Arlington Staten Island: Your Complete 2025 Neighborhood Guide

Discover Arlington—one of Staten Island’s most affordable North Shore communities with waterfront character and genuine diversity

Expert Analysis by Robert DeFalco Realty | Updated October 2025
📞 Call us today: (718) 987-7900

Arlington Staten Island offers homebuyers an authentic Staten Island experience at prices significantly below the borough average. With over 30 years serving Staten Island families, Robert DeFalco Realty provides this comprehensive guide to help you understand whether Arlington matches your homeownership goals.

This historic North Shore neighborhood combines waterfront views along Kill Van Kull, multicultural diversity, and genuine community character with accessible Manhattan transportation. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a family seeking affordable Staten Island homes for sale, Arlington presents compelling opportunities in today’s competitive market.

🏠 Browse current homes for sale in Arlington Staten Island | Updated daily

What Makes Arlington Staten Island Unique?

Arlington is a densely populated residential neighborhood on Staten Island’s North Shore, west of Harbor Road and north of the former North Shore Branch railroad. The community is part of the larger Mariners Harbor area, bordered by the Kill Van Kull waterway to the north and Arthur Kill to the west.

Named After Arlington National Cemetery

The neighborhood carries profound military heritage. Civil War veteran Moses Henry Leman named Arlington in honor of Arlington National Cemetery, reflecting deep patriotic roots that still resonate today. Unlike newer developments, Arlington retains authentic working-class character with homes built primarily 1940-1999.

Walking through Arlington, you’ll notice mature trees, well-maintained older homes with actual yards, and neighbors who know each other—increasingly rare in NYC. The neighborhood’s stability is remarkable: 98% of Arlington residents who lived here five years ago still live here today, ranking higher than 98% of U.S. neighborhoods.

Location and Boundaries

Arlington sits in zip code 10303, shared with Mariners Harbor and Port Richmond. The Staten Island Expressway (I-278) forms the southern boundary, while the waterfront provides northern and western borders.

This North Shore location offers distinct advantages: waterfront access with cooling breezes, quick Staten Island Ferry access compared to South Shore neighborhoods, and proximity to I-278 for highway travel to New Jersey and Brooklyn.

For comparison with nearby neighborhoods, explore our Park Hill Staten Island guide, another diverse North Shore community with different character.

Arlington Real Estate Market Analysis

Arlington presents one of Staten Island’s most accessible homeownership entry points. Our brokerage has sold 127 Arlington properties over the past 3 years, giving us unmatched market insight.

Current Pricing (2025)

Median home values:

Overall Arlington median: $330,000-$511,000
Entry-level condos/co-ops: $280,000-$450,000
Single-family homes: $480,000-$750,000
Two-family properties: $650,000-$850,000

Comparative value:

54% below Manhattan median ($1.5M)
39% below Brooklyn median ($842K)
21% below Staten Island median ($650K)

Arlington offers genuine NYC homeownership at prices working families can afford with conventional financing.

Property Types

Arlington Terrace Apartments (Holland Avenue): Landmark residential development offering condos/co-ops ($280K-$425K for 1-2BR). Ideal for first-time buyers, seniors, and investors.

Single-Family Detached Homes: Traditional 2-3 bedroom homes with private yards, driveway parking, built 1940-1970. Solid construction may need updates. Priced $480K-$750K.

Two-Family Properties: Excellent investment opportunities. Typical configuration: 3BR owner unit + 2BR rental generating $1,400-$1,900/month. Rental income offsets 35-45% of mortgage. Priced $650K-$850K.

Attached/Semi-Attached Homes: Shared walls, private entrances, small yards, 2-3 bedrooms. Lower taxes than detached. Priced $425K-$575K.

Market Dynamics

Vacancy rate: 5.1% (lower than 64.4% of American neighborhoods), indicating healthy demand. Well-priced, updated homes often receive multiple offers within days.

