Population 156,976 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alexandria City
Household size in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Alexandria City are small: just 2.16 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.13, even as the national average fell. Only two of Virginia's 133 counties have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.2 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Alexandria City are younger than 38.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Alexandria City, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alexandria City
Renters in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.3% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.3% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.7% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.9% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Alexandria City: 57.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About a quarter of owners (25.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only five have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Alexandria City than nationally: 6.5%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 5.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Alexandria City has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Virginia counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Alexandria City run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,447 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,612 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,941 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,278 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$830 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alexandria City costs $2,278 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $830 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the east and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alexandria City
Bachelor's degrees in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.7% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.1% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.4% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.9% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Alexandria City: 64.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only three have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.7% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alexandria City is a bit above the national rate: 92.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. The share with a diploma is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alexandria City
| Period | Alexandria City | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alexandria City runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alexandria City compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria City | 2.16 | 38.9 | 7.8% | 57.9% | 6.5% | 1973 | $2,278 | 64.9% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| Arlington County | 2.22 | 37.2 | 5.4% | 58.7% | 8.8% | 1973 | $2,524 | 76.4% | 94.9% | 3.4% |
| Falls Church City | 2.45 | 40.2 | 6.1% | 47.5% | 5.1% | 1973 | $2,271 | 79.9% | 94.7% | 4.7% |
| District of Columbia | 2.09 | 36.2 | 12.2% | 58.5% | 10.4% | 1963 | $2,078 | 63.4% | 92.7% | 7.0% |
| Fairfax County | 2.85 | 40.1 | 7.6% | 31.4% | 4.6% | 1982 | $2,579 | 64.9% | 93.0% | 4.2% