Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Arlington, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

21,095

Median Agei

36.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

71.4%15,060

Hispanic/Latino

16%3,368

Asian

5.4%1,135

Two or More

4.9%1,040

Black

1.4%296

Other

0.6%118

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%40

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%38

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.7%642

High School Diploma

26.6%3,647

Some College (<1 yr)

11.5%1,574

Some College (1+ yr)

15.6%2,142

Associate's Degree

11.8%1,616

Bachelor's Degree

14.5%1,982

Master's Degree

5.5%757

Professional Degree

0.3%44

Doctorate

0.5%72

HS or Higher

91%

BA or Higher

20.8%

Graduate+

6.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$538,800

Median Renti

$1,905

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

62.2%4,788

Renter-Occupied

37.8%2,907

Total Units

8,230

Homeownership

62.2%

Vacancy Rate

6.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.3%254

$50K–$100K

2.2%105

$100K–$150K

0.7%32

$150K–$200K

0.3%13

$200K–$300K

5.1%242

$300K–$500K

29.1%1,392

$500K–$1M

56.8%2,719

$1M+

0.6%31

Rent Distribution

Under $500

262

$500–$750

103

$750–$1,000

144

$1,000–$1,250

170

$1,250–$1,500

114

$1,500–$2,000

744

$2,000+

1,255

Year Built

2020 or later

2.2%183

2010–2019

6.6%540

2000–2009

28.2%2,321

1990–1999

30.4%2,501

1980–1989

10.3%845

1970–1979

8.4%688

1960–1969

3%248

1950–1959

3.9%325

1940–1949

2.7%221

1939 or earlier

4.3%358

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

50.5%3,888

Electricity

44.3%3,406

Fuel Oil

1.5%115

Wood

1.4%111

Bottled/LP Gas

1.3%100

Other

0.4%30

Solar

0.3%26

No Fuel

0.2%19

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$88,231

Mean Household Incomei

$117,107

Per Capita Incomei

$44,206

Poverty Ratei

12.6%

Unemploymenti

4.2%

Labor Forcei

10,499

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.3%405

$10K–$15K

2.7%211

$15K–$20K

2.8%215

$20K–$25K

3.5%268

$25K–$30K

1.9%149

$30K–$35K

4.4%337

$35K–$40K

2.7%208

$40K–$45K

1.6%120

$45K–$50K

2.7%210

$50K–$60K

4.8%367

$60K–$75K

8.1%620

$75K–$100K

15.9%1,222

$100K–$125K

8.5%656

$125K–$150K

12.1%934

$150K–$200K

12.1%933

$200K+

10.9%840

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

348

Residentsi

552

Avg. Tenant Renti

$478/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers11 homes88% occupied$730/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 839 homes98% occupied$456/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC69 homes97% occupied$451/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $88,231/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $26K/yr

92.5%

Very low income$26K–$44K/yr

7.5%

Who Receives This Housing

71.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

8.3% of subsidized households are minority

6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

100% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2,32511%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

560

Philippines

425

Guatemala

130

Korea

Canada

Germany

India

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

9,950

Avg. Commutei

29.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

10,007

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,947(12.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.4%Insured

6.6%Uninsured