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Living in Aurora Highlands

A historic-district neighborhood of Colonial Revival and other early twentieth-century houses in South Arlington, set on gridded streets just south of Pentagon City and west of Crystal City, close to two Metro stations and National Landing’s offices.
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Living in Aurora Highlands

An overview of Aurora Highlands, its early twentieth-century houses, and its position beside National Landing.
Aurora Highlands is a residential neighborhood in South Arlington, immediately south of Pentagon City and west of Crystal City. It grew from three subdivisions platted between 1896 and 1930, and its historic district, roughly 16th Street South to 26th Street South between South Eads and South Joyce streets, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area on this page is approximate. It is drawn around recent sales labeled Aurora Hills and Addison Heights, and it reaches south and west of the historic district to take in some houses labeled Arlington Ridge and Oakcrest. This is a detached-house neighborhood. Fifty-nine of 62 sales in the past 12 months were detached, and the other three were semi-detached twins. Colonial Revival is the predominant style. Most houses were built between the early 1920s and the late 1950s, many of them on speculation by builders, and a small number of recent replacements have joined them. The detached median was about $1,200,000, with sales from $700,000 to roughly $2,740,000. Daily errands point north and east. Pentagon City’s grocery stores, shopping mall and big-box retailers sit just north of the neighborhood, and Crystal City’s restaurants and shops are to the east. A row of restaurants on 23rd Street South, just east of South Eads Street, sits at the eastern edge. Virginia Highlands Park on South Hayes Street, at the northern edge toward Pentagon City, has lighted ball fields, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, a sprayground and a dog run. Pentagon City and Crystal City stations, both on the Blue and Yellow lines, are just outside the area, and Crystal City also has a Virginia Railway Express stop. Richmond Highway (Route 1), Interstate 395 and the George Washington Parkway are minutes away by car, and Reagan National Airport is close. The trade-off is commuter parking pressure from the office districts nearby; Arlington’s residential permit parking program began here in the 1970s for that reason. I’m glad to show you how prices shift from the blocks nearest Metro to the streets farther south and west.

Key Highlights:

  • Housing character — Detached houses, mostly Colonial Revival, built from the early 1920s through the late 1950s, with a few twins and recent rebuilds
  • Green space — Virginia Highlands Park at the northern edge, plus two small landscaped parks within the historic district
  • Daily essentials — Pentagon City grocery stores and retail to the north; restaurants on 23rd Street South and in Crystal City
  • Transit — Pentagon City and Crystal City stations (Blue and Yellow lines) just outside the area; Virginia Railway Express at Crystal City
  • Schools — Arlington Public Schools; confirm assigned schools by address with the district's boundary locator
  • Market character — 62 closed sales in 12 months at a median near $1,187,500, nearly all detached houses
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Aurora Highlands Real Estate FAQs

Insight into the nuances of buying and selling in one of the country’s most complex urban markets.

Aurora Highlands is known for detached houses from the early and middle twentieth century on a walkable grid next to Pentagon City and Crystal City. Its historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is in South Arlington, just south of Pentagon City and west of Crystal City. The historic core runs from 16th Street South to 26th Street South between South Eads and South Joyce streets.
Pentagon City and Crystal City stations, both on the Blue and Yellow lines, are just outside the neighborhood to the north and east. Crystal City also has a Virginia Railway Express station.
Almost entirely detached houses, most built between the 1920s and the 1950s, with Colonial Revival the most common style. A small number of semi-detached twins and recent new builds round out the mix.
The median sale price over the past 12 months was about $1,187,500 across 62 sales. Prices ranged from $665,000 for a twin to roughly $2,740,000 for a detached house.
The median time on market was 14 days. Twenty-eight of 62 sales closed at or above the original list price, and sellers received about 97 percent of it overall.
Pentagon City, just north, has grocery stores, a shopping mall and large retailers. Restaurants line 23rd Street South just east of South Eads Street and continue into Crystal City.
The neighborhood is served by Arlington Public Schools. School assignments depend on the address, so confirm them with the district’s boundary locator.

Location & Neighborhood

South Arlington, just south of Pentagon City and west of Crystal City.

The historic core of Aurora Highlands is bounded by 16th Street South on the north, South Eads Street on the east, 26th Street South on the south and South Joyce Street on the west. The area on this page is approximate and somewhat larger. It is drawn around recent sales labeled Aurora Hills and Addison Heights, so it extends south of 26th Street South and west toward Arlington Ridge Road, taking in some houses labeled Arlington Ridge and Oakcrest. Residential blocks fill the grid; 23rd Street South holds a row of restaurants just east of South Eads Street, and Pentagon City’s retail begins just to the north.

Minutes from National Landing

Pentagon City station is just north of the neighborhood and Crystal City station just east, both on the Blue and Yellow lines. Crystal City adds Virginia Railway Express service. By car, Richmond Highway, Interstate 395 and the George Washington Parkway are all a few minutes away, and Reagan National Airport is a short drive or Metro ride.

Grocery stores, pharmacies and large retailers are concentrated in Pentagon City, within walking distance of the northern blocks. Restaurants line 23rd Street South just east of South Eads Street, and Crystal City’s shops and offices lie beyond. Virginia Highlands Park, at the northern edge, provides ball fields, courts, a sprayground and a dog run.