Days on market:

Updated move-in ready: 15-25 days
Average condition: 30-45 days
Fixer-uppers: 45-75 days

Most Arlington residences are renter-occupied, creating interesting buyer dynamics. High rental demand (average $2,170/month) means less buyer competition but strong investment potential.

Rent vs. Buy

For a 2BR comparison:

Renting: $2,200/month + utilities = $2,385/month with no equity building

Buying $500K home:

5% down FHA: $25,000
Monthly PITI: ~$3,478 after tax deductions
Building ~$900/month equity from day one
Break-even vs. renting: typically 4-5 years

For families planning 5+ year stays, ownership makes strong financial sense.

📞 Want personalized rent vs. buy analysis? Call our specialists at (718) 370-3200

Schools and Education

Education is a top priority for families. We provide honest assessments based on parent feedback, state data, and extensive neighborhood experience.

Public Schools

P.S. 44 Thomas C. Brown (Elementary): Serves K-5 with ~650 students, 14:1 ratio. Active PTA, caring teachers, meets state standards.

I.S. 72 Rocco Laurie (Middle): Grades 6-8 in Heartland Village, serves broader North/Mid-Island area. School bus service provided.

Port Richmond High School: Comprehensive 9-12 curriculum, AP courses, athletics, vocational programs. 78% graduation rate (below SI average).

Alternatives: P.S. 22, I.S. 51, Staten Island Technical High School (selective specialized school).

Private Options

Catholic schools (St. Charles, Moore Catholic, Monsignor Farrell) charge $5,500-$10,500/year. Staten Island Academy offers premier education at $32,000-$38,000/year.

College of Staten Island (CUNY) provides affordable local higher education ($7,070/year NYC residents).

Honest Assessment

Arlington’s zoned schools don’t rank among Staten Island’s highest-performing. Wealthier neighborhoods like Todt Hill and Great Kills have higher test scores and graduation rates.

However, motivated students with involved parents succeed anywhere. The affordability trade-off is real: buying in Todt Hill costs $1.1M+ vs. $500K in Arlington—that $600K difference could fund private school or college for multiple children.

Bottom line: If top-tier public schools are non-negotiable, Arlington may not fit. If you’ll supplement with involvement or private schooling, Arlington’s affordability enables these investments while owning your home.

Transportation and Commuting

Transportation accessibility significantly impacts quality of life. Arlington provides multiple options, but be realistic: commuting to Manhattan takes time.

Public Transit

Local Buses:

S40, S46, S48: Service to St. George Ferry every 7-15 minutes (rush hours). Travel time: 15-25 minutes.
S90, S96, S98: Rush-hour limited-stop service (faster)

Express Buses:

SIM33, SIM34: Direct Manhattan service (50-70 minutes to Midtown/Financial District). Fare: $7 one-way.

Commuting Reality

Total door-to-door times (Arlington to Manhattan):

Via express bus: 65-110 minutes each way
Via local bus + ferry: 65-115 minutes each way

Statistical reality: 29.7% of Arlington residents spend over 60 minutes commuting each way—among the longer commutes in America.

Monthly commuting costs:

Express bus: ~$232/person
Local bus + ferry + subway: $132/person

Car Ownership

57.9% of Arlington households don’t own cars (higher than 99.1% of U.S. neighborhoods). Public transit adequately serves Manhattan commuters, but groceries, errands, and family activities become more challenging without vehicles.

Many families manage with one shared car for necessities while commuting via transit.

Highway access: I-278 runs along Arlington’s southern border. To Goethals Bridge (NJ): 8-12 minutes; to Verrazano Bridge (Brooklyn): 15-20 minutes.

💼 Concerned about your commute? We’ll map exact travel times to your workplace: (718) 987-7900

Things to Do and Community Life

While primarily residential, Arlington’s location provides access to diverse recreation and dining across Staten Island’s North Shore.

Parks and Recreation

Kill Van Kull Waterfront: Arlington’s northern boundary offers stunning sunset water views, cooling breezes 5-10°F cooler than inland areas, and connection to maritime heritage.

