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 2022 home sales, were drawn from Arlington Magazine’s most recent expanded real estate guide listing average sales prices and other real estate metrics in more than 400 area neighborhoods, with data provided by Bright MLS and MarketStats by ShowingTime+. The full chart appeared in the March/April 2023 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. 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 is undergoing a transformation as many older homes are replaced by new construction.
Homes sold in 2022: 5
Average sale price in 2022: $1,696,516
Average sale price in 2021: $1,634,000
9. DONALDSON RUN
Named for the stream that runs through it, this hilly neighborhood near Marymount University is beloved for its old-growth trees and proximity to Potomac Overlook Regional Park. The community is also located within walking distance of the Lee Heights Shops.
Homes sold in 2022: 6
Average sale price in 2022: $1,720,926
Average sale price in 2021: $1,601,438
8. BROYHILL FOREST
Originally planned, designed and developed by The Broyhill Company during the post-World War II housing boom, this quiet neighborhood is close to Gulf Branch Nature Center and overlooks the fairways of Washington Golf and Country Club.
Homes sold in 2022: 8
Average sale price in 2022: $1,741,638
Average sale price in 2021: $1,257,698
7. 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 2022: 10
Average sale price in 2022: $1,867,663
Average sale price in 2021: $1,712,262
6. 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 2022: 39
Average sale price in 2022: $1,883,167
Average sale price in 2021: $1,622,470
5. 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 2022: 7
Average sale price in 2022: $1,920,214
Average sale price in 2021: $1,713,750
4. STRATFORD HILLS
This hilly, picturesque neighborhood near the McLean border, 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.
Homes sold in 2022: 2
Average sale price in 2022: $1,962,000
Average sale price in 2021: $1,603,800
3. BELLEVUE FOREST
Dating back to the late 1930s, Bellevue Forest is prized for its quiet, curving streets, pretty landscaping and large lots. Its eclectic architecture includes English Tudor, English Cottage and Colonial Revival homes, as well as unusual examples of International Style and Art Moderne homes. Many of the original residences have been expanded over time.
Homes sold in 2022: 20
Average sale price in 2022: $1,984,204
Average sale price in 2021: $1,593,158
2. 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 2022: 19
Average sale price in 2022: $2,049,063
Average sale price in 2021: $2,030,271
1. ROCK SPRING
Bordered by McLean’s Franklin Park neighborhood to the west and Washington Golf and Country Club to the east, this woodsy, family-oriented neighborhood has in recent years become a new hot spot for large-scale remodels and new home construction. A notable neighborhood landmark, the stone Saegmuller Mansion, is now home to the Knights of Columbus of Arlington.
Homes sold in 2022: 4
Average sale price in 2022: $2,408,177
Average sale price in 2021: $1,555,318