Alexandria

The waterfront in Alexandria is a serene rest spot/
Quaint shops and restaurants line the streets of Alexandria.
Quaint shops and restaurants line the streets of Alexandria.
Old Town in Alexandria is a popular place for a stroll.
Alexandria has its own miniature Washington Monument.

Alexandria, VA Area Guide

Experience endless entertainment in a historic setting on the shores of the Potomac

Historic Architecture Museums Entertainment Restaurants River Upscale

Stretching west from the shores of the Potomac River, about eight miles south of Washington DC, Alexandria is a vibrant city rich with history and culture. Alexandria is best known for its picturesque Old Town, a nationally designated historic district founded in 1749. Along Old Town’s charming cobblestone streets and red-brick sidewalks, residents enjoy access to more than 200 independent boutiques and restaurants in addition to intimate historical museums and exciting events held at the waterfront.

Del Ray is another well-known neighborhood in Alexandria, offering a slew of eclectic shops, top-notch cafes, and diverse eateries with an artistic vibe along Mount Vernon Avenue. Potomac Yard holds the city’s largest shopping center for the retail-inclined. Residents also delight in numerous scenic parks and preserves located throughout the city, from Waterfront Park to Dora Kelley Nature Park and everything in between.

Alexandria was famously the hometown of George Washington, and now contains the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Commuting and traveling from your apartment in Alexandria is easy with access to the Metro’s Blue and Yellow Lines, I-395, I-495, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Explore the City

Alexandria has its own miniature Washington Monument.

Old Town in Alexandria is a popular place for a stroll.

Quaint shops and restaurants line the streets of Alexandria.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Alexandria, VA is $1,622 for a studio, $2,008 for one bedroom, $2,470 for two bedrooms, and $2,704 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Alexandria has decreased by -2.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,008/month
731 Sq Ft
House
$3,310/month
1,078 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,360/month
870 Sq Ft
Townhome
$3,313/month
764 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Alexandria, VA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Alexandria, VA is 37.7% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Alexandria is 104.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,622 - $2,704. You can expect to pay 5.0% more for groceries, 2.9% more for utilities, and 4.8% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Alexandria, VA is for everyday living.

Very Walkable

76 / 100

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

Some Transit

48 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

66 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Bush Hill Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Waynewood Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Stratford Landing Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Riverside Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Clermont Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Twain Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

Hayfield Secondary

Public

Grades 6-12

Sandburg Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

Whitman Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

George Washington Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

Hayfield Secondary

Public

Grades 6-12

West Potomac High

Public

Grades 9-12

Edison High

Public

Grades 9-12

Alexandria City High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Tuckahoe Park
  • Lucky Run Park
  • Shirlington Park
  • Allie S. Freed Park
  • Ford Nature Center

Commuter Rail

Military Bases

Airports

  • Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
  • Washington Dulles International

Top Apartments in Alexandria

Houses for Rent in Alexandria

Property Management Companies in Alexandria, VA

Living in Alexandria

History

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In Alexandria, you can follow in George Washington’s footsteps. This tour will lead you around the city to places like the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and even to Christ Church where he worshipped. Another great attraction is the Lyceum. This museum offers a great deal of history about the area that will have you spending your days lost among the events of the past.

Transportation

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This city is located very near Washington D.C. which means that public transit is very much used. This area is serviced by both a train and a bus service. These are public transportation options which mean you can either pay for each ticket as you go or if you are planning on a longer stay, you may want to invest in a bus pass or metro card. The public transportation will take you through the city and even into the outlying areas of the capitol if you so desire. There are also tons of taxi services to help you get a car quickly and get where you want to be in a hurry. You can also drive your own car as roadways are not restricted and traffic patterns are relatively normal. You may also want to walk or bike when you get into the heart of the city.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.