Is Clarendon safe?
Arlington, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Clarendon as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Clarendon
“Go. Clarendon is one of the safest and most affluent urban-suburban neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. While late-night bar crowds occasionally draw minor disorderly incidents, violent crime is exceedingly rare and visitors can explore freely day or night.”
About the area
Clarendon is a bustling, upscale commercial and residential hub in Arlington located along the Orange and Silver Metro lines. It features a lively blend of luxury mid-rise apartments, rooftop bars, trendy dining spots, boutique retailers, and quiet, leafy residential streets.
- Upscale Urban Hub
- Vibrant Dining & Nightlife
- Young Professional
- Extremely Walkable
Walking and biking in Clarendon
Walk score: 96/100 · Bike score: 86/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are located on nearly every other block, offering direct access to the Custis Trail, which links directly to the Mount Vernon and W&OD trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low violent crime rate supported by high municipal services and active policing
- High median household income exceeding $140,000 with very low poverty and near-universal health coverage
- Extremely clean, modern infrastructure and well-lit streetscapes
- Dense concentration of dining, grocery, and entertainment options within a compact radius
Cons
- Alcohol-fueled disorderly conduct and noise near nightlife venues during weekend late nights
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as bicycle theft and vehicle break-ins in parking garages
- High cost of living and expensive parking garages
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Clarendon, though occasional panhandling occurs near the Metro station entrance and commercial plazas; there are no encampments in the neighborhood.
What Clarendon is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and energetic with commuters walking to the Metro, joggers on the sidewalks, and busy coffee shops.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and completely safe, filled with shoppers, remote workers, and outdoor diners.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Bustling and social with restaurant patrons and happy-hour crowds in a secure, vibrant environment.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally safe, though the main bar strips along Wilson Boulevard see rowdy, intoxicated crowds around closing time.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA provides direct subway service via the Clarendon Metro Station (Orange and Silver Lines) right in the center of the neighborhood, complemented by Arlington Transit (ART) and Metrobus routes like the 38B.
Street parking is metered and heavily contested during peak dining hours, but several multi-level public parking garages (such as at Crossing Clarendon) offer ample space for roughly $5 to $15 depending on duration.
Things to do in Clarendon
- Browse the open-air stalls at the Clarendon Farmers Market at Central Park on Wednesday afternoons
- Explore the shops and open plazas at the Crossing Clarendon retail center
- Enjoy rooftop dining and cocktails along Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards
Local favorites
- Northside Social Coffee & Wine · Cafe & Bakery · 4.6★ (2600)Popular two-story neighborhood hub serving specialty coffee, house-baked pastries, and wine with patio seating.
- The Liberty Tavern · American Gastropub · 4.4★ (1650)Warm, restored historic building offering wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, and craft cocktails.
- Ambar Clarendon · Balkan Restaurant · 4.6★ (3800)Stylish dining destination known for unlimited small plates of traditional and modern Balkan cuisine.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.