Rents are 5% below what Arlington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,211 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Arlington, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 20.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arlington, WA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Arlington, WA has climbed by $544 per month, settling near $2,211 after starting the period at $1,667. Census figures show median household income at $88,231 today, compared with $87,708 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 32.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 19,832 to 21,095 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.4% change. About 37.8% of households rent today, against 33.9% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Arlington on your salary?
At $2,211/mo, how Arlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arlington
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Arlington is $2,211/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,160/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($88,231/yr), Arlington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Arlington rent compare to other cities in Washington?
What percentage of Arlington residents rent vs. own?
How does Arlington rent compare to the national average?
At $2,211/mo, rent takes ~30% of Arlington's median household income ($88,231/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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