Arlington small business statistics at a glance
Arlington has the ingredients of a dense, high-income, high-employment local market, and the numbers make that clear. This snapshot pulls together the most useful Arlington small business statistics so you can see the customer base, workforce, housing mix, and business footprint in one place.
Fast facts
- Population: 243,931 in July 1, 2025, up from 243,080 in July 1, 2024 and 238,643 in April 1, 2020 estimates base (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Median household income: $142,114 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 77.4% of adults age 25 years+ (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Total employer establishments: 6,334 in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Total employment: 159,716 in 2023, with 3.4% growth from 2022 to 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Median gross rent: $2,190 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Broadband subscription: 91.7% of households (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Table of contents
- Population and customer base
- Income, education, and labor force
- Housing and neighborhood conditions
- Local business activity and sales
- What the numbers mean for small businesses
Population and customer base
Arlington’s population is large enough to support a wide range of neighborhood businesses, specialty services, and B2C operators. The key point is not just size, but consistency: the city added residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates while continuing a longer growth trend from the 2020 base (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Big number: Arlington reached 243,931 residents in the July 1, 2025 estimate, compared with 243,080 a year earlier and 238,643 at the April 1, 2020 base (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
That growth may look incremental year to year, but for small businesses it signals a market that keeps replenishing demand. More people means more errands, more eating out, more repair jobs, more professional services, and more recurring neighborhood spending.
Why population growth matters locally
A rising population can improve the odds for businesses that rely on repeat foot traffic or local word of mouth. In a market like Arlington, even modest growth can matter because the customer base is already large, dense, and increasingly connected through household broadband and strong educational attainment (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
A few demographic signals stand out:
- 20.2% of residents are under 18 years old, which supports family-oriented retail, youth services, tutoring, sports, and food businesses (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 13.1% are age 65 years and over, creating demand for healthcare-adjacent services, accessibility-focused offerings, and convenience-first businesses (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 31.0% of residents are foreign-born, which points to a community where multilingual, culturally aware, and globally minded businesses may find an audience (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 40.5% of households speak a language other than English at home, reinforcing the value of clear local marketing and inclusive customer communication (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
At a glance: core customer markers
| Metric | Arlington figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 | 243,931 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Population, July 1, 2024 | 243,080 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Population, April 1, 2020 census | 238,643 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons under 18 years | 20.2% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons 65 years and over | 13.1% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Foreign-born persons | 31.0% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Language other than English spoken at home | 40.5% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
Income, education, and labor force
Arlington stands out on the demand side because income and educational attainment are both high. That combination tends to support businesses that sell premium services, convenience, expertise, or time savings rather than just the lowest possible price.
Key stat: The median household income is $142,114 and the per capita income is $90,786 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Those figures matter because they shape what kinds of products and services can be sustained. A local market with this income profile can support business models that depend on discretionary spending, recurring memberships, home services, professional services, and higher-ticket retail.
Education is another major signal. 77.4% of adults age 25 years and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 95.1% have at least a high school diploma (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). That is a strong indication of a customer base that may respond well to clear value propositions, digital-first service, and detail-oriented branding.
Labor force profile
The workforce numbers show a city with a strong employment base and high participation. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 75.6% of the civilian population age 16 years+ is in the labor force, and the female labor force participation rate is 72.3%.
For small businesses, that usually translates into two things:
- A large share of residents are active earners and active consumers.
- Convenience matters because busy customers value speed, location, and easy digital transactions.
Income and workforce comparison table
| Metric | Arlington figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $142,114 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Per capita income | $90,786 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| High school graduate or higher | 95.1% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 77.4% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Civilian labor force participation | 75.6% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Female labor force participation | 72.3% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons in poverty | 8.0% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years | 5.1% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
What stands out
- High income and high education are a strong pairing for service businesses that depend on trust and repeat use.
- A labor force share of 75.6% suggests many households are working households, which often increases demand for convenience-oriented shopping and service hours (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- The 8.0% poverty rate is relatively modest in context of the citywide income profile, but it still means pricing and accessibility should be considered carefully by local operators (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Housing and neighborhood conditions
Housing data gives small businesses a practical look at how Arlington households live, rent, buy, and move. In this market, the housing profile leans toward high-cost ownership and substantial renter demand, which affects both customer behavior and the location strategy for local businesses.
Fast fact: Arlington has 107,391 housing units and 108,150 households, with 2.20 persons per household (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
That household size points to a mix of singles, couples, and smaller households rather than large family households alone. For businesses, smaller households often mean more individual purchasing decisions, more delivery demand, and more frequent convenience purchases.
Housing cost signals
The housing numbers are especially important for businesses that want to understand the local cost of living and customer pressure points.
- 38.5% owner-occupied housing unit rate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- $759,300 median value of owner-occupied housing units (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- $3,071 median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- $1,118 median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- $2,190 median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Those figures suggest a market where both owners and renters face meaningful housing costs. That can influence everything from consumer budget choices to the appeal of premium time-saving services.
