The area around the Pentagon, Arlington County and Alexandria, Virginia, is thickly populated. Arlington County has about 221,000 people; Alexandria has a population of about 148,000. The major nearby city is Washington DC, with about 633,000 people.

The average commute in Arlington County is about 27 minutes; many workers at the Pentagon commute a considerable distance.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the Arlington County area ranges from $1100 for a one-bedroom to $1800 per month, with a rough median of $1400.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in Arlington County in the last three years was about $667,000, compared to $331,000 for Virginia.

Short Description of the Area: Arlington County is southwest of Washington DC, on the western bank of the Potomac River. Overall the county has low rolling plains, and is a mix of parkland and dense urban neighborhoods. Arlington County has a deep history, going back to the mid 1700s; this part of Virginia was a theater in the War of Independence, the War of 1812, and was a major location in the Civil War.

Climate and Weather: Arlington County is a little rainy and has snowy winters but is about as sunny as anywhere. Summers tend to be humid for Virginia. Summer temperatures range from the low 90s to low 70s, and winter temperatures from the mid-50s to high 20s.