Arlington statistics at a glance
Arlington is one of those cities where the numbers tell a broad story all at once: growth, mobility, diversity, infrastructure, and public investment all show up in the same dataset.
Fast facts: Arlington was founded in 1876 and incorporated on April 21, 1884 (City of Arlington City Facts). The city had a 2024 Census population estimate of 403,672 and a 2021 ACS 5-year estimate of 392,304 (City of Arlington City Facts; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). Its land area is 99.5 square miles (City of Arlington City Facts).
Key takeaways
- Arlington has a large-city footprint with a compact set of core civic services, including 7 public libraries, 7 recreation centers, and 5 independent school districts serving the city (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The housing market shows a long runway of appreciation, with average home sale prices rising from $130,708 in 2012 to $365,022 in 2022 (City of Arlington City Facts).
- Public safety, road work, and budget planning all appear in the dataset, giving a full snapshot of how the city is being managed in practice (City of Arlington Police News Release; City of Arlington News Release; City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget).
- Arlington is highly diverse, with no single group forming an overwhelming majority in the 2020 Census breakdown (City of Arlington City Facts).
Table of contents
- Arlington population and growth
- Arlington demographics and household profile
- Arlington housing and cost benchmarks
- Arlington parks, libraries, and public services
- Arlington infrastructure and roads
- Arlington budget and finance statistics
- Arlington safety and traffic statistics
- Arlington civic structure and local governance
Arlington population and growth
Arlington’s population figures vary by source and year, but the direction is consistent: this is a large, established city with continued growth.
The city’s population was 392,304 in the 2021 ACS 5-year estimate (City of Arlington City Facts). The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page lists a 2024 Census population estimate of 403,672, up from a population base of 394,377 on April 1, 2020, and says the population changed by 2.4% from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
That gives Arlington several useful population signals:
- The city is clearly above the 400,000 mark in the latest estimate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- The ACS estimate and Census estimate are close enough to show a stable large-city population band, not a volatile one (City of Arlington City Facts; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- The growth rate is positive but measured, suggesting steady demand rather than explosive expansion (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
A city this size has to plan for transportation, housing, parks, libraries, and public safety at scale. Arlington’s numbers show that its service footprint has already been built for that kind of demand.
Arlington demographics and household profile
Arlington’s demographic data shows a city with a relatively young median age, a broad racial and ethnic mix, and a household profile that points to suburban scale with urban complexity.
At a glance
| Metric | Arlington statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 years | City of Arlington City Facts |
| Residents under 18 | 25.0% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Residents age 65 and over | 11.5% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Female residents | 50.9% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Foreign-born population | 22.2% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Languages other than English at home | 36.3% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Persons per household | 2.74 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 32.6% | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Median household income | $75,171 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
Big number: Arlington’s median age is 33.1 years (City of Arlington City Facts). That is young enough to suggest a strong working-age and family population, but old enough to support a mature municipal service ecosystem.
The racial and ethnic breakdown in the 2020 Census offers a fuller picture of the city’s diversity (City of Arlington City Facts):
- White or Caucasian Alone: 137,731, or 34.9%
- Black or African American Alone: 88,230, or 22.9%
- American Indian Alone: 1,213, or 0.3%
- Asian Alone: 30,067, or 7.6%
- Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Alone: 429, or 0.1%
- Hispanic/Latino: 120,944, or 30.7%
- Two or More Races: 13,973, or 9.3%
Why this demographic mix matters
- Arlington is not dominated by one demographic category; the city’s identity is distributed across several substantial groups (City of Arlington City Facts).
- A 22.2% foreign-born population and 36.3% share speaking a language other than English at home point to a multilingual environment that affects schools, city services, and community outreach (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- The 25.0% under-18 share suggests sustained demand for family-oriented infrastructure, youth programs, and educational services (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
- The 11.5% age 65 and over share keeps senior services relevant without making the city skew heavily older (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Household and income context
Arlington’s persons per household were 2.74 in 2020-2024, which supports the picture of a city with a significant share of family and shared households rather than only single-person units (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
The city’s median household income was $75,171 in 2020-2024, while the city facts page lists a 2021 ACS 5-year median household income of $65,481 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts; City of Arlington City Facts). Those are different measurement windows, but both indicate a mid-to-upper household income profile relative to many U.S. cities.
Arlington housing and cost benchmarks
Housing data is one of the clearest places where Arlington’s long-term change becomes visible.
