Health Profile of Arlington, Virginia
Arlington Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A+
Arlington Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Arlington | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.8 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 5.3% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 8.0% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Arlington is 81.8 years, about 4.6 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3 years. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, lower than the Virginia average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 8.0% of residents, lower than the Virginia average of 16.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
64,294 residents in Arlington are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 3,296 1,250 men · 2,046 women
- 75–84 6,931 2,940 men · 3,992 women
- 65–74 14,820 7,152 men · 7,668 women
- 50–64 39,247 20,298 men · 18,949 women
Younger residents
38,686 residents in Arlington are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 10,484 5,353 boys · 5,131 girls
- 7–12 11,298 5,930 boys · 5,368 girls
- 3–7 9,545 4,961 boys · 4,584 girls
- 0–3 7,360 3,731 boys · 3,628 girls
About 5,036 residents in Arlington (2.1% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.8 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Arlington | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 6.4% | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 4.5% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.2% | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 27.1% | 36.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Arlington is about 52% lower than in Virginia. The rate of diabetes in Arlington is about 47% lower than in Virginia. The rate of cancer in Arlington is about 33% lower than in Virginia.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Arlington | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 9.5% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 20.1% | 15.2% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 13.7% | 24.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Arlington is about 50% lower than in Virginia. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Arlington is about 45% lower than in Virginia. The rate of binge drinking in Arlington is about 32% higher than in Virginia.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 184,057 cigarettes a day, 5.5 million a month, or 67.2 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 2.0 million minutes a day and 739.0 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Arlington is 81.8 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.05 lifetimes a day, or 17 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Arlington | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.58 | 6.12 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.6 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Arlington is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Arlington, VA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Arlington, VA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA | 236,144 | 81.8 yrs #2/3 | 5.3% #1/3 | 27.1% #2/3 |
| Bailey's Crossroads, VA | 24,625 | 82.0 yrs | 19.0% | 27.7% |
| Alexandria, VA | 156,972 | 81.3 yrs | 8.8% | 26.9% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Arlington, Virginia has an overall health index grade of A+, making it far better than Virginia, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Arlington, Virginia.
What is the health grade for Arlington, Virginia?
Arlington, Virginia has a Map AI Health Index grade of A+, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A+ grade means residents are among the healthiest and longest-living in the country.
What is the life expectancy in Arlington, Virginia?
People in Arlington, Virginia can expect to live 81.8 years on average, 4.6 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3.
What percentage of Arlington, Virginia residents are uninsured?
5.3% of residents in Arlington, Virginia have no health insurance, about 1 in 19 people, 1.6 points below the Virginia rate of 6.9%.
How common is obesity in Arlington, Virginia?
27.1% of adults in Arlington, Virginia are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 9.3 points below the Virginia rate of 36.3%.
What is the biggest health concern in Arlington, Virginia?
Compared with Virginia as a whole, binge drinking stands out most: the adult rate here is 20.1%, about 32% higher than the Virginia rate of 15.2%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Arlington, Virginia go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 184,057 cigarettes a day, 5.5 million a month, or 67.2 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 2.0 million minutes a day and 739.0 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Arlington is 81.8 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.05 lifetimes a day, or 17 lifetimes a year.
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