Thinking about moving to Arlington TX?
Great choice! As an Arlington REALTOR® with CearnalCo REALTORS®, I’m often contacted by people considering making Arlington their new home. From my experience, I’m guessing you’re researching potential cities to make an informed final decision.
When you are relocating and buying a home, there’s a lot that you should know. Whether you are moving from a DFW metroplex city or across the country, each relocating homebuyer’s needs are different.
That’s why I felt it was important to create this 1300+ word guide for anyone planning a move. It’s the resource I wish I had when relocating years ago. As you’ll see below, there’s a mix of facts, stats, myths and contact details.
With no further ado, here’s a guide of interesting things you should know about when moving to Arlington TX.
1. Please Call Us Arlington, Not North Texas
If you’re moving to Arlington TX from outside the DFW metroplex, you may see big-time entertainment events held in Arlington referred to as being in “North Texas”. That drives locals crazy. Don’t believe me? Proof of that is here and here. So remember, we are Arlington, ok?
2. Arlington Is Growing
You’re not the only one thinking of moving to Arlington TX. Because it is centrally located in the metroplex and has a lot of amenities, Arlington’s population is growing fast.
3. Arlington Is A Young City
As the population grows in Arlington, so does the younger crowd. As a result of growing opportunity, affordability, awesome food, and more, the median age in Arlington is 31 years old. This is two years younger than the Texas median age. No wonder this study ranked Arlington as the #2 best place for people ages 35 and under to live.
4. Arlington Is An Affordable City To Live
Want to live somewhere you can save money? Compared to other major cities around the country, Arlington is the ninth most affordable place to live. (Don’t miss our cost of living guide here)
5. We Like Tacos..A Lot!
If you’re a fan of real deal tacos, Arlington is the best place to live. That’s because we were recognized as the most taco crazed city in the country by Estately.com. So whether you prefer ’em soft or crunchy, we’re your best bet to find the best tacos.
6. We Are Proud Of Our City’s History
Unlike most cities that only focus on the present and future, Arlington is a place that loves its history. You’ll find great resources like Arlington Historical Society, and Yesterday’s Arlington Texas Facebook group keeping the past alive.
7. There’s Always Something Fun To Do
You can be a lot of things in Arlington. Bored is not one of them. Whether it’s sporting events at Globe Life Park or AT&T Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas, or enjoying one of our 90+ parks, you’ll always find something fun to do in town.
8. Our Water Tastes Great!
We all know how important drinking H2O is, right? You may be surprised to learn that Arlington recently won the “Best Tasting Surface Water in Texas” award during the 2015 Texas Water Utilities Association’s Best Tasting Water Contest.
9. Arlington Independent School District Is Highly Respected
The quality of the local school district is a big factor when families are debating new cities to live. You’ll be happy to know Arlington Independent School District (AISD) is frequently recognized as a great school system. For example, the school board was recently honored with the 2015 H-E-B Excellence in Education School Board Award. The school board award highlights the importance of strong leadership at the board level. In addition, AISD was one of 29 districts in the state to be named a 2014 National AP Honor Roll district.
10. Arlington’s Live Music Scene Is Growing
Love live music? You’ll love Arlington. That’s because Arlington is home to two great live music venues: Levitt Pavilion and Arlington Music Hall. In addition, we have passionate music fans that keep the city updated on what bands are playing throughout the city each week making your life easier.
Important Resources You Should Know When Moving to Arlington TX
Whether you are moving to Arlington TX to start a new business, a new job, or you because you’ve found that dream home, relocating can be down-right scary and exciting. It’s exciting because you get to explore unfamiliar surroundings. It’s scary because there are so many darn details to manage.
Here is a complete list of city, county and area utilities resources you’ll need to know.
Emergencies (police, fire or ambulance)
Dial 911
Non Emergencies
You may want to reach either the police or fire departments for questions, comments or concerns that are not emergencies. Below is contact information for both departments.
Arlington Police Department: (817) 274-4444 for non-emergencies. (817) 459-5700 for general information. Visit them online at arlingtonpd.org.
Arlington Fire Department: (817) 459-5500 for non-emergencies. Visit them online at arlingtontx.gov/fire.
The Arlington Public Safety Center which houses the police and fire departments is located at 620 W. Division St.
Arington Water Utilities
When moving to Arlington TX, you’ll need to set up new water service with the Arlington Water Utilities. Garbage pickup, recycling, and sewer services are included in your Arlington Water Utilities bill each month. If you own a home, you’ll want to read this article about outdoor water restrictions in Arlington.
Arlington Water Utilities: (817) 275-5931 or arlingtontx.gov/water. If you want to pay your bill by mail or in-person, the address to the Arlington Water Utilities customer service office is 1100 SW Green Oaks Blvd.
Electric Companies in Arlington TX
There are several electric companies in Arlington TX to choose from. Unlike most states, Texans can select from electric companies because of deregulation. This gives us the chance to compare rates and choose the best fit for you and your family’s energy needs. To compare electricity companies in Arlington TX, visit PowertoChoose.org. The Texas Public Utilities Commission created PowertoChoose.org to help you compare electricity providers and make an informed decision. Companies offer several different plans, which may allow you to save money. Some plans have added services or promotions such as rewards programs. But be sure to do your homework on customer service issues, fixed rates vs. variable rates, etc.
Gas Utilities
Not all homes in Arlington rely on natural gas. But if your new home does, here’s the natural gas company you’ll need to activate service with.
Atmos Energy: (888) 286-6700 or atmosenergy.com
Telecommunications (Cable TV, Internet, Telephone)
Chances are that when you relocate, you’ll want to know about telephone, cable companies and internet providers in Arlington TX. Below are the telecommunication companies that serve our residents.
Dish Network: (888) 656-2461 or dish.com
AT&T UVerse: (800) 288-2020 or att.com/shop/u-verse
AT&T: (800) 288-2020 or att.com
DirecTV: (800) 531-5000 or directv.com
Spectrum: (972) 742-5892 or timewarnercable.com
Department of Public Safety
It’s safe to say that watching paint dry is more fun than renewing your driver’s license or getting a new state-issued ID. But if you need to do this in person instead of online, here’s the closest Department of Public Safety location to Arlington.
701 N. Bagdad Rd.
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
General Information
972-343-2520
Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse
Obtaining a marriage license, passport, DBA (doing business as), vehicle registration and license plates along with paying property taxes can all be done at the Tarrant County Sub-Courthouse in Arlington Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The location and contact information is below.
700 East Abram Street
(817) 548-3963 0r (817) 548-3928
Schools
The Arlington Independent School District (AISD) is the local public school system which serves the majority of Arlington students. AISD is the 11th-largest school district in Texas and serves over 60,000 students
Other school districts that serve Arlington residents (depending on where you live) include Grand Prairie ISD, HEB ISD, Kennedale ISD, and Mansfield ISD. There are also a variety of private schools and charter schools within the city.
Have Additional Questions About Moving To Arlington TX?
I sure hope this article was helpful for you! If you’re thinking about moving to Arlington TX and would like additional real estate information, I’d love to help. Click here to contact me with any city or real estate questions you have.