Arlington's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is the suburbs' answer to Washington, DC: five walkable urban villages strung along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards, each wrapped around its own Orange and Silver line Metro station. Rosslyn, Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Square, and Ballston are less five towns than one continuous city street, and for newcomers this is the smoothest way to live beside the capital. Here is what living in our Nations Capital looks like from just across the Potomac.
A National Model of Transit-Oriented Growth
The Orange Line arrived through Arlington on December 1, 1979, and the county made a bet that still shapes the region: concentrate offices, shops, and homes around the stations instead of widening roads. It became a textbook case of transit-oriented development, a corridor of towers and cafés. Rosslyn, named for the colonial Ross Lynn farm, got the skyline, and its views of the Marine Corps War Memorial and the Potomac are among the best in the metro area. The Key Bridge, completed in 1923, still carries pedestrians and cyclists from Rosslyn straight into Georgetown.
Five Villages, One Main Street
Each stop has its own personality. Rosslyn is the business gateway, its glass towers full of contractors and company offices. Court House is the county seat, its 1898 Romanesque courthouse tower anchoring a plaza ringed with restaurants and the 1930s Colonial Village. Clarendon, Arlington's streetcar-era main street, absorbed a large Vietnamese community after 1975 and is now the corridor's dining and nightlife heart. Virginia Square is the quiet academic stop, home to George Mason University's Mason Square campus and the Antonin Scalia Law School. Ballston, named for the Ball family buried near North Stafford Street, anchors the west end with Ballston Quarter and a ring of research institutes.
The university and medical anchors of the DMV are close at hand. Georgetown University sits across the Key Bridge, George Washington University's Foggy Bottom campus is one Metro stop away, and American University, Howard University, Catholic University, and George Mason University are each a short ride. George Washington University Hospital and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital are minutes away, Children's National Medical Center is a short ride into the District, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda is a manageable drive up the Potomac.
Commuting, Schools, and Everyday Life
The Orange and Silver lines run the corridor, and Rosslyn adds the Blue Line across the Potomac bridge. From Court House, downtown Washington, DC is roughly a 15-minute ride; from Ballston, closer to 25. Arlington Public Schools brings three comprehensive high schools: Washington-Liberty, which sits beside North Stafford Street and dropped Lee from its name in 2019, plus Yorktown and Wakefield. On two wheels, the Custis Trail follows I-66 from Rosslyn to the 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail, connecting Georgetown and the Mount Vernon Trail.
The Real Estate Picture
For Washington, DC real estate in the region's most urban suburb, Arlington's countywide median sale price sits around $815,000 in recent 2026 data, above the District's roughly $684,000 median. The corridor itself skews toward condos and townhomes, with one- and two-bedroom units the common entry point and strong rental demand. What the premium buys is the Arlington package: walk to Metro, bike to the monuments, and keep a backyard or a park a block away.
Whether you are relocating for a job, a school, or a fresh start just across the river, Robert Clarke at Coldwell Banker Realty would love to help you find your place on the Orange Line. Email him at robert.clarke@cbrealty.com to set up a tour, compare the villages along the corridor, or talk through what living in our Nations Capital could look like for your family.
Robert Clarke
Realtor · Coldwell Banker Realty · SP99196 · DC, MD, CT & MA
Engineer turned real estate agent with a Master's from GWU. I help families find their place in the DMV with a blend of technical rigor and genuine local knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the corridor, the commute, schools, and pricing in Arlington, Virginia.
How close is Arlington to downtown Washington, DC?
The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is directly across the Potomac from Georgetown, with downtown Washington, DC roughly 15 minutes from Court House and closer to 25 minutes from Ballston on the Orange and Silver lines.
Which Metro stations are in the corridor?
Rosslyn, Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Square-GMU, and Ballston, from east to west. Rosslyn serves the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines; the rest serve the Orange and Silver lines. The stations opened in 1979.
What schools serve the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor?
Arlington Public Schools runs three comprehensive high schools: Washington-Liberty, Yorktown, and Wakefield, with elementary and middle school assignments determined by neighborhood boundary.
Is the corridor family-friendly?
Yes. Tree-lined streets, strong public schools, farmers markets and playgrounds around Court House and Clarendon plazas, and the Custis and W&OD trails make it one of the most bikeable, family-oriented suburbs in the country.
How much does it cost to buy in Arlington?
Recent 2026 countywide data puts Arlington's median sale price around $815,000, above the District's roughly $684,000 median. The corridor market skews toward condos and townhomes, with one- and two-bedroom units the common entry point.
What is GMU's connection to the corridor?
George Mason University's Mason Square campus at 3301 North Fairfax Drive in Virginia Square houses the Antonin Scalia Law School, the Schar School of Policy and Government, and other graduate and professional programs.