Graniteville Quarry Park (2.1 miles): 24-acre former quarry with rock climbing, hiking trails, scenic overlooks. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

Staten Island Greenbelt (3.5 miles): 2,800 acres with 35+ miles of hiking trails—genuine wilderness within NYC.

Silver Lake Park (2.3 miles): 18-hole golf course, lake walking paths, playgrounds, picnic areas.

Dining and Shopping

Arlington has limited immediate walkability for restaurants and retail. Nearby Port Richmond (1-1.5 miles), Richmond Avenue corridor (1.5-2.5 miles), and Forest Avenue (0.5-1.5 miles) offer diverse dining, supermarkets, pharmacies, and services requiring car or bus.

Reality check: Arlington is not a walkable neighborhood for errands. Serious shopping requires car, bus trip, or car service—unlike Brooklyn/Manhattan where everything’s within blocks.

Cultural Attractions

Historic Arlington Station served the neighborhood via Staten Island Railway until March 31, 1953—important piece of local heritage.

Nearby attractions:

Snug Harbor Cultural Center (2.8 miles): Museums, gardens, concerts
National Lighthouse Museum (St. George): Maritime history
Staten Island FerryHawks baseball stadium

Nightlife Reality

Staten Island offers limited nightlife compared to Brooklyn/Manhattan. Most Arlington residents seeking active nightlife travel to other boroughs via the 25-minute free ferry (last ferry from Manhattan ~11:30 PM-1:00 AM).

Demographics and Community Character

Approximately 5,087 people call Arlington home, creating manageable neighborhood scale where community connections develop naturally.

Diversity

Arlington exhibits remarkable diversity:

Puerto Rican: 33.7%
Sub-Saharan African: 11.5%
South American: 9.8%
Jamaican: 6.2%
Asian: 3.0%
Foreign-born residents: 13.4%

This manifests through multilingual street conversations, diverse cuisine, cultural celebrations, and multicultural schools. For families seeking authentic diversity rather than insular homogeneity, Arlington delivers.

Economic Profile

Median household income: $36,577 (2009 data; ~$45K-55K adjusted to 2025)

25.7% of population lives below poverty line; 33.1% of children below poverty line. These statistics reflect real economic challenges but also explain Arlington’s affordability advantage.

Economic mix includes working professionals (teachers, nurses, tradespeople), small business owners, retirees, and struggling families.

Community Stability

98.0% of residents who lived here five years ago still live here—higher than 98% of U.S. neighborhoods. This extraordinary stability creates tight-knit bonds, familiar faces, mutual support networks, and genuine character that transient areas lack.

For families seeking lasting community connections rather than urban anonymity, Arlington’s stability represents enormous value.

Safety Assessment

Arlington presents nuanced safety picture requiring honest understanding.

Arlington has moderate safety levels—generally lower crime than densely populated NYC areas but higher than wealthier Staten Island neighborhoods.

Contributing safety factors:

Active bus routes and lit main streets
Tight-knit community recognizing outsiders
NYPD 120th Precinct patrols

Crime primarily involves property crime (car break-ins, package theft), quality-of-life issues (noise, parking), some substance-related incidents, and occasional assaults (mostly between acquaintances, not random).

Safety recommendations:

Lock cars and homes consistently
Install doorbell cameras
Be aware at night
Report suspicious activity
Know your neighbors

Bottom line: Arlington is reasonably safe for urban living with basic precautions. Not a suburban bubble with zero crime, but acceptable safety for families practicing awareness.

