Living in Arlington, FL

Arlington at a glance

The Market Right Now

Core Arlington's median sale was $211,000 for Jul 1–Sep 30, 2026 (rolling), down 12% vs Q2 2026, with a median list of $221,000 and about 3.9 months of inventory (AgentPronto/Redfin). EffectiveAgents' MLS snapshot agrees: $211K, 39 days on market, 97.4% sale-to-list, Sep 2026. An earlier Q1 2026 guide (NEFAR/MLS) showed $245,000 sold, 52 days, $155/sqft, up 1.4% year over year; Homes.com's trailing 12 months showed $225,000, down 2% year over year, $173/sqft, with a single-family median of $240,000.

Greater Arlington is a higher market: a $330,000 median listing, and ZIP 32225 at $399,100 listing / $224 per sq ft (Realtor.com, Sep 2026). Entry 3-bed/2-bath ranches run $215K–$275K and move in 40–70 days; river-bluff and riverfront enclaves run $450K–$700K, with true riverfront at $900K+. Each Arlington sub-area carries its own median price.

Resale Reality

Affordability vs the citywide ~$300K–$305K median is the headline — Saltwater Realtor calls Arlington “one of the most affordable established neighborhoods inside Duval.” Jacksonville University (~4,247 students, a 240–260-acre riverfront campus, NCAA Division I) stabilizes the surrounding market.

The Nexus at Regency is a plan under demolition, not a finished amenity. The mall interior closed June 1, 2025, and East Mall demolition began in Sep 2026, running into 2027 — do not price it in as a completed destination.

Cautions for buyers: pre-1980 systems are the inspection list — galvanized or polybutylene plumbing, Federal Pacific/Zinsco panels, cast-iron drains, and asbestos in popcorn ceilings. Insurance on pre-1980 homes regularly runs $4,000–$8,000/yr (realtor-guide range, not a quote). Flood zones run AE/shaded-X along the St. Johns River, Arlington River, Pottsburg Creek, and Trout River — $1,500–$4,000+/yr ESTIMATE on lower-elevation parcels; verify per address.

Schools

Arlington is zoned to Duval County Public Schools (district grade A, FL DOE 2026). Verify your zone on the DCPS map — assignments vary by address:

• Holiday Hill Elementary — 6/10
• Lone Star Elementary — 5/10 (zoned in parts)
• Fort Caroline Middle — 4/10 (some aggregators show 2–3/10; vintage varies)
• Arlington Middle — 2–3/10 (zoned in parts)
• Terry Parker High — 2–4/10 by source (Redfin assigned-school listings showed 2/10, Oct 2026; a local guide/Homes.com showed 4/10; Niche C, 85% graduation rate)
• Sandalwood High — 5–6/10 by source (Niche B)

Many Arlington families also apply to DCPS magnets — Stanton, Paxon, and Douglas Anderson are the common choices. Visit the official district site: Duval County Public Schools.

Shopping, Food & Daily Life

• Publix Super Market at Publix Plaza (9100 Merrill Rd) — 4.6★ (34 reviews, as seen in search listings, Oct 27, 2026)
• University Diner (5959 Merrill Rd, by JU, since 1999) — 4.7★ (22 reviews, as seen)
• Tabouleh Cafe (7645 Merrill Rd) — 4.7★ (161 reviews, as seen)

Daily-life anchors: Tree Hill Nature Center, Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, Ed Austin Regional Park, and Reddie Point Preserve. Regency Square is closed and under demolition — no rating; Dillard's Clearance Center and Impact Church remain on site.

Cost of Living

AreaVibes puts Arlington's cost-of-living index at 97 (US = 100; housing 69 — 31% below national; 2026 modeled data, directional only), and states that the cost of living is 11% lower than the Jacksonville average. ZIP 32211's Sperling's index is 95.1 vs Jacksonville's 99.5. The affordability story is a house-price story — daily costs track the city, while the mortgage payment is what runs lower. Run the numbers for an Arlington purchase with the affordability calculator.

Who Lives Here

Census Reporter (ACS) medians by ZIP: 32211 — $57,021 household income, median age 33.7; 32277 — $61,554, age 31.8; 32246 — $80,963, age 34.5; 32225 — $90,559, age 39.6. Households run 2.5–2.6 persons, with mean commutes of 22–26 minutes. ZIP 32246 shows 10% veteran status on its Census Reporter profile. The mix runs younger in the core ZIPs and more established toward East Arlington.

Safety

CrimeGrade's core-boundary grade is C+ overall: violent D− at 8.800/1,000 (14th percentile nationally), property C at 23.87/1,000, overall 37.46/1,000 (48th percentile). Variance inside Arlington is the story: CrimeGrade's own nearby table grades Sandalwood A+, Arlington Hills A+, Alderman Park A, Arlingwood A, and Lake Lucina A. AreaVibes states it differently — crime rates 45% higher than the Jacksonville average. We show both, named, and always check address-level Jacksonville Sheriff's Office data before you judge a block.

Military, First Responders & Police

Arlington is Mayport-leaning value. From Arlington Expressway addresses (Apartments.com): NS Mayport runs 12.6–13.9 miles / 23–25 minutes, and NAS Jacksonville 17.6–18.1 miles / 32–34 minutes — guide label ESTIMATE ~23–26 minutes to Mayport, ~31–38 minutes to NAS Jax by sub-area and traffic. At core prices (~$211K–$245K), Arlington is one of the closest affordable established single-family areas to Mayport. Jacksonville University runs a dedicated Veterans and Military Resource Center in the neighborhood. No percentages beyond proximity. For PCS moves, see the PCS relocation guide and the Jacksonville mortgage broker page. Check what your allowance will cover with the Military BAH Calculator.

Homes & Housing Stock

The dominant stock is the 1950s–1970s concrete-block (CMU) ranch: 1,200–2,000 sq ft, 3-bed/2-bath, slab-on-grade, carport (often enclosed), quarter-acre lots. Median year built is 1954 for the core (Homes.com) vs 1973 for ZIP 32211 (ACS) — a boundary difference. Expect split-level pockets, 1960s contemporary homes on the river bluffs, thin 1990s–2000s infill, and riverfront teardown/custom builds at $700K–$1.5M. Older subdivisions are commonly marketed No HOA / No CDD — verify per subdivision.