The stadium district
AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, and College Park Center sit inside a few square miles.
Arlington, by the numbers that decide it.
Arlington has grown 2.0 percent since 2020, the slowest on this list, because it is largely built out. That makes it a different kind of buy.
402,134
Residents, July 2025
2.0%
Growth since the 2020 census
$75,171
Median household income
54.3%
Owner occupied
15,721
Veterans
C
Arlington ISD TEA rating
What Is Actually Here
What Arlington has that a listing photo will not show you.
Concrete things, not adjectives.
Six Flags Over Texas
The original Six Flags park, plus Hurricane Harbor.
Lowest homeownership on this list
54.3 percent owner occupied, which means more rental stock and a different competitive picture for buyers.
UT Arlington
The city's largest employer according to Arlington's own 2024 financial report.
The Practical Read
Commute, schools, and the part buyers get wrong.
Arlington sits about 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth by I-30, roughly 23 minutes when you are not in rush hour. NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base is about 22 miles, near 37 minutes.
Schools are Arlington ISD, currently a C on the Texas Education Agency's 2024-2025 accountability scale. Five districts serve Arlington residents: Arlington, Mansfield, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Kennedale, and Fort Worth ISD.
Mike is a retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and a REALTOR with Compass. If a permanent change of station (PCS) is what put this city on your list, say so on the first call. The timeline works backward from your report date.
Common Questions
What buyers ask about Arlington.
Where is Arlington, and how far is it from Fort Worth?
Arlington sits in Tarrant County, about 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth by I-30, or roughly 23 minutes outside peak traffic. NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base is about 22 miles away.
What school district serves Arlington?
Arlington ISD serves the city and holds a C accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency for the 2024-2025 cycle. Five districts serve Arlington residents: Arlington, Mansfield, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Kennedale, and Fort Worth ISD.
Is Arlington growing?
Yes. The population reached 402,134 as of July 2025, up 2.0% since the April 2020 census, according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
Can Mike help me buy in Arlington?
Yes. Arlington is inside his working area, and he is a licensed Texas REALTOR with Compass (license 0797145). The first call is a short conversation about what you are trying to do, and it costs nothing.
Nearby
The other cities on his list.
Most buyers are weighing two or three of these against each other.
Burleson
The home market. Where Mike lives and works most.
Pop. 56,907Burleson ISD B
Crowley
Burleson's northern neighbor, four miles up the road.
Pop. 20,954Crowley ISD C
Joshua
More land for the money, ten minutes south of Burleson.
Pop. 9,352Joshua ISD B
Alvarado
The fastest growing city on this list, by a wide margin.
Pop. 7,539Alvarado ISD C
Cleburne
County seat, real downtown, and the most employers south of Burleson.
Pop. 39,942Cleburne ISD C
Mansfield
The highest household income of any city Mike works.
Pop. 84,444Mansfield ISD B
Fort Worth
The job market Burleson commutes to, and where the base is.
Pop. 1,028,117Fort Worth ISD C
Free Download
Moving to the DFW area? Start with the free relocation guide.
Neighborhoods, commutes, schools, and VA loan basics from a Marine who made the same move.
Get the Free GuideAsk someone who works Arlington.
Tell him what matters to you and he will tell you which streets to look at, and which to skip.
