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Arlington County neighborhood
Living in Ballston
Ballston sits at the western end of Arlington's Orange and Silver line corridor, a high-rise hub of offices, condos and shopping with trail connections that reach well beyond the county.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Ballston?
Ballston is a high-density, mixed-use area of Arlington County centered on the Ballston-MU Metro station (Orange and Silver lines). Most homes are high-rise and mid-rise condos and rental apartments, with townhouses and single-family streets at the edges. Ballston Quarter, the MedStar Capitals Iceplex and a large cluster of research offices and university centers sit near the station, and the Bluemont Junction Trail links to the W&OD. Owners pay Arlington County real estate tax only.
- Jurisdiction: Arlington County, VA (no town government)
- Metro: Ballston-MU station (Orange and Silver lines)
- Typical homes: High-rise condos and apartments, some townhouses
- Commute to D.C.: Four stops to Rosslyn, then into D.C.
- Getting around: I-66, Glebe Road, Wilson Blvd, Fairfax Drive
- Public schools: Arlington Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Ballston
What it's like to live in Ballston
Ballston is the most vertical stop on Arlington’s Metro corridor west of Rosslyn. Office towers line North Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive, and condo and apartment buildings fill most of the blocks in between. Weekday lunch hours are busy with office workers; evenings center on Ballston Quarter and the restaurants along Wilson Boulevard.
The area began as Ball’s Crossroads, and trolley lines shaped its early growth. Redevelopment picked up after the Metro station opened in 1979. Today it holds one of the country’s notable concentrations of research agencies and institutes, along with Marymount University’s Ballston center and research and graduate space for Virginia Tech and George Washington University.
Buyers I work with here usually value two things: a short walk to the station and a building with good amenities. Ballston gives you plenty of both.
Ballston
Homes and housing types in Ballston
Most for-sale homes near the station are condos. Many buildings are newer than what you’ll find in Clarendon or Courthouse, though Ballston also has older towers from earlier decades.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| High-rise condos | Studios to three-bedroom units, concierge and fitness amenities, garage parking | Reserve study, upcoming special assessments, whether parking is deeded or leased, FHA or VA approval |
| Townhouses | Brick townhouse communities on the edges of the station area | HOA budget, private street maintenance, roof and window age |
| Single-family | Older houses in Bluemont and Ashton Heights a few blocks out | Additions and permits, basement moisture, teardown or rebuild value |
If you plan to finance a condo, check building approval early. My post on condo financing and warrantable buildings explains why it matters.
Ballston
Getting around Ballston
- Metro: Ballston-MU station is on the Orange and Silver lines. Rosslyn is four stops east. Arlington and WMATA are designing a second, west entrance at North Fairfax Drive and North Vermont Street; as of late 2026 it is still in design, not under construction.
- Driving: I-66 has a Ballston interchange, and Glebe Road runs north to Chain Bridge and south to Route 50.
- Trails: The Bluemont Junction Trail starts near Fairfax Drive and runs about 1.2 miles to the W&OD Trail. A short connector also reaches the Custis Trail toward Rosslyn.
- Airport: Reagan National is reachable by Metro with a transfer at Rosslyn.
Ballston
Parks, shopping and things to do in Ballston
- Ballston Quarter: the redeveloped former Ballston Common Mall, with a food hall, shops and apartments.
- MedStar Capitals Iceplex: the Washington Capitals’ training facility, built on top of the Ballston Quarter parking garage, with public skating and leagues.
- Ballston Farmers Market: FRESHFARM runs a Thursday afternoon market at Welburn Square near the Metro, April through November in recent seasons.
- Bluemont Park: reached by the Bluemont Junction Trail, with a bridge over Four Mile Run to the Four Mile Run Trail.
For more trail ideas, see the best parks and trails in Northern Virginia.
Ballston
Owning a home in Ballston
Ballston is in Arlington County, which has no incorporated towns, so there is one local real estate tax. The County Board adopted a rate of $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027.
- Condo documents: In Virginia you receive a resale certificate. Read the budget, reserves, insurance and rules on rentals and pets. My guide to the Virginia resale certificate walks through it.
- Construction nearby: Station-area plans allow more towers. Ask what is approved for neighboring lots, and watch for the Metro west entrance project.
- Renting it out: Some buildings cap leasing or set minimum lease terms. Confirm before you buy as an investor.
- Schools: Check each address with the APS boundary locator. See school boundaries and home values.
A Virginia real estate attorney or CPA can answer legal or tax questions about a specific purchase.
Ballston
Is Ballston a good fit?
If you want a building with a gym, package room and garage, plus a Metro station a few blocks away, Ballston is worth a close look. If you’d rather have more street life at night, compare Clarendon, two stops east, in my Rosslyn-Ballston corridor guide.
Condo prices vary widely by building age, view and parking. For current numbers, see my Arlington market report or ask me to pull recent sales in a specific building.
Ballston
Keep exploring Ballston
Read more about Ballston 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
- Condo Financing: Warrantable, Non-Warrantable and FHA-Approved Buildings
- Is a Condo a Good Investment in Northern Virginia?
Run the numbers
- Mortgage Calculator
- Rent vs. Buy Calculator
- Investment Deal Analysis
- Arlington County housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Arlington County
Sources: WMATA: Ballston-MU station; Arlington County: Ballston Metro Station West Entrance; Arlington County: FY 2027 budget adopted; Arlington Public Schools: information for realtors and boundary locator; NOVA Parks: W&OD Trail. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
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Ballston FAQ
Questions about living in Ballston
What does MU stand for in Ballston-MU?
MU stands for Marymount University, which has a Ballston center near the station. The station serves the Orange and Silver lines.
Is Ballston walkable?
Yes. Grocery stores, Ballston Quarter, offices and the Metro station are within a few blocks of most condo buildings, and trail connections lead to the W&OD and Custis trails.
Is there a new Ballston Metro entrance?
A second entrance at the west end of the station, at North Fairfax Drive and North Vermont Street, is in design. Arlington County reports the 35 percent design is finalized, and no opening date has been set.
What schools serve Ballston condos?
Ballston is served by Arlington Public Schools. Assignments depend on the exact address, so verify with the APS boundary locator and read /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ before you buy.
Is Ballston or Clarendon better for buying a condo?
It depends on the building more than the name. Ballston has more newer high-rises; Clarendon has more mid-rise buildings and a busier evening dining scene.
Let's Chat
Let’s find your place in Ballston.
Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or investing, tell me what worries you most. We’ll talk through your goals and build a clear plan, with no pressure and no obligation.
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