Arlington and Falls Church have once again ranked as some of the most livable communities in the nation.
The ratings in the new AARP Livability Index, both good and bad, largely track with the findings of an ongoing Arlington County study into what residents value.
“My overall sense is that the upbeat vibes are correct — Arlingtonians love living here.” said county spokesperson Kristen Clark, who has spent the past several months working with the Arlington 2050 Initiative. “AARP’s neighborhood index tracks right along with what we’re seeing.”
Both Arlington and Falls Church, which consistently tend to fare well on these sorts of rankings, earned high marks across an array of categories. Falls Church ranked No. 1 in Virginia, while Arlington ranked No. 1 in the nation among localities with populations between 100,000 and 499,999.
While sponsored by AARP, the rankings measure “every community and neighborhood in the US for the key amenities and services that affect the quality of life for people of all ages.”
Factors playing into both communities’ latest rankings included strong health outcomes, low rates of vehicle crashes, relatively robust investment in public transit and easy access to parks. Both community’s lowest ratings, meanwhile, were in the category of housing.
During Arlington 2050’s community engagement efforts, Clark said residents have tended to emphasize similar factors.
They praise the county’s strengths including cultural diversity, tree cover, bike trails, arts and cultural opportunities, and quality schools and libraries. Moreover, “while they’ve been asking for even more walkability and better transit options, it feels like folks appreciate tremendously where they already exist,” she said.
That said, Arlington’s relatively low scores on housing affordability and economic opportunity reflect topics that Clark sees weighing on many residents’ minds.
“A common sentiment we’re hearing is, ‘I’d love to stay here, but I can’t imagine I’ll be able to, if current trends continue,'” she said. “This is true both for younger renters — many of whom have told me they feel pretty hopeless about the prospect of ever owning a home — but also [for] older homeowners on fixed incomes, who are feeling the strain of property taxes and worry about their ability to age in place.”
AARP estimates that the typical Arlington household spends $2,646 per month on housing costs — which encompass rent, mortgage fees, taxes and utilities — while the typical Falls Church household spends $2,951.
That’s compared to an estimated $847 per month in the median U.S. county.
In addition to the overall high cost of living in Arlington, many residents have raised concerns about equity and access, Clark said.
“Lots of residents also seem cognizant that there’s a lot of work left to do to make sure that all residents have access to the great quality of life and the opportunities the County has to offer,” she said. “Many people have pointedly expressed that they want to see more equitable health and education outcomes — especially in neighborhoods that to this day are still experiencing reverberations from historic racial segregation and underinvestment.”
Overall, Clark said Arlington residents tend to value an inclusive community that is livable not just for some, but for people from many walks of life.
“So many people have mentioned the words ‘diversity,’ and ‘community,’ and spoken about things related to placemaking and social connection,” she said. “So with everything we’re thinking about in the future, I’m getting the sense that it’ll be important to keep that idea front of mind, and make sure that the Arlington of 2050 truly welcomes everyone.”
