percent of residents. Following in a distant second, approximately fifteen percent of locals work in the service industry, while an additional twelve percent work in an administrative capacity. The average household income in Arlington is well above the national average, coming in at around $63,001 per year.

The city and its residents enjoy an incredibly strong economy and a plethora of employment options. Two of the most important economic streams in the city, and in the overall region, is government and government-related services. Like its multi-family housing options, the majority of jobs are concentrated along the Rosslyn-Ballston and Jefferson Davis corridors. Arlington's unemployment rate is consistently one of the lowest in the nation. And with such easy access to the D.C. Metropolitan area, residents here can easily work in nearby Baltimore or Washington, D.C. itself.

Newcomers to the region will find an array of housing options. Around three-quarters of the homes in Arlington are found in multi-family complexes of fifty or more units. The remaining quarter are a mix of town houses and condominiums in smaller complexes, and some single-family homes. Recent real estate reports indicate that the average purchase price of a home in Arlington is currently $626,600.

The neighboring community of McLean, Virginia is an elegant bedroom community with its own distinct, upscale environment. Residents here take pride in the town's remarkable quality of life, which includes a stellar school system, low crime rates, significant artistic and cultural scene, and world-class museums and historic attractions.

While McLean is also an attractive option for many who work in our nation's capital, residents also have the option of working in town. Several Fortune 500 firms are located here, with some of the most recognized names in American business. The presence of firms such as Capital One Financial, Freddie Mac, "Big Six" consulting firms, CSC, Gannet Company and the West Group makes McLean both the region's Technology Corridor, as well as the "Number One Place for Financial Management in the United States".

In contrast to Arlington, the vast majority of houses in McLean are single-family detached style homes, with graceful architecture and mature landscaping. Home ownership is a popular option in McLean, with around eighty five percent of locals choosing to own rather than rent their homes. This lends an additional layer of stability to the town, and has proven to be an exceptional investment decision. Homes here have appreciated at a steady rate, a trend that shows no signs of slowing as McLean continues to be an incredibly desirable relocation destination. Recent real estate reports indicate that the average purchase price of a home in McLean is now approximately $1,278,050.

Both Arlington and McLean offer residents the highest possible quality of life. If you are seeking a more urban lifestyle, consider all that Arlington has to offer. If peaceful suburban living is more to your taste, McLean is a fantastic option. To learn more about one of these exceptional communities, simply request our "free relocation assistance" today.