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Arlington is one of the most highly educated communities in the country: more than half of adults hold graduate degrees. The median age is around 35, with a strong presence of federal professionals, consultants, and tech workers.

The Salvadoran community is well-established and large, concentrated along corridors such as Columbia Pike. There is also a significant presence of Bolivians (the largest Bolivian community in the US is in greater Washington), Ethiopians, Eritreans, Indians, Koreans, and Vietnamese.

Brazilians are a minority but have active groups through Spanish- and Portuguese-language evangelical churches, and defense companies employ qualified Brazilian professionals in IT and engineering.

Clarendon, Ballston, Courthouse, and Virginia Square are the most vibrant and expensive neighborhoods, all along the Orange/Silver Metro line. Crystal City and Pentagon City are transforming with Amazon HQ2 and offer new high-rise buildings.

North Arlington, with neighborhoods such as Cherrydale, Lyon Park, Maywood, Aurora Highlands, and Westover, features brick family homes, porches, and tree-lined streets. More expensive, but with a very strong school reputation.

Columbia Pike (South Arlington), around Penrose and Arlington Heights, offers somewhat more affordable costs and a strong Latino culture. This is where many immigrants first settle.

Arlington Public Schools is considered one of the best public school districts in the United States. Yorktown High, Washington-Liberty, and H-B Woodlawn (an alternative school) have national reputations. The Arlington Career Center provides technical training.

In higher education, Marymount University is located in Arlington. George Mason University has an Arlington campus (Mason Square) with programs in law, public policy, and economics. Universities such as Georgetown, GWU, and American University are a few Metro stops away.

For immigrants, the Arlington Education and Employment Program (REEP) offers ESL and adult professional training.

Arlington has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the US among urban jurisdictions. The most common incidents are Metro station theft, package theft in apartment buildings, and opportunistic crimes in parking lots.

Virtually all neighborhoods are safe to walk, including at night along busy corridors such as Clarendon and Ballston. North Arlington is particularly quiet. In South Arlington, areas near Pentagon City and Columbia Pike have slightly more minor incidents.

Policing is low-profile but present, and the county maintains a partnership with WMATA Transit Police at Metro stations.

Arlington summers are hot and quite humid, with highs between 86°F and 93°F from June through September. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, and the high humidity makes the air feel heavy. Air conditioning is essentially a necessity at home, on public transit, and in office buildings.

Winters are cold but not extreme. Lows range from around 28°F to 39°F, and snow falls a few times per season, rarely in quantities that bring the city to a halt. A mid-weight winter coat, hat, and boots handle daily conditions, and central heating is standard in all properties.

Spring and fall are the finest seasons, with temperatures between 54°F and 75°F, long days, and striking foliage in October. The city logs around 203 sunny days per year, with rainfall spread fairly evenly throughout, and the occasional weakened hurricane drifting in from the Atlantic.

Arlington National Cemetery, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is one of the most visited places in the United States. Nearby are the Air Force Memorial and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), with a commanding view of Washington.

The Mount Vernon Trail follows the Potomac for biking and running; Theodore Roosevelt Island, a federal park, is minutes from Rosslyn. Long Bridge Park, in Crystal City, has sports fields and views of the Capitol.

For daily life, Clarendon and Ballston concentrate restaurants, cinemas, and urban parks. Pentagon City Mall and Fashion Centre at Pentagon City are major shopping destinations. In Crystal City, the Ethiopian food markets and the Crystal City Underground are authentic local experiences.