Is Fairlington safe?
Arlington, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Fairlington as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Fairlington
“Go. Fairlington is one of the safest, most stable residential communities in the D.C. metro area, defined by historic brick townhomes and manicured courtyards. Visitors will encounter minimal safety risks beyond standard suburban property precautions like locking vehicle doors.”
About the area
Fairlington is a historic, master-planned residential neighborhood in South Arlington composed of Colonial Revival brick townhouses and condominiums built during World War II. It offers a tranquil, leafy suburban atmosphere with quiet residential courts, playgrounds, and easy walking access to adjacent dining districts.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet Residential
- Suburban Feel
Walking and biking in Fairlington
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are positioned near the Fairlington Community Center and Fairlington Centre, with easy connections to the Four Mile Run and W&OD trails just north.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low and well below national and regional averages
- High median household income exceeding $140,000 and poverty rates below 3%
- Active civic associations and well-maintained historic community courtyards
- Close proximity to the commercial amenities of Shirlington and Alexandria
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic theft from unlocked vehicles and bicycle thefts
- Limited commercial and dining variety within the interior residential bounds
- Bisected by Interstate 395, creating localized traffic noise along perimeter streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within the residential courts of Fairlington, with support services centered further away in Alexandria and North Arlington.
What Fairlington is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with joggers, dog walkers, and commuters heading to bus stops along King Street and Quaker Lane.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with families at community playgrounds and residents working remotely or strolling the courtyards.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pleasant and very safe as residents return home and walk to local center eateries or nearby Shirlington.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet with minimal foot or vehicle traffic; walking is safe, though lighting can be soft in inner courtyards.
Transit, parking and getting around
Arlington Transit (ART) and Metrobus operate frequent bus routes (including ART 77 and Metrobus 22A/25B) connecting to the King Street-Old Town and Pentagon Metrorail stations, which are 2 to 3 miles away.
Resident-permit parking and dedicated condo lots dominate the neighborhood, but visitor parking spaces and unmetered residential street parking are generally easy to find.
Things to do in Fairlington
- Stroll through the shaded, Colonial Revival brick courtyards on the neighborhood walking paths
- Visit the Fairlington Community Center for recreation fields, playgrounds, and the Sunday seasonal farmers market
- Walk across the pedestrian bridge over I-395 to access the dining, theater, and library in the Village at Shirlington
Local favorites
- Ramparts Tavern & Grill · American Restaurant / Pub · 4.3★ (1150)A longstanding neighborhood gathering spot serving classic pub fare, burgers, and draft beers.
- Fairlington Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (230)Local counter-service spot offering New York-style pies, calzones, and casual Italian takeout.
- Taqueria Poblano · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (820)Casual, vibrant joint nearby serving fresh regional Mexican fare, homemade salsa, and signature margaritas.
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.