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Fact text

  • Arlington is the smallest self-governing county in the entire United States by area, tiny but mighty.
  • Amazon chose Arlington as the home for its high-profile HQ2 regional headquarters, bringing a little Seattle to Northern Virginia.
  • The Pentagon, the world-famous headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, sits right in Arlington, not Washington, D.C., as many people assume.
  • Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 U.S. Armed Forces members, making it one of the most visited sites in the country.
Your
Arlington
Retirement Outlook — in 90 seconds
Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
Every figure mentioned is drawn from the same sourced public data shown below — and the video updates as the data does.
Stat icon
236,434
+
Total Population
Stat icon
$
122,604
Median Income
Stat icon
$
731,700
Median Home
Stat icon
11
%
Age 65+
Retirement Suitability
How
Arlington
ranks for retirees?
39
/ 100

A blended, sourced view of how this city ranks for retirees across tax, affordability, healthcare, and climate.

Tax
8
Affordability
15
Healthcare
82
Climate
53

Results

Arlington

Suitability Breakdown

Retirement tax planning
01 - Taxes

Retirement Tax Treatment

Tax
8

Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, though other retirement income is subject to the state income tax.

State sales tax here runs about

%.

Source · Tax Foundation
8
Retirement tax planning
02 - Income

Annuity Rates Available Here

Affordability
15

Fixed annuity rates reach up to

7

% on 5-year terms, with most landing between

5

% and

5

%.

Source · Cannex
15
Retirement tax planning
03 - Healthcare

Hospital Access & Quality

Healthcare
82

The area has

1

Medicare-certified hospitals, averaging a

4

/5 CMS quality rating.

Source · CMS Hospital Compare
4
Retirement tax planning
04 - Climate

Weather & Comfort

Climate
53

A

Temperate

climate — summers peak near

86

°F, winters dip to about

31

°F, with roughly

15

″ of snow a year.

Source · NOAA Climate Normals
Temperate
Retirement tax planning
05 - Risk

Natural Disaster Risk

Risk
Relatively Low

FEMA's overall natural-disaster risk rating for this county on the National Risk Index.

Source · FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Virginia tax Social Security or retirement income for retirees in Arlington?

Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, which can meaningfully reduce a retiree’s state tax burden. Other forms of retirement income, such as pensions or withdrawals, are subject to Virginia’s state income tax. Retirees in Arlington should review how their specific income sources are treated under state law before making retirement income decisions.

How can Arlington retirees use annuities alongside Social Security income in Virginia?

Arlington’s median household income tops $122,000, and with Virginia exempting Social Security from state tax, many local retirees have a solid foundation to build on. A multi-year guaranteed annuity locks in a fixed interest rate for a set term, so your growth is predictable regardless of market swings. That certainty can help cover essential expenses alongside Social Security. Because guaranteed rates shift frequently, check our current annuity rates page for today’s figures.

How good is hospital care available to retirees living in Arlington, Virginia?

Arlington has one Medicare-certified hospital serving the area, which holds an average CMS quality rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. That rating reflects a solid standard of care for routine and specialist needs. Retirees evaluating the area should also consider proximity to the broader Washington, D.C. metro region for additional medical options.

How expensive is housing in Arlington, and what should retirees expect for cost of living?

Arlington carries a notably high cost of living. The median home value sits at $731,700, and the median household income is $122,604, reflecting a high-income urban environment. Retirees on fixed incomes should carefully assess whether their retirement income sources can sustain expenses in this market, particularly if they plan to purchase or rent housing here.

What is the natural-disaster and climate risk for retirees considering Arlington, Virginia?

FEMA classifies Arlington’s overall natural-disaster risk as Relatively Low on its National Risk Index, which is a reassuring baseline for long-term planning. The climate is temperate, with summer highs averaging around 86 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit, winter lows near 31 degrees, and annual snowfall averaging about 15 inches. Severe weather events are not a dominant concern here.

See Current Annuity Rates