The city facts page lists a median single-family housing value of $257,395 and an average home sale price of $365,022 in 2022 (City of Arlington City Facts). The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page adds a median value of owner-occupied housing units of $304,700 in 2020-2024 and a median gross rent of $1,389 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Home sale trend table
| Year | Average home sale price | Home sales | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | $128,345 | 2,830 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2012 | $130,708 | 3,154 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2013 | $145,844 | 3,890 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2014 | $161,628 | 4,027 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2015 | $176,479 | 4,197 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2016 | $192,561 | 4,448 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2017 | $213,888 | 4,464 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2018 | $228,951 | 4,308 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2019 | $243,055 | 4,468 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2020 | $262,385 | 4,421 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2021 | $306,700 | 4,387 | City of Arlington City Facts |
| 2022 | $365,022 | 3,737 | City of Arlington City Facts |
This table shows a clear long-run price climb. From $128,345 in 2011 to $365,022 in 2022, average home sale prices nearly tripled over the period in the source dataset (City of Arlington City Facts).
What the housing numbers suggest
- Arlington has experienced sustained appreciation rather than a one-year spike.
- Sales volume stayed relatively strong through most years in the dataset, even as prices increased (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The decline from 4,387 sales in 2021 to 3,737 sales in 2022 suggests a tighter market or slower turnover in the latest year listed (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The median gross rent of $1,389 and owner costs with a mortgage of $1,917 show the city’s housing costs are meaningful for both renters and owners (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Ownership and monthly cost profile
QuickFacts adds several useful affordability markers (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts):
- Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 54.3%
- Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage: $1,917
- Median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage: $801
- Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $304,700
Those figures point to a market where ownership is common, but monthly carrying costs still matter. Arlington’s housing profile is not cheap by default, and the data shows why budgeting for homeownership or rent requires planning.
Arlington parks, libraries, and public services
The public-service numbers reveal a city that has invested heavily in basic quality-of-life infrastructure.
Arlington has 4,600 park acres, 85 miles of park trail, 7 recreation centers, 2 senior centers, 50 tennis courts, 8 swimming pools, 26 basketball courts, 4 golf courses, and 3 softball complexes (City of Arlington City Facts). Those are not ornamental amenities; they are a large operating system for recreation and community life.
The library system is equally notable. Arlington is served by 7 public libraries with 526,398 library materials total (City of Arlington City Facts). The collection is split into 258,776 adult items, 187,377 children’s items, 21,490 young adult items, and 58,755 ebooks and downloadable items (City of Arlington City Facts).
Why these service numbers stand out
- 4,600 park acres is a substantial land commitment for a city of this size (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The combination of recreation centers, pools, courts, and trails suggests a broad mix of passive and active recreation options (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The library collection size shows the city is supporting both print and digital access, not just one format (City of Arlington City Facts).
- The presence of 2 senior centers alongside youth-heavy demographics shows the system is balancing different age groups (City of Arlington City Facts; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Reading the service footprint
Arlington’s service footprint is especially important because it connects directly to the city’s demographic profile. A city with 25.0% under 18 residents needs youth programming, school-adjacent services, and safe public spaces. A city with 11.5% age 65 and over residents also needs accessible facilities, senior services, and transportation-sensitive planning (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).
Arlington infrastructure and roads
The city’s infrastructure statistics show a municipality with a large built environment and a measurable maintenance workload.
Arlington’s roadway network totals 3,010 lane miles (City of Arlington News Release). Public Works maintains over 22,000 street lights (City of Arlington Street Lights page). In FY25, pothole crews repaired 5,775 potholes, and crews had already repaired 728 more potholes in the first three months of FY26 (City of Arlington News Release).
Arlington also completed almost 45 lane miles of roadway improvements in FY25 and invested about $15.3 million in FY25 road maintenance funding (City of Arlington News Release).
Infrastructure takeaways
- A 3,010-lane-mile network means maintenance is a citywide operational issue, not a niche department concern (City of Arlington News Release).
- The street light count shows the scale of routine service work even before major capital projects are added (City of Arlington Street Lights page).
- The pothole repair total and lane-mile improvements indicate active maintenance rather than deferred upkeep (City of Arlington News Release).
- A dedicated street maintenance tax, first approved by voters in 2002, still plays a central role in the annual street budget (City of Arlington News Release).
The city says the street maintenance tax typically generates $25 million to $30 million per year and normally covers 90% of the annual street maintenance budget (City of Arlington News Release). That is a strong signal that residents have chosen a durable funding mechanism for basic infrastructure upkeep.
Arlington budget and finance statistics
Budget data helps explain how Arlington translates population scale into public spending.
For FY2026, the city’s proposed operating budget was $750.7 million (City of Arlington Budget News Release). The budget was adopted on September 16, 2025, and first presented on August 5, 2025 (City of Arlington Budget page).
The FY2026 property tax base was $43.7 billion, an increase of $813 million from FY2025 (City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget). The proposed ad valorem tax rate was $0.6298 per $100 of assessed value, with 44.46 cents allocated to the General Fund and 18.52 cents to Debt Service (City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget).
