Spring real estate season is upon us, and the open houses are in full swing. Which Arlington neighborhoods are commanding top dollar? The following rankings, based on 2021 home sales, were drawn from a chart listing average sales prices and other real estate metrics in more than 400 area neighborhoods, with data provided by Bright MLS and MarketStats for ShowingTime. The full chart appeared in the March/April 2022 HOME issue of Arlington Magazine. To be included, a neighborhood had to have had at least 15 total sales during the past five years. The list below excludes condo buildings.
10. STRATFORD HILLS
This hilly, picturesque neighborhood, first developed in the late 1940s and 1950s, is home to a variety of architectural styles, including Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, Arts & Crafts, and ramblers, interspersed with new construction and large-scale remodels. Residents enjoy proximity to the Lee Harrison Shopping Center and Westover Village.
Homes sold in 2021: 5
Average sale price in 2021: $1,603,800
Average sale price in 2020: $1,358,000
9. LYON VILLAGE
This close-knit, walkable neighborhood, tucked between Langston Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard, is coveted for its proximity to Clarendon’s restaurants and shops, and the fact that it’s within walking distance of Metro’s orange line. Developed by real estate mogul Frank Lyon on land that was once the Cruit Dairy Farm, many of its eclectic homes date from the 1920s and 1930s. Lyon Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Homes sold in 2021: 46
Average sale price in 2021: $1,622,470
Average sale price in 2020: $1,593,414
8. MINOR HILL
Rising 459 feet above sea level, Minor Hill is Arlington County’s highest point, which made it a coveted vantage point during the Civil War. Today, the leafy area at the western edge of Arlington near Falls Church (and arguably part of the larger Williamsburg neighborhood), is undergoing a transformation as many older homes are replaced by new construction.
Homes sold in 2021: 5
Average sale price in 2021: $1,464,500
Average sale price in 2020: $1,634,000
7. BERKSHIRE OAKWOOD
Many of the original homes in this neighborhood bordered by East Falls Church to the west and Langston Boulevard to the south were built in the 1930s and 1940s. Today its streets are seeing a renaissance of new construction, with modern amenities such as open floor plans, energy-efficient HVAC systems and electric car chargers.
Homes sold in 2021: 9
Average sale price in 2021: $1,670,625
Average sale price in 2020: $1,132,286
6. DOVER BALMORAL RIVERWOOD
Large homes and old growth trees define the streetscapes of this woodsy Arlington neighborhood near the George Washington Parkway and the Potomac River.
Homes sold in 2021: 10
Average sale price in 2021: $1,681,308
Average sale price in 2020: $1,233,250
5. CRESCENT HILLS
Tucked between Williamsburg Boulevard and Yorktown Boulevard, this little pocket neighborhood has brick ramblers dating back to 1955, as well as newer builds commanding much higher price tags, with features such as au pair suites and geothermal heating and cooling.
Homes sold in 2021: 10
Average sale price in 2021: $1,712,262
Average sale price in 2020: $1,486,000
4. CHAIN BRIDGE FOREST
Bordering McLean on Arlington’s northern edge, this community of some 215 homes is just down the road from historic Chain Bridge and minutes from Washington, D.C.’s Palisades neighborhood on the other side of the Potomac. Developed primarily in the 1960s and 1970s, it’s marked by quiet streets, mature landscaping and an eclectic mix of architectural styles.
Homes sold in 2021: 8
Average sale price in 2021: $1,713,750
Average sale price in 2020: $1,421,667
3. WILLIAMSBURG VILLAGE
Most of the original homes in this family-oriented neighborhood were built between 1940 and 1970, though in recent years many older homes have been replaced with new construction. Bordered by Williamsburg Boulevard and North Powhatan Street, Williamsburg Village is home to one of the original boundary stones of the District of Columbia.
Homes sold in 2021: 8
Average sale price in 2021: $1,807,785
Average sale price in 2020: $1,491,520
2. WOODLAND ACRES
Bordered by Old Dominion Drive to the north and McLean’s Franklin Park neighborhood to the west, this pretty enclave of old and new homes is next to Williamsburg Middle School and Discovery Elementary, and just down the road from Washington Golf & Country Club.
Homes sold in 2021: 2
Average sale price in 2021: $1,970,000
Average sale price in 2020: $1,225,000
1. COUNTRY CLUB HILLS
Established from the 1920s to the 1940s on 126 acres of the former Civil War-era Grunwell estate, this wealthy enclave bordering Washington Golf and Country Club (hence its name) is home to politicians, media personalities and sports icons. The prevailing architectural styles include an “Old Arlington” mix of English Tudor, Colonial and Spanish-style residences, as well as many newly-constructed homes and additions.
Homes sold in 2021: 24
Average sale price in 2021: $2,030,271
Average sale price in 2020: $1,720,523