The Town FilesAlexandria, Virginia
City in Alexandria city · population 159,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $735,100
- Household income
- $119,681
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 37.7
Alexandria is a city of 159,467 people in Alexandria city, Virginia. The median home is worth $735,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Virginia towns, better transit than 99% of Virginia towns, hipper than 98% of Virginia towns.
How Alexandria ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alexandria is worth $735,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $119,681, which is more affordable than 4% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,089 a month. 42.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alexandria | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $735,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,089 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $119,681 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Alexandria
| People | Alexandria | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 24.9% | — |
| Work from home | 28.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Alexandria
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Alexandria city since 1996
Alexandria city has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Alexandria city
Alexandria city had 81,341 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,541 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Alexandria itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Alexandria
65 public schools with 50,002 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria City High School | 9-12 | 4,551 | 14.6 |
| Hayfield Secondary | 7-12 | 3,239 | 19.2 |
| West Potomac High | 9-12 | 2,681 | 15.7 |
| Edison High | 9-12 | 2,285 | 13.3 |
| Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology | 9-12 | 2,015 | 16.8 |
| Mount Vernon High | 9-12 | 1,953 | 14.0 |
| Glasgow Middle | 6-8 | 1,724 | 13.9 |
| Francis C. Hammond Middle | 6-8 | 1,510 | 13.4 |
| Sandburg Middle | 7-8 | 1,403 | 10.5 |
| George Washington Middle | 6-8 | 1,358 | 13.1 |
| Patrick Henry K-8 School | PK-8 | 1,058 | 17.1 |
| Twain Middle | 7-8 | 986 | 12.3 |
Towns near Alexandria
- Huntington, VA2.0 mi · 13,749 people · home $541,900
- Rose Hill, VA2.6 mi · 21,045 people · home $687,600
- Belle Haven, VA3.2 mi · 6,851 people · home $689,400
- Bailey's Crossroads, VA3.3 mi · 24,749 people · home $416,600
- Lincolnia, VA3.8 mi · 22,922 people · home $647,400
- Forest Heights, MD4.0 mi · 2,658 people · home $371,700
- Arlington, VA4.2 mi · 238,643 people · home $895,000
- Seven Corners, VA4.6 mi · 9,131 people · home $318,700
Alexandria questions
Is Alexandria, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alexandria scores better for retirees than 24% of Virginia towns and quieter than 6%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Alexandria?
The median owner-occupied home in Alexandria is valued at $735,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,681, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $2,089 a month.
What is the weather like in Alexandria?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.7 inches of snow.
Does Alexandria get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)