Neighborhood stability and connectivity
A few additional indicators matter for local operators:
- 81.3% of residents lived in the same house one year ago, which points to a relatively stable residential base (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 97.6% of households have a computer.
- 91.7% have a broadband internet subscription (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 26.2 minutes is the mean travel time to work for workers age 16 years+ (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Together, those stats describe a customer base that is digitally reachable, relatively mobile, and likely to value convenience.
Housing and access snapshot
| Metric | Arlington figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units, July 1, 2025 | 107,391 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Households, 2020-2024 | 108,150 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons per household | 2.20 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate | 38.5% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units | $759,300 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Median gross rent | $2,190 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Households with broadband Internet subscription | 91.7% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Living in the same house 1 year ago | 81.3% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 minutes | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
Local business activity and sales
The business side of Arlington is substantial. There are thousands of employer establishments, a large employment base, and meaningful sales activity across several major sectors. That combination tells you this is not a tiny local economy built on one retail corridor; it is a broad, diversified environment with enough scale for many business types.
Core business number: Arlington had 6,334 total employer establishments and 159,716 total employment in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
That scale matters for both direct competition and local purchasing power. It means small businesses are operating alongside a sizeable base of other employers, which can create B2B opportunities as well as consumer-facing demand.
Establishments, firms, and payroll
The establishment and firm counts show that Arlington’s business landscape includes both employer and nonemployer businesses.
- 23,375 total nonemployer establishments in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 4,641 all employer firms in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- 3,539 nonveteran-owned employer firms, 2,753 nonminority-owned employer firms, 2,381 male-owned employer firms, 1,230 female-owned employer firms, and 1,069 minority-owned employer firms in reference year 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- $18,145,558,000 total annual payroll in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
That mix suggests a market with a substantial self-employed and small-operator layer alongside established employer firms. For many categories, that means competition is real, but so is the pool of potential vendors, service providers, and partners.
Employment and growth signal
Employment in Arlington grew 3.4% from 2022 to 2023, which is a useful sign of momentum rather than stagnation (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). In a local business context, that kind of growth can matter because it often reflects more payroll dollars circulating through the city.
Sector sales and revenue markers
Some of the strongest clues about the local economy come from sector receipts and retail sales. According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Arlington recorded:
- $3,362,789,000 in total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue in 2022.
- $3,023,968,000 in total retail sales in 2022.
- $2,414,455,000 in total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue in 2022.
- $1,670,770,000 in total accommodation and food services sales in 2022.
- $12,941 in total retail sales per capita in 2022.
Those numbers show a broad sales base rather than a one-industry city. Transportation and warehousing is especially notable, and retail plus food services point to steady day-to-day consumer activity.
Sector comparison table
| Sector metric | Arlington figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 | $3,362,789,000 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Retail sales, 2022 | $3,023,968,000 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 | $2,414,455,000 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Accommodation and food services sales, 2022 | $1,670,770,000 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Retail sales per capita, 2022 | $12,941 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Building permits, 2024 | 1,244 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
Building permits and business churn
Arlington issued 1,244 building permits in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). That does not tell the whole story on its own, but it does suggest active development and continuous physical change in the market. For small businesses, construction and permit activity can affect where customers go, how foot traffic shifts, and where new opportunities open.
What the numbers mean for small businesses
If you’re evaluating Arlington through a small business lens, the data points in the same direction: a wealthy, educated, digitally connected, and economically active city with enough scale to support a wide range of business models.
Best-fit business traits in this market
Businesses tend to fit best when they offer one or more of these advantages:
- Convenience for time-constrained households.
- Service quality that matches a high-income customer base.
- Clear communication for a multilingual community.
- Digital ordering, booking, or customer support.
- Flexible hours that fit a working population.
Practical takeaways from the data
- Target educated consumers. With 77.4% of adults age 25+ holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, messaging should be precise, informative, and easy to evaluate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Expect price sensitivity to coexist with quality expectations. High income does not eliminate budgeting behavior, but it does support higher-value service and premium convenience.
- Lean into digital access. With 97.6% of households having a computer and 91.7% subscribed to broadband, online discovery and online conversion are essential (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Plan for a diverse customer base. A city where 40.5% of households speak a language other than English at home needs inclusive customer experience design (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- Watch the housing cost backdrop. High rents and high housing values can shape spending priorities and make convenience especially valuable.
Quick read for founders and operators
- Arlington has enough population scale to support neighborhood and citywide businesses.
- Income and education levels suggest a market that can sustain premium positioning.
- The labor force and employment data point to a busy consumer base with real purchasing power.
- Housing, broadband, and travel time data all reinforce the case for digital convenience and efficient service design.
- The business landscape already includes thousands of establishments, so differentiation matters as much as demand.
The strongest signal in one sentence
Arlington small business statistics show a city where high income, high education, strong broadband access, and a large employment base create favorable conditions for businesses that can sell convenience, trust, and quality (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).