Pros and Cons: Balanced Assessment

Advantages

✅ Exceptional affordability: $330K-$511K median (21% below SI average, 54% below Manhattan)
✅ Multicultural diversity: Rich cultural experiences and global perspectives
✅ Waterfront location: Kill Van Kull views, cooling breezes, maritime heritage
✅ Community stability: 98% residents stay 5+ years (lasting bonds)
✅ Transit options: Car-free living feasible (saves $5K-10K/year)
✅ Established character: Solid construction, mature landscaping, authentic feel
✅ Investment potential: Two-family properties offset mortgage costs

Disadvantages

❌ Economic challenges: Higher poverty rates (25.7% overall, 33.1% children)
❌ Long commutes: 29.7% commute 60+ minutes each way
❌ Car ownership constraints: 57.9% carless creates errand challenges
❌ School performance: Below SI average, requiring parent supplementation
❌ Limited walkability: Few amenities within immediate walking distance
❌ Moderate crime: More property crime than wealthier neighborhoods
❌ Limited nightlife: Staten Island generally lacks Manhattan-style entertainment
❌ Older housing: Often needs electrical, plumbing, window updates

The Trade-Off

Arlington offers genuine NYC homeownership at accessible prices for families willing to accept longer commutes, adequate vs. excellent schools, and working-class character in exchange for affordability, equity building, and community roots.

For families prioritizing homeownership over perfect schools and minimal commutes, Arlington delivers exceptional value. For those requiring top schools and walkable retail, Arlington won’t satisfy—and you’ll pay $600K-$1M+ more elsewhere.

Buying Guide: What to Expect

Budget Ranges

$280K-$450K: 1-2BR condos/co-ops, attached rowhomes. Ideal for first-time buyers, young professionals, seniors, investors.

$450K-$650K: 2-3BR single-family detached homes, larger attached homes, smaller two-families. Typical features: 1,000-1,400 sq ft, private yard, 1-2 car driveway. For growing families seeking space.

$650K-$850K: Updated 3-4BR homes, two-family investment properties, larger lots. Features: 1,600-2,500 sq ft, updated systems, rental income potential $1,400-$1,900/month.

Working with Robert DeFalco Realty

As Staten Island’s #1 brokerage with 30+ years experience, we bring unmatched Arlington expertise:

Hyperlocal intelligence: 127 Arlington sales past 3 years (we know every block)
Pre-market access: See homes before public listing
Block-by-block knowledge: Safety, schools, flood zones vary by street
Negotiation expertise: Save $5K-$25K on average
Trusted network: Inspectors, contractors, lenders who know older homes

Real client story: “We were first-time buyers priced out of Brooklyn. Robert DeFalco Realty found us a 3BR home for $515K, negotiated $18K off after inspection, and connected us with contractors who updated electrical/plumbing for $12K. Been here 2 years and couldn’t be happier.” —Martinez Family, Arlington

📞 Ready to start your search? Call (718) 987-7900 or schedule consultation

Financing Strategies

FHA loans (3.5% down): Minimum credit 580; $17,500 down on $500K purchase. Popular with first-timers.

Conventional (5-20% down): Minimum credit 620-640; better rates than FHA.

Two-family financing: Rental income (75-100%) counts toward qualifying—significantly increases buying power.

Down payment assistance: NYC HomeFirst (up to $100K), Staten Island Foundation programs, SONYMA mortgages. We help navigate all available programs.

Arlington vs. Other Staten Island Neighborhoods

Arlington vs. Mariners Harbor

Highly similar—both North Shore, similar affordability ($330K-$550K), same schools, comparable transit. Mariners Harbor slightly more commercial; Arlington quieter/more residential. Price differential minimal (5-10%).

Arlington vs. Park Hill

Park Hill offers elevated terrain with better views, Liberian community, Wu-Tang cultural cache. Median $665K vs. Arlington’s $511K. Park Hill closer to ferry (shorter commutes). Arlington generally 20-25% more affordable.

Arlington vs. Port Richmond

Port Richmond has much more walkable retail corridor, better dining/shopping within walking distance. Median 10-15% higher. Arlington quieter, more purely residential.

Arlington vs. Great Kills (South Shore)

Great Kills median ~$750K (45% more expensive). South Shore beach access, marina, higher-performing schools, wealthier character. Longer ferry commute (adds 15-20 minutes). Arlington significantly more affordable and diverse.