Budget breakdown table
| FY2026 budget item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed operating budget | $750.7 million | City of Arlington Budget News Release |
| Property tax base | $43.7 billion | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
| Proposed ad valorem tax rate | $0.6298 per $100 | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
| General Fund tax rate | 44.46 cents per $100 | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
| Debt Service tax rate | 18.52 cents per $100 | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
| FY2026 property tax revenue | $158.7 million | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
| Property tax share of General Fund revenues | 45.6% | City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget |
The FY2026 property tax revenue of $158.7 million equals 45.6% of General Fund revenues, up from 45.1% in FY2025 (City of Arlington FY2026 Proposed Budget). That means property tax remains a core funding pillar, and its importance is rising slightly in the city’s overall revenue mix.
A separate budget article noted a projected $25 million shortfall in the FY2026 General Fund, which is a reminder that even a large budget can face pressure from cost growth and service demand (City of Arlington budget article).
Additional finance context
- The General Fund made up 46.7% of the operating budget in the June 2025 budget article (City of Arlington budget article).
- The parks and recreation fund expected $16.4 million in revenue in FY25 (City of Arlington budget article).
- That same fund cost $20.9 million to operate golf courses, recreational programs, and facility rentals in FY25 (City of Arlington budget article).
- FY25 annual reporting received a clean audit opinion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025 (City of Arlington FY25 PAFR release).
- The city received six Transparency Stars from the Texas Comptroller and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY25 (City of Arlington FY25 PAFR release).
Those awards do not change the numbers themselves, but they do indicate that Arlington’s financial reporting and budget presentation are being formally recognized.
Arlington safety and traffic statistics
Safety data adds another layer to Arlington statistics, especially because it shows movement over time instead of one static snapshot.
The City of Arlington Police News Release says overall crime fell 12% in 2025 versus 2024. It also says Crimes Against Persons fell 14%, Crimes Against Property fell 18%, and Crimes Against Society rose 11% in 2025 (City of Arlington Police News Release).
The homicide count moved from 17 in 2024 to 15 in 2025, a 13% decrease (City of Arlington Police News Release). The same release says overall crime has declined 19% since 2022, while Crimes Against Persons have declined 23% since 2022 (City of Arlington Police News Release).
Traffic and enforcement activity
Arlington recorded 30 traffic fatalities in 2025 (City of Arlington Traffic Safety). From Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, 2025, officers made 98,034 traffic stops, up 25% from 76,460 in the same period of 2024 (City of Arlington Police Traffic Safety News Release).
Of those stops, 41,043 resulted in citations from Jan. 1 through Nov. 30, 2025, compared with 30,361 in the same period of 2024 (City of Arlington Police Traffic Safety News Release). The city said it was on pace for 100,000 traffic stops by the end of 2025 (City of Arlington Police Traffic Safety News Release).
What to make of the safety numbers
- The crime trend is down overall, but not uniformly across every category (City of Arlington Police News Release).
- Traffic enforcement activity increased substantially, which may help explain the higher stop and citation counts (City of Arlington Police Traffic Safety News Release).
- The 30 traffic fatalities figure is a reminder that transportation safety remains a major issue even when broader crime trends improve (City of Arlington Traffic Safety).
- The difference between overall crime trends and traffic safety trends shows why it matters to look at public safety as a set of separate systems, not one single number (City of Arlington Police News Release; City of Arlington Traffic Safety).
Arlington civic structure and local governance
Arlington’s civic framework is part of what makes the statistics easier to interpret. The city uses a council-manager form of government (City of Arlington City Facts), which fits a large municipality with a complex service portfolio.
The city is served by 5 independent school districts: Arlington ISD, Kennedale ISD, Mansfield ISD, Fort Worth ISD, and HEB ISD (City of Arlington City Facts). It is also served by 3 institutions of higher learning and 7 public libraries (City of Arlington City Facts).
Why the governance and service map matters
- A council-manager structure is common in cities that need professional administration for a wide range of services (City of Arlington City Facts).
- Multiple school districts mean residents are navigating several education systems within one city boundary (City of Arlington City Facts).
- Higher education access and library coverage expand the city’s educational infrastructure beyond K-12 schooling (City of Arlington City Facts).
- When combined with the demographic and housing data, the civic structure helps explain why Arlington’s statistics are so broad and interconnected.
Arlington’s city facts page also lists the APD annual reports page with a 2025 Annual Report PDF at 72 MB, the Use of Force Reports page with a 2025 annual report PDF at 5 MB, the APD headquarters contact number 817-459-6777, and the address 101 W. Abram St. (City of Arlington APD Annual Reports; City of Arlington Use of Force Reports). Those details are practical rather than flashy, but they reinforce the city’s emphasis on accessible public records.
The strongest read on Arlington statistics is this: it is a large, diverse, service-heavy city with sustained housing growth, significant infrastructure obligations, active budget management, and measurable public safety efforts, all visible in the numbers.