Moving To Arlington, TX — What Is Life Like In The American Dream City?

October 17, 2023 Reading Time: 6 minutes
Home » Moving » Moving Guides
Mirela Mohan
Written by
Mirela Mohan

Sitting midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is a principal city in the Mid-Cities region of northern Texas. The city enjoys a strong job market, being home to aerospace and defense industries as as well playing headquarters to several large companies. Arlington also enjoys a fabulous location, with proximity to natural wonders and large commercial, business and entertainment districts alike.

1. How big is Arlington, TX?

Covering just under 100 square miles, Arlington is the seventh most populous city in Texas and the 50th largest in the U.S. Located in Tarrant County, it’s the second largest city after neighboring Fort Worth. It serves as a principal city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which encompasses a total of 11 counties.

The city is divided geographically into five main divisions: central, north, east, south and west. Each of these larger regions is further comprised of residential neighborhoods, as well as business and commercial districts.

2. What is the weather like in Arlington, TX?

With a humid subtropical climate, the weather in Arlington is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. The city sees around 40 inches of rain each year, with May, June and October typically seeing the largest amounts. There’s very little snowfall over winter, and temperatures seldom drop below freezing.

Living in this type of climate comes with the challenges of keeping items that you don’t use regularly safe during the hot and humid summer and also during wintertime. Instead of keeping them in your garage or attic – which is usually non-air-conditioned – you can put them in storage. A climate-controlled unit in Arlington is ideal to avoid any damage incurred by high temperatures and humidity, especially when it comes to furniture, clothing and appliances – some of the most commonly placed items in storage.


3. What’s the economy like in Arlington, TX?

Historically, Arlington’s economy was driven by agriculture, with a particular focus on cotton ginning. Nowadays, major industries include aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, tech, healthcare, entertainment and education. Home to the original Six Flags amusement park, tourism also plays a role in the city’s economy.

Large companies can turn to self storage to help them better manage their office inventory and other equipment, which would otherwise take up office space. Moreover, other businesses can also see the benefits of renting self storage in Arlington. For instance, for brick-and-mortar businesses such as restaurants and retail stores, the extra space provided by a storage unit can be helpful in keeping extra stock, records and materials. Similarly, e-commerce businesses can also take advantage of the service to help ease their daily operations. Merchandise that’s waiting to be shipped can sit in a storage unit until it’s ready to be shipped. With a strong art community in the city, a storage unit can also make a great place to store supplies for budding artists.

4. Universities and college life in Arlington, TX

The largest university in the city is The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or UT Arlington). Home to more than 40,000 students, it’s also among the largest universities in Texas. Tarrant County College also has a campus in the city, while two private colleges also call the city home.

Students living in the city may find that their accommodation isn’t as spacious as they’re used to. However, renting a storage unit in Arlington is a great way to gain a little extra space. An ideal place to keep bulky seasonal items, it’s an affordable solution, especially if multiple students share a single unit. Additionally, a storage unit can come in handy at the end of the university year. Instead of moving all their belongings back home, students can put them in storage – which can help avoid them a costly and logistically challenging move. They can easily retrieve their belongings when the new term resumes in the fall.

5. Enjoying the great outdoors in Arlington, TX

Arlington has plenty of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts. Golf is a popular pastime, and the city is home to a number of stunning courses. Fishing is another common activity, with Lake Arlington being the ideal place for bass fishing. The lake is also popular among kayakers and canoeists. Back on dry land, there are several mountain biking and cycling trails to enjoy.

Path in River Legacy Park in Arlington, TX

Path in River Legacy Park in Arlington, TX

Self storage in Arlington is a good idea for outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for somewhere safe to keep their equipment. Many facilities even offer boat storage, ideal for those with their own kayaks or canoes. Meanwhile, a standard unit is perfect for everything from golf clubs and mountain bikes to fishing gear, saving valuable space at home.

6. Moving to Arlington, TX — can self storage help?

With an enviable location, people from across the country are finding Arlington an attractive choice when it comes to relocating. Compared to any other state, more people from California tend to move to Texas than any other state, and that trend seems to have intensified lately. Taking care of the moving process yourself can save money, but it comes with its own risks.

Whichever way you choose, renting self storage in Arlington is a great way to ease the moving process. By sending your belongings to storage, you’re able to take your time with finding your ideal home, without any of the pressure of matching schedules with the seller. Plus, when you move in, you can do so at your own pace.

7. Is Arlington, TX, a good place to live?

Moving to Arlington, TX, can be the right choice for you if you’re looking to get away from the big city buzz but still wish to have great career opportunities and plenty of entertainment options. Here are two common cities where people come from when moving to Arlington:

Moving to Arlington, TX, from Dallas, TX

You could swap out Dallas for Arlington if you’re looking for a quieter lifestyle that isn’t far from the excitement that the Big D provides. Besides, you’re likely to have your dollar stretch a lot farther here, especially if you’re planning on buying a home. You can also find employment in aerospace or defense, with the city offering exciting career opportunities.

Moving to Arlington, TX, from NYC

When you leave NYC for Arlington, TX, you’re not only escaping the colder East Coast winters, but you’re also moving to an altogether more affordable city. Homes cost considerably less, which means your housing budget will go farther and you’ll also get to enjoy the great access to outdoors and local entertainment. You’re also close to Dallas and Fort Worth if you miss the big-city amenities.

8. Finding your ideal home in Arlington

For the most part, single-family homes are slightly more common than multi-unit homes in Arlington. In south and west Arlington, single-family homes tend to dominate the market. Neighborhoods such as Lynn Creek Village are known for the beautiful brickwork, craftsman cottages and prairie houses.

Once you’ve found your ideal single family home in Arlington, you should consider using self storage to better manage your home space. If you’re working remotely, you can turn to the service to store items from a room you’re likely to turn into a home office. Moreover, a storage unit can come in handy if you’re remodeling your home. Items from the area under construction can sit in a storage unit for the duration of the project to avoid cluttering your home.

While single family home living might be right for some people, it isn’t the only housing option in Arlington. There are plenty of apartment buildings and townhouses throughout the city if you’d much rather live in this type of housing. In particular, central and north Arlington neighborhoods tend to feature more condos and apartments, with a mix of large, luxury blocks and smaller townhouses. Downtown Arlington makes the most of its residential areas, with several apartment buildings close to the commercial and entertainment districts.

If you’re planning on renting an apartment, you could also use self storage to help you gain more space for your belongings and enjoy your living space more at the same time. Instead of keeping seasonal items such as décor, bulky clothing and outdoor gear in your apartment, you can put it in a storage unit until you need it again. This way, your apartment stays uncluttered and breezy.

9. What are the self storage options in Arlington, TX?

With a healthy self storage inventory of close to 3.8M square feet of self storage space, the Arlington, TX, self storage market is well-equipped to help address your storage needs. To make your trip easier to your Arlington, TX, storage unit, look for a storage facility in your neighborhood.

Finding the closest facility is the first step in renting self storage. You also want to consider which unit size you’re going to need. For seasonal décor and light clothing, you could do with a 5’x5’ unit . For larger outdoor gear, a 5’x10’ unit could help you more. Upgrade to a 10’x10’ or 10’x15’ unit if you need to store furniture, appliances and other large items. For the contents of a three-bedroom home, a 10’x20’ unit is ideal, whereas for a larger home, you’ll need a 10’x30’ unit.

To find your ideal storage unit, you can consult the StorageCafe search portal.

Mirela Mohan
Written by
Mirela Mohan

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