NOVA neighborhood profile
Moving to Arlington — Clarendon
38.89°N · 77.10°W
Arlington — Clarendon fits young professionals who want bars, brunch, and a 15-min Metro ride to work. If that description does not sound like you, one of the 4 nearby neighborhoods below is probably a better read.
The 60-second read
Rent
$2,700/mo (1BR)
Metro
12 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Clarendon)
By car
15 min to DC off-peak via Memorial Bridge
What Arlington — Clarendon is actually like
Clarendon is the spine of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Wilson Boulevard is bars, restaurants, and gyms shoulder to shoulder. The vibe skews 25 to 35, lots of group houses converted into condos, lots of dogs in coffee shops. Rent is high, but you genuinely can live without a car here.
Worth knowing before you commit
Clarendon Day in late September is the only Saturday all year you should plan around. The rest of the year, take Saturday mornings at the small farmers market behind the courthouse, then walk to Whole Foods.
Local independent worth the drive: Nam-Viet at 1127 N Hudson Street, a half-block off Wilson Boulevard. Family-owned since 1986 and the last Little Saigon holdout in Clarendon. The Saigon-style soft-shell crab (deep-fried, then sauteed with garlic, ginger, and jalapenos) is the dish people still drive in for. Closed Mondays.
Arlington — Clarendon vs the 3 closest NOVA neighborhoods
Compare rent, Metro access, and car commute side-by-side.
| Neighborhood |
Rent |
Metro |
By car |
| Arlington — Clarendon (this page) |
$2,700/mo (1BR) |
12 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Clarendon) |
15 min to DC off-peak via Memorial Bridge |
| Lyon Park |
$1,900/mo (1BR), approximate; wide range by building age |
no station in the neighborhood; Clarendon or Courthouse (Orange/Silver Line) each about a 10 to 15 min walk |
about 12 min to DC off-peak via Wilson Blvd or Route 50, longer in rush |
| Courthouse (Arlington) |
about $2,500/mo (1BR), mostly high-rise apartments and condos, approximate |
about 10 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Court House) |
about 12 min to DC via Key Bridge off-peak |
| Arlington — Ballston |
$2,600/mo (1BR) |
16 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Ballston-MU) |
20 min to DC off-peak |
Mistakes people make moving to Arlington — Clarendon
- Underestimating rush-hour math. Off-peak commute times posted on rental sites are often the ONLY times most tenants will experience. Add 30 to 60 percent to any drive that crosses I-495, I-66, or the American Legion Bridge between 7 and 9:30 AM eastbound or 4 to 7 PM westbound.
- Treating “close to Metro” as walkable. Half a mile in DC is walkable. Half a mile in most of NOVA means crossing a stroad with no sidewalk and a parking lot. Check Google Street View before touring anywhere that markets itself as Metro-adjacent.
- Ignoring HOA and condo fees. NOVA condo fees frequently run $400 to $800 per month on top of the mortgage. Get the resale package early, read the reserve study, and price the full monthly nut before falling in love with a unit.
- Assuming the school pyramid is stable. Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties redistrict every few years. If school assignment is a factor, verify current boundaries directly with FCPS, LCPS, or APS admissions rather than trusting the address on Zillow.
Frequently asked questions about Arlington — Clarendon
Is Arlington — Clarendon a good place to live?
Arlington — Clarendon works well for young professionals who want bars, brunch, and a 15-min Metro ride to work. The tradeoffs are covered in detail below, but the short version is: Clarendon is the spine of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
What is the average rent in Arlington — Clarendon?
$2,700/mo (1BR)
Does Arlington — Clarendon have a Metro station?
12 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Clarendon)
How long is the commute from Arlington — Clarendon to Washington DC?
15 min to DC off-peak via Memorial Bridge
What are the closest neighborhoods to Arlington — Clarendon?
The three closest tracked NOVA neighborhoods are Lyon Park (0.5 miles), Courthouse (Arlington) (0.7 miles), Arlington — Ballston (0.9 miles).
Where should I eat if I visit Arlington — Clarendon?
Nam-Viet at 1127 N Hudson Street, a half-block off Wilson Boulevard. Family-owned since 1986 and the last Little Saigon holdout in Clarendon. The Saigon-style soft-shell crab (deep-fried, then sauteed with garlic, ginger, and jalapenos) is the dish people still drive in for. Closed Mondays.
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