Arlington County continues to see rising rental prices, with the median cost for a two-bedroom apartment reaching a staggering $36,000 per year.
In May, the median rental prices reported by Apartment List showed one-bedroom units standing at $2,488 and two-bedroom units at $3,006.
This resulted in an overall median rental price of $2,642, marking a 4% increase compared to the previous year, while rental prices nationwide experienced a slight decline.
In terms of regional rankings, Arlington’s median rental prices are the highest in the Washington area, followed closely by Tysons, where one-bedroom units command $2,450 and two-bedroom units are priced at $2,938, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.2%.
When looking at the wider metro area, the median rental price is $2,208, which shows an increase of 2.2% this year.
Among the 100 large urban areas tracked by Apartment List, Arlington has positioned itself as the fifth most expensive location, making it the priciest rental market outside of California.
In terms of affordability, Irvine, California claims the top spot with a median rental price of $3,018, while Toledo, Ohio is the most affordable, with a median rent of just $889.
The trend in Arlington appears to be a gradual increase in rental rates, albeit at a slower pace.
Since the beginning of 2025, rents in Arlington have gone up by 3.2%, contrasting with a more substantial 4.8% increase noted between January and May of 2024.
Higher rental costs are not exclusively tied to Arlington; other areas in Northern Virginia have also experienced price surges.
Fairfax County’s six corridors showed annual increases ranging from 3.4% in Herndon to a notable 8.8% in Annandale.
On a national scale, the median monthly rental price currently sits at $1,398, having dipped by 0.5%.
Apartment List analysts have suggested that after an unprecedented surge in rental costs during the pandemic’s early phase, the national rental market is undergoing a correction.
Since mid-2022, seasonal fluctuations have been evident, but rental prices have generally been trending modestly downward.
Today, the national median rent has fallen below its August 2022 peak by 3.1%, or $44 per month.
Despite this cooling trend, typical rents remain 22% higher than their January 2021 levels, underscoring a challenging rental landscape for many.
Certain metropolitan areas have experienced drastic rent declines due to new construction, with cities such as Austin witnessing a year-over-year decrease of 6.3%.
In contrast, regions like Fresno, California faced the highest rental increases at 5.9%, followed closely by San Francisco and Chicago, with 4.4% and 4.3% increases respectively.
From a supply perspective, Apartment List’s national vacancy index has reached a historical high of 7%.
After a period of tightening in 2021, multi-family occupancy has seen a slow but steady easing due to the influx of new inventory.
In fact, 2024 is projected to see the most new apartment completions since the mid-1980s, although the peak of new multi-family construction may have passed.
While trends showcase a robust level of new supply, the ongoing challenges for renters remain prevalent across the country.
image source from：https://www.arlnow.com/2025/06/16/two-bedroom-apartment-rentals-now-top-3000-mo-across-county/