Arlington vs. Todt Hill (Luxury)

Todt Hill median $1.2M-$2M (135-290% more expensive). Highest elevation, luxury estates, top schools, lowest crime, requires car. Completely different market—Todt Hill luxury tier, Arlington affordable entry point.

🗺️ Not sure which neighborhood fits? Browse all Staten Island homes or call (718) 987-7900 for personalized matching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlington Staten Island safe?
Moderate safety—lower crime than dense NYC areas but higher than wealthy SI neighborhoods. Practice basic urban awareness. Most crime is property-related and preventable.

What is the zip code?
10303, shared with Mariners Harbor and Port Richmond.

How much do homes cost?
Median $330K-$511K depending on type. Entry condos $280K-$350K; single-family $480K-$750K; two-family $650K-$850K.

What schools serve Arlington?
P.S. 44 (elementary), I.S. 72 (middle), Port Richmond HS (high school). Alternatives include P.S. 22, I.S. 51, private/parochial schools.

How do I commute to Manhattan?
Express buses (SIM33/34) provide direct service 50-70 minutes. Or local buses to St. George Ferry (free, 25 minutes) then subway. Total: 65-115 minutes door-to-door.

Is Arlington walkable?
Moderate walkability for residential areas with sidewalks. However, most errands require bus or car—not Brooklyn-level walkability.

What’s Arlington known for?
Named after Arlington National Cemetery by Civil War veteran; waterfront location; most affordable SI entry point; diverse community; Arlington Terrace Apartments landmark.

Can I live without a car?
Yes—57.9% of households don’t own cars. Transit adequately serves Manhattan commuters, but errands become more challenging. Many manage with one shared car.

Are there good restaurants?
Limited within immediate neighborhood. Nearby Port Richmond, Forest Avenue, Richmond Avenue offer diverse dining within 1-2 miles (require car/bus).

How does Arlington compare to Brooklyn?
Arlington offers significantly lower prices ($330K-$511K vs. $800K-$1.5M+) but requires longer commutes. More space (yards, parking) but less walkability and cultural amenities.

Is Arlington Right for You?

Arlington Works Best For:

✅ First-time homebuyers seeking accessible NYC entry
✅ Value-conscious families prioritizing ownership over perfect schools
✅ Diverse families appreciating multicultural environments
✅ Commuters with flexibility for 60-90 minute commutes
✅ Investors seeking rental income properties
✅ Families valuing community bonds over transient urban living
✅ Buyers willing to renovate older homes
✅ Car-light households comfortable using transit

May Not Suit:

❌ Buyers requiring top-tier schools as primary factor
❌ Individuals unable to manage long commutes
❌ Families needing walkable amenities
❌ Buyers seeking luxury move-in ready construction
❌ Those requiring absolute safety and suburban insulation
❌ Active nightlife seekers

The Arlington value proposition: Genuine NYC homeownership at working-class prices for families willing to accept trade-offs. In 10-15 years, even Arlington may price out working-class buyers as gentrification spreads.

The opportunity exists now.

Start Your Arlington Home Search

Next Steps:

📞 Call (718) 987-7900 — Speak with Arlington specialist
💻 Schedule Consultation — Free buyer consultation
🏘️ Browse Arlington Listings — Current available homes
📖 Explore More Neighborhoods — Compare SI options

Why Robert DeFalco Realty?

✓ Staten Island’s #1 firm for 30+ years
✓ 10,000+ families helped
✓ 127 Arlington transactions past 3 years
✓ 400+ experienced agents
✓ 5 Staten Island locations
✓ 98% on-time closing rate

Robert DeFalco Realty
Staten Island’s Most Trusted Real Estate Firm Since 1987
1122 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310
Phone: (718) 987-7900
www.defalcorealty.com

Your Arlington home is waiting. Let’s find it together.

Expert analysis by Robert DeFalco Realty’s Arlington specialists. Data current October 2025. Property values and market conditions subject to change. This guide is informational only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.