Apartments to rent in Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington / Alexandria

Shirlington and Fairlington form a closely connected retail‑and‑residential corridor straddling south Arlington and northern Alexandria. The area is known for the Village at Shirlington’s shops, Signature Theatre, the Four Mile Run trail and Fairlington’s historic brick garden‑apartment clusters. ZIPs covering the area: 22206 (Arlington) and 22302 (Alexandria).

Nearby Neighborhoods Comparison

NeighborhoodsCostSchoolsSafetyWalkability
Shirlington / Fairlington Average Good Safe Good
Parkfairfax Average Good Safe Good
Barcroft Average Good Safe Fair
Green Valley (Nauck) Average Good Safe Good
Bradlee / Alexandria West Average Good Safe Fair
Excellent/Good
Average
Poor/Less Safe

Source: Zumper

Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington Rental Prices

Studio
$1,500 – $2,600
1 bedroom
$1,700 – $2,700
2 bedroom
$2,200 – $3,600
3 bedroom
$2,900 – $4,200

Source: Zumper

Rentals available in Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington

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Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington Schools & Education

Top Public Schools

Gunston Middle School

⭐ 7/10 Arlington County Public Schools
2700 S Lang St, Arlington, VA 22206
🧭 ~1.2 mi (Arlington side)

Wakefield High School

⭐ 7/10 Arlington County Public Schools
1325 S Dinwiddie St, Arlington, VA 22206
🧭 ~1.0 mi (Arlington side)

Top Private Schools

Blessed Sacrament School

⭐ Not rated School website
1427 W Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302
🧭 ~1.0–1.5 mi (Alexandria side)

Source: Arlington County Public Schools / Alexandria City Public Schools

Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington Safety & Crime Overview

Safe

Overall this corridor (22206 / 22302) experiences crime levels in line with or slightly below the broader Arlington and Alexandria averages for urban neighborhoods. Most incidents are property crimes (thefts, vehicle break‑ins) and occasional disorder near commercial strips; violent crime is relatively rare. Residents cite the busiest spots for incidents as the Shirlington Village commercial strip and I‑395 access points. Standard precautions (locking vehicles, well‑lit routes at night) are recommended.

Source: Arlington County Police daily reports

Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington Walkability, Transit & Bike Scores

Walk Score ~61
Somewhat Walkable — many errands can be accomplished on foot (neighborhood average).
Transit Score ~58
Good Transit — multiple ART and Metrobus connections; Shirlington Transit Center is a local hub.
Bike Score ~72
Very Bikeable to Bikeable — strong multi‑use trails (Four Mile Run/W&OD) and bike lanes nearby.
Transit: ~30–45 min to Downtown Washington, D.C.; Drive: ~10–20 min to the Pentagon; Bike: 20–35 min to nearby activity centers
Typical travel times depend on route and time of day; ART/Metrobus connections link to Pentagon, Crystal City/National Landing and Metrorail for downtown trips.

Source: WalkScore (Fairlington - Shirlington pages)

Shirlington / Fairlington, Arlington Summary

Overview

Shirlington and Fairlington make a convenient, transit‑friendly pocket of south Arlington and north Alexandria. Shirlington Village is the neighborhood’s cultural and retail heart — Signature Theatre, an enclosed bus transit center and a walkable dining/retail street — while Fairlington is celebrated for its red‑brick, garden‑apartment clusters and tree‑lined residential streets. The neighborhood is popular with commuters (Pentagon, National Landing) and renters seeking a balance of walkable retail, regional trail access and relatively quick DC transit connections.

Key Features

  • Arts & Dining: Signature Theatre, a lively restaurant corridor and an independent cinema anchor Shirlington’s Main Street.
  • Trails & Outdoors: Four Mile Run / W&OD trail access for jogging and commuting by bike.
  • Historic Housing: Fairlington’s Colonial Revival garden apartment complexes are architecturally distinctive and well‑maintained.
  • Transit Hub: The Shirlington Transit Center is a local ART/Metrobus transfer node linking to Pentagon and Crystal City.

Housing Snapshot

  • Mix of brick garden apartments, mid‑century townhomes and newer condos
  • Rents are mid‑to‑upper‑range for the region (1BR median ~ $2.2k–$2.4k; 2BR commonly $2.8k–$3.3k)
  • Limited single‑family housing inside the neighborhood; most housing is multi‑family or townhome style