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Arlington County neighborhood
Living in Clarendon
Clarendon is the restaurant-and-retail center of Arlington's Metro corridor, with mid-rise condos at the station and 1920s houses a few blocks north. Here is what to know before you buy, sell or rent.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Clarendon?
Clarendon is a dense, walkable section of Arlington County built around the Clarendon Metro station on the Orange and Silver lines. Mid-rise condos, apartments and townhouses sit within a few blocks of Wilson and Clarendon boulevards, and single-family streets in Lyon Village begin just to the north. Market Common Clarendon and dozens of restaurants and bars make evenings and weekends busy. Owners pay Arlington County real estate tax, and there is no separate town government.
- Jurisdiction: Arlington County, VA (no town government)
- Metro: Clarendon station (Orange and Silver lines)
- Typical homes: Mid-rise condos, townhouses, 1920s to 1940s houses
- Commute to D.C.: Two stops to Rosslyn, then under the Potomac
- Getting around: Wilson and Clarendon blvds, I-66, Custis Trail
- Public schools: Arlington Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Clarendon
What it's like to live in Clarendon
Clarendon feels like a small downtown. The Metro station opens onto a plaza at Wilson Boulevard, and most errands, from groceries to a haircut, are a short walk from the escalators. The core runs along two one-way streets, Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard, with Market Common Clarendon anchoring the shopping on the west side.
The area was a busy retail district from the 1940s through the 1960s, then lost business to the Beltway malls. Small shops came back in the 1980s, and the Metro station and the county’s sector plan (adopted in 1984, updated in 2006) shaped the mix of new buildings and older storefronts you see today.
When I tour Clarendon with buyers, I ask them to come back on a Friday night. Bars and restaurants keep the blocks closest to the station lively late into the evening, while Lyon Village, just north of the commercial strip, is a grid of tree-lined residential streets.
Clarendon
Homes and housing types in Clarendon
Arlington steered its tallest buildings to the blocks nearest each Metro stop, so housing steps down as you walk away from the station. That gives Clarendon an unusual range in a small area.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Condos | Mid-rise buildings from recent decades, many with retail on the ground floor | Reserves, fee coverage, assigned or deeded parking, which side faces the nightlife |
| Townhouses | Newer brick townhouses and a few older rows tucked behind the main streets | HOA rules, garage access, roof and deck age |
| Single-family | Lyon Village houses from the 1920s to 1940s, many Colonial Revival, some Craftsman and Tudor | Additions and permits, drainage, older wiring and plumbing, rebuild potential |
Lyon Village is on the National Register of Historic Places (listed in 2002). That listing is honorary and does not by itself add design review for owners, but always confirm the rules for a specific lot with the county before you plan changes.
Clarendon
Getting around Clarendon
- Metro: Clarendon station serves the Orange and Silver lines. Rosslyn is two stops east, and the next stop after Rosslyn is Foggy Bottom in D.C.
- Driving: I-66, Route 50, Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard carry most traffic. Weekday peak-direction tolls apply on I-66 inside the Beltway.
- Trails: The Custis Trail runs along I-66 and connects to the W&OD Trail to the west and the Mount Vernon Trail at Rosslyn.
- Airport: Reagan National is reachable by Metro with a transfer at Rosslyn to the Blue Line.
For a wider look at transit choices, my Northern Virginia commute guide compares Metro, buses and toll lanes.
Clarendon
Parks, shopping and things to do in Clarendon
- Market Common Clarendon: the area’s main shopping and dining block, with apartments above the stores.
- Clarendon Day: a free street festival hosted by the Clarendon Alliance at the Clarendon Metro Plaza. The 2026 edition ran on Saturday, September 26.
- Arlington Farmers Market: held Saturday mornings in nearby Courthouse, about one Metro stop east.
- Restaurants and live music: the Wilson Boulevard strip has the densest cluster of dining in the county’s Metro corridor.
Clarendon
Owning a home in Clarendon
Clarendon is part of Arlington County, which has no towns inside it, so you pay one local real estate tax. The County Board set the rate at $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027, adopted in April 2026. My post on Arlington’s 2026 assessments explains how to check your number.
- Condo associations: Most Clarendon purchases are condos. Read the resale certificate, budget and reserve study before you commit. See buying a condo in Arlington.
- Future building: The Clarendon Sector Plan guides heights and uses near the station. A parking lot next door may be planned for redevelopment.
- Parking: Many single-family blocks use residential permit parking. Ask before you assume street parking.
- Schools: Boundaries change over time. Verify any address with the APS boundary locator, and read my guide to school boundaries and home values.
For tax or legal questions about a specific property, talk with a Virginia CPA or real estate attorney.
Clarendon
Is Clarendon a good fit?
If you want to walk to Metro, dinner and groceries without a car, Clarendon delivers that. If you need a big yard or a quiet street on Saturday nights, look at the single-family blocks farther from the station, or compare nearby stops in my Rosslyn-Ballston corridor guide.
Price levels here span a wide range, from one-bedroom condos to large renovated houses in Lyon Village. For current numbers, see my Arlington market report or ask me for recent sales on a specific street.
Clarendon
Keep exploring Clarendon
Read more about Clarendon and the area
- Living in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor: Clarendon, Courthouse, Virginia Square and Ballston Compared
- Buying a Condo in Arlington: Fees, Reserves, Rules and Resale
- Arlington’s 2026 Property Assessments: Are They Close to Market Value?
- Living Near Metro in Northern Virginia: What the Silver Line Changed
Run the numbers
- Rent vs. Buy Calculator
- Affordability Calculator
- Neighborhood Match Quiz
- Arlington County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Arlington County
Sources: Arlington County: Clarendon planning at a glance; WMATA: Clarendon station; Arlington Economic Development: Clarendon Day 2026; Arlington County: FY 2027 budget adopted; Arlington Public Schools: information for realtors and boundary locator. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
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Clarendon FAQ
Questions about living in Clarendon
Is Clarendon a good place to live without a car?
Many residents manage without one. The Clarendon Metro station, grocery stores, restaurants and the Custis Trail are all within walking distance of most condo buildings.
What Metro line is Clarendon on?
Clarendon station is on the Orange and Silver lines. Rosslyn, where you can transfer to the Blue Line, is two stops east.
Are there single-family homes in Clarendon?
Yes. Lyon Village, directly north of the commercial core, has houses built mostly from the 1920s through the 1940s, a few blocks from the station.
What schools serve Clarendon addresses?
Clarendon is served by Arlington Public Schools. Boundaries change, so verify every address with the APS boundary locator, and see my guide at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ for how to check before you buy.
What is the property tax rate in Clarendon?
Clarendon owners pay Arlington County real estate tax, set at $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027. There is no additional town tax.
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