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Alexandria (City)

A historic port city on the Potomac, with brick sidewalks and Metro.

City of Alexandria (independent city)6 miles from the White House
HistoryHomesCommuteEconomyGovernmentResearch
Potomac RiverDC✈DullesArlingtonAlexandriaFalls ChurchAnnandaleTysonsMcLeanViennaSpringfieldMount VernonFairfax CityBurkeRestonHerndonChantillyCentrevilleGreat FallsLorton

Schematic map · not to scale

Population159,4672020 Census
Land area14.93 sq mi
People per sq mi10,6812020
To the White House6 mistraight-line
Real estate tax$1.135per $100 · calendar year 2026

Overview

What Alexandria is like

Alexandria is an independent city with more than 250 years of history. Old Town's cobblestone side streets and waterfront sit a short Metro ride from downtown DC.

Good to know about addressesMany homes with an “Alexandria” mailing address are actually in Fairfax County (for example, the Mount Vernon and Kingstowne areas). Taxes, schools and services follow the jurisdiction, not the mailing address.

History

How Alexandria came to be

  1. 1749

    Virginia's House of Burgesses approved a town on the Potomac here.

  2. 1779

    Incorporated as a town.

  3. 1801

    Became part of the District of Columbia.

  4. 1847

    Returned to Virginia.

  5. 1848

    The Orange and Alexandria Railroad was founded, making the town a rail hub.

  6. 1852

    Rechartered as a city; independent since 1870.

  7. 2023

    Potomac Yard Metro station opened.

Homes you'll find

  • Historic rowhouses and townhouses, some from the 1700s and 1800s
  • Condominiums in Old Town, Carlyle and Potomac Yard
  • Bungalows and colonials in Del Ray and nearby
  • Single-family homes in the city's west end

Today's market in Alexandria

Prices, days on market and inventory change every month, so I don't print numbers that go stale. Ask me for a free, up-to-date market report for Alexandria — recent sales, price trends and what's for sale now, straight from the MLS.

Get a free market report

Getting around

  • Metro: Blue and Yellow lines (King St–Old Town, Braddock Road, Potomac Yard, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street)
  • Amtrak and VRE trains at Alexandria Union Station
  • Reagan National Airport minutes away
  • Mount Vernon Trail and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to Maryland

About 6 miles in a straight line to the White House. Real drive times vary a lot with traffic — test your commute at rush hour before you buy.

Weather

January45° / 30°avg high / low
July90° / 72°avg high / low
Rain & snow43 inper year · 12 in of snow
Hot days37days of 90°F+ per year

Four real seasons: humid summers, colorful falls, mostly mild winters with a few snowstorms. Frost-free roughly March 27 to November 18. NOAA 1991–2020 averages at Reagan National Airport.

Economy

Where people work

  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • National Science Foundation
  • Department of Defense — Mark Center
  • National Credit Union Administration

Local favorites

Places people love

  • Old Town waterfront
  • Torpedo Factory Art Center
  • George Washington Masonic National Memorial
  • Del Ray's Mount Vernon Avenue

Local government

Alexandria is an independent city with a mayor and six-member City Council.

  • Mayor, City of AlexandriaAlyia Gaskins
  • Governor of VirginiaAbigail Spanberger (since January 2026)

As of September 2026. Officials change with elections — confirm on the official websites.

Taxes

Real estate tax: $1.135 per $100 of assessed value (calendar year 2026), set by City of Alexandria. Official rates ↗

Example: a home assessed at $700,000 would owe about $7,945 a year at the City of Alexandria rate.

Virginia also taxes cars and other vehicles yearly (personal property tax), and some areas add small special-district taxes. Older adults and people with disabilities may qualify for tax relief programs.

Before you buy

Points to consider

  • Old Town's historic districts have rules for exterior changes — ask before you plan renovations
  • Street parking can be tight in Old Town
  • Some low-lying waterfront areas are in flood zones — check before you buy

Schools

Public schools

Served by Alexandria City Public Schools. Test scores and school details are in the official links below. Boundaries change — always confirm the assigned schools for a specific address.

Research this area

Official data on Alexandria

Crime, school test results and population details come straight from official sources. Each link opens in a new tab, so this page stays open.

Census QuickFactsPopulation, age, income, housing and more — official U.S. Census data↗Alexandria Police crime dataOfficial crime data from the local police department↗Virginia School Quality Profiles (search Alexandria)Test results, graduation rates and more from the Virginia Department of Education↗Alexandria City Public SchoolsConfirm which schools serve a specific address↗FEMA flood mapsCheck whether an address is in a flood zone↗Metro trip plannerPlan a commute by Metro and bus↗Find your elected officialsLook up your state and federal representatives by address↗

Nearby

Also worth a look

Arlington

Walkable urban villages across the river from Washington.

Arlington County

Mount Vernon

Riverside parkway, George Washington's estate and big green spaces.

Fairfax County (unincorporated)

Springfield

The crossroads of Northern Virginia, with Metro and VRE.

Fairfax County (unincorporated)

See all 17 areas →

Sources: 2020 U.S. Census; Fairfax County, Arlington County and city/town government websites; NOAA climate normals; Virginia Department of Education. Updated September 2026. General information only — verify details that matter to your decision.

Contact

Thinking about Alexandria?

Tell me a little about what you're looking for. I'll reply personally, usually within one business day.

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