Signals
Great Falls
Arlington
Climate
74 · Top 31%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 24%
vs84 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 39%
vs67 · Bottom 29%
Schools
87 · Top 5%
vs65 · Top 34%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs92 · Top 50%
Economic stability
76 · Top 15%
vs73 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Great Falls | Arlington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,228 | 236,254 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $250,000+ | $142,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $131,942 | $90,786 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 601/sq mi | 9,088/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,411,000 | $895,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $2,322 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 95.0% | 41.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85.3% | 77.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 7.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.2" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 36.0 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 35.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 42 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.06 | 14.47 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 77.7% | 62.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 87.6% | 74.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 6.7% | 30.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Great Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Arlington
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Great Falls
78
Your Score
—
Area Score
Arlington
75
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Great Falls, VA · Arlington, VA · How this is calculated: methodology