Median Income
$113,179
household / year
Median Home Value
$655,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,983
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is Alexandria, VA a Good Place to Live?

Alexandria is a mid-sized city of 157,594 in Virginia, with a median household income of $113,179 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Alexandria stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Alexandria is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alexandria city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.6

Alexandria's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alexandria costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric Alexandria, VA National Avg
Median Home Value $655,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,983 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 42.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $113,179 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Alexandria's violent crime rate is 219.1 per 100,000 residents — 42% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
219.1 /100k
Property Crime
2640.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alexandria is served primarily by Alexandria City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Alexandria, VA National Avg
School District Alexandria City Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 14 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 66.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alexandria sees average highs of 44.8°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 41.8 inches of annual precipitation and 13.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricAlexandria, VA
Average High — January44.8°F
Average High — July89.6°F
Annual Precipitation41.8"
Annual Snowfall13.7"

Demographics

MetricAlexandria, VANational Avg
Population157,594—
Median Age37.438.9
Unemployment Rate3.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time30.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)56.7%59.3%
Black or African American21.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino11.2%18.9%
Asian6.4%6.3%
Under 1818.1%22.2%
65 and over12.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Huntington, VA 2 mi Rose Hill CDP (Fairfax County), VA 3 mi Belle Haven, VA 3 mi Bailey's Crossroads, VA 3 mi Lincolnia, VA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Alexandria

Alexandria, VA is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

22304 22314 22302 22301 22305 22311

Alexandria vs Other Cities

Alexandria, VA vs Huntington, VA Alexandria, VA vs Rose Hill CDP (Fairfax County), VA Alexandria, VA vs Belle Haven, VA Alexandria, VA vs Bailey's Crossroads, VA Alexandria, VA vs Lincolnia, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Alexandria roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $655,700 and median rent is $1,983/month.
Alexandria's violent crime rate is 219.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2640.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Alexandria are operated by Alexandria City Public Schools. The district has 14 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 66.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Alexandria, VA has a population of 157,594, a median household income of $113,179, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Alexandria averages 44.8°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.8 inches with about 13.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Alexandria, VA is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 22304, 22314, 22302, 22301, 22305, 22311.
The population of Alexandria, Virginia is 157,594 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Alexandria: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $655,700, median household income $113,179, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alexandria side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.