YIMBYs of NoVA

In its second year of implementation, Arlington’s Expanded Housing Options are continuing to fulfill expectations: providing mid-sized homes at a lower price point than newly constructed detached single-family homes. The 2025 Annual Data Report released by Arlington County staff clearly shows the benefits of Missing Middle housing on our housing market.

County analysis of approved EHO building permits between July 2023 and December 2025, compared to permits for completed single-detached homes from July 2024-June 2025, proves that the zoning reform is delivering a “missing middle” product to the housing market. The average square footage for a new single detached home was 5,348, compared to an average of 1,649 sq ft for all EHO units. This ranges from 2,378 sq ft for the average townhome unit and 1,259 sq ft for the average unit in a sixplex. The average EHO unit is 50% larger than a typical high-rise apartment unit.

Missing middle homes are well suited for Arlington’s average family size. The average Arlington family (excluding single-person households) is 2.97. Most EHO homes are three bedrooms. Most newly-built single detached homes were five bedrooms, and none had fewer than four bedrooms. We have limited data on the sale price of new EHO homes, but the single sale made so far, in zip code 22201, was $1,615,000, which is 45% lower than the average sales price of newly-built single-detached homes in 22201. By the end of 2025, EHO zoning is on track to deliver 132 net new units to be rented or sold, providing Arlington families with more opportunities to find housing that meets their needs, at prices that are within reach of a larger segment of the population.

This positive EHO development comes despite the on-going uncertainty related to the litigation that paused permits for from September 2024 to October 2025. YIMBYs of NoVA hope that the County’s authority to end exclusionary zoning is ultimately confirmed and the EHO permits can accelerate to meet market demand for mid-sized homes.