NOVA neighborhood profile
Moving to North Glebe (Arlington)
38.92°N · 77.12°W
North Glebe (Arlington) fits buyers who want leafy single-family North Arlington with top-rated schools and a fast hop to DC, and don’t mind living a bus ride from the Metro. 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
rentals are scarce; single-family homes run roughly $900K in Waverly Hills to $2M+ in Old Glebe (approximate)
Metro
no Metro at your door; ART and Metrobus run down Glebe to Ballston-MU (Orange/Silver), then about 20 min to DC
By car
about 15 to 20 min to DC via Chain Bridge and the GW Parkway off-peak
What North Glebe (Arlington) is actually like
North Glebe is the leafy spine of North Arlington, the stretch of N Glebe Road that runs from Ballston up past Marymount toward Chain Bridge and the Potomac.
Worth knowing before you commit
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe at 2150 N Culpeper Street.
Local independent worth the drive: Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, 2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington 22207 (about 4.5 stars across 500+ reviews). Family-run German bakery in North Arlington since 1975, just off the Lee Highway (Langston Blvd) and Glebe Road corner; go for the soft pretzels, the carrot cake, and the imported deli case.
North Glebe (Arlington) vs the 3 closest NOVA neighborhoods
Compare rent, Metro access, and car commute side-by-side.
| Neighborhood |
Rent |
Metro |
By car |
| North Glebe (Arlington) (this page) |
rentals are scarce; single-family homes run roughly $900K in Waverly Hills to $2M+ in Old Glebe (approximate) |
no Metro at your door; ART and Metrobus run down Glebe to Ballston-MU (Orange/Silver), then about 20 min to DC |
about 15 to 20 min to DC via Chain Bridge and the GW Parkway off-peak |
| Westover (Arlington) |
About $1,800/mo (1BR), below Arlington’s roughly $2,495 average (estimate, verify against current listings) |
No station in the neighborhood; Ballston-MU or East Falls Church (Orange/Silver) are each about a 10-min drive |
About 20 min off-peak via Route 66 or Washington Boulevard |
| Arlington — Clarendon |
$2,700/mo (1BR) |
12 min to Foggy Bottom (Orange/Silver Line, Clarendon) |
15 min to DC off-peak via Memorial Bridge |
| 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 North Glebe (Arlington)
- 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 North Glebe (Arlington)
Is North Glebe (Arlington) a good place to live?
North Glebe (Arlington) works well for buyers who want leafy single-family North Arlington with top-rated schools and a fast hop to DC, and don’t mind living a bus ride from the Metro. The tradeoffs are covered in detail below, but the short version is: North Glebe is the leafy spine of North Arlington, the stretch of N Glebe Road that runs from Ballston up past Marymount toward Chain Bridge and the Potomac.
What is the average rent in North Glebe (Arlington)?
rentals are scarce; single-family homes run roughly $900K in Waverly Hills to $2M+ in Old Glebe (approximate)
Does North Glebe (Arlington) have a Metro station?
no Metro at your door; ART and Metrobus run down Glebe to Ballston-MU (Orange/Silver), then about 20 min to DC
How long is the commute from North Glebe (Arlington) to Washington DC?
about 15 to 20 min to DC via Chain Bridge and the GW Parkway off-peak
What are the closest neighborhoods to North Glebe (Arlington)?
The three closest tracked NOVA neighborhoods are Westover (Arlington) (2.1 miles), Arlington — Clarendon (2.6 miles), Arlington — Ballston (2.7 miles).
Where should I eat if I visit North Glebe (Arlington)?
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, 2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington 22207 (about 4.5 stars across 500+ reviews). Family-run German bakery in North Arlington since 1975, just off the Lee Highway (Langston Blvd) and Glebe Road corner; go for the soft pretzels, the carrot cake, and the imported deli case.
The NOVA Relocation Guide
Get one NOVA neighborhood a day
Free 6 AM ET daily brief. One neighborhood, one move task, one honest tradeoff. Mon-Sat.
Subscribe free