Neighboring Area:

  • Pentagon City — north, around Pentagon City station
  • Crystal City — east, along Richmond Highway
  • Arlington Ridge — west and south, along Arlington Ridge Road
  • Potomac Yard — southeast, toward the Alexandria line
  • Reagan National Airport — east, beyond Crystal City

A Day In The Life - Snapshot

The quick details buyers ask about most.

Metro Access
Pentagon City and Crystal City stations on the Blue and Yellow lines are just outside the area. Northern and eastern blocks are a short walk away; streets farther south and west take longer.
Walkability
A sidewalk-lined grid makes Pentagon City’s stores and the 23rd Street South restaurants reachable on foot from much of the neighborhood. Streets toward Arlington Ridge Road are farther from both.
Typical Home Types
Detached houses, mostly Colonial Revival, built mainly from the early 1920s through the late 1950s, with a few semi-detached twins and recently built replacement houses.
Parking
Many houses have driveways, and some have garages. Arlington’s residential permit parking program started here in the 1970s in response to Crystal City commuters, so check the zone on each block.
Vibe
Low-rise blocks of older houses and mature trees set against the towers of Pentagon City and Crystal City, quiet in the interior and busier toward the commercial edges.
Best For
Buyers who want a detached house with a yard near two Metro stations and National Landing offices, and who accept older housing stock and commuter parking pressure.

Aurora Highlands Market Snapshot

A high-level look at current pricing, demand, and sales activity in the Aurora Highlands real estate market.
$1,187,500

Median Sales Price

$537

Median Price Per Sq Ft

14

Median Days On Market

62

Annual Closed Sales

-1.9%

YoY Median Price Change

Aurora Highlands is almost entirely a detached-house market, with a few semi-detached twins and no condominium sales inside the area on this page. The snapshot covers every closed sale inside the mapped area over the trailing twelve months through September 2026 — 59 detached houses and 3 townhouses and semi-detached homes. Price per square foot uses interior living area.

Across all home types the median sale was $1,187,500 at about $537 per square foot, with a median of 14 days on market and sales averaging 97% of original list price. The median fell about 2% from the prior twelve months. Within segments, the detached median held near $1.2 million.

Market data reflects recent 12-month activity. Individual buildings may vary.

For Sale

Homes for Sale in Aurora Highlands

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Recently Sold

Recently Sold in Aurora Highlands

Closed sales from the past 12 months — the comps that set today’s pricing.

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In-Depth Market Analysis

Aurora Highlands Market Insights

How pricing trends, absorption rates, and inventory levels are shaping buying and selling

Inventory & Absorption

Sixty-two sales closed in the past 12 months, up from 46 the year before. Fifty-nine were detached houses and three were semi-detached twins. The median time on market was 14 days, compared with 12 the prior year. No condominiums sold inside this area; condominium buildings are concentrated in neighboring Pentagon City and Crystal City.

Pricing Dynamics

The median sale price was about $1,187,500, roughly 2 percent below the prior year’s $1,210,000. Price per square foot moved the other way, rising to $537 from $486, which suggests the homes that sold this year were smaller on average. Sales ranged from $665,000 to about $2,740,000, and sellers received about 97 percent of the original list price.

Buyer Profile

Twenty-seven of 59 detached sales closed at or above the original list price, and detached houses sold in a median of 13 days. The three twins sold between $665,000 and $840,000 and offer the lowest entry point here. Houses built from the 1920s through the 1950s made up most of the volume, and the top detached sale reached about $2,740,000.

Strategic Outlook

Sales volume rose while the median held close to last year’s level, a sign of steady demand for detached houses near Metro and National Landing. Rising price per square foot points to continued competition for well-kept houses. Listings that need significant work may take longer than the two-week median.

Market Position Overview:

Inventory Level: Balanced with selective competition

Negotiation Environment: Moderate flexibility

Typical Days on Market: 25-45 (well-priced units)

Rental Demand: Consistent due to transit proximity

Long- Term Outlook: Stable, walkability-driven value

Aurora Highlands Housing & Architecture

Aurora Highlands is a neighborhood of detached houses built across several decades, from early subdivisions to recent replacement homes.
Colonial Revival Houses
Colonial Revival is the predominant style in the historic district. These houses, mostly brick and two stories, date largely from the 1920s through the 1940s and make up a large share of what comes to market each year.
Speculatively Built Houses
Many houses in the historic district were built on speculation by builders rather than as custom commissions, which gives blocks a consistent scale. Some have since been enlarged, so similar-looking houses can differ widely in size.
Mid-Century Houses
Twelve homes sold in the past 12 months were built in the 1950s and four in the 1960s. Building in the historic district continued into the late 1950s, so these houses sit among the older ones rather than in a separate section.
Semi-Detached Twins
The historic district includes some twin dwellings and duplexes. Three semi-detached houses sold in the past 12 months, between $665,000 and $840,000, the lowest prices recorded in the area during that period.
Recent Replacement Houses
A small number of older houses have been replaced with larger new ones. Four homes sold in the past 12 months were built in the 2020s and four in the 2000s, and the top detached sale reached about $2,740,000.
The Historic District
The National Register district covers about 129 acres between 16th and 26th streets South and includes more than 600 contributing buildings. The oldest is a Greek Revival house from about 1870 tied to a former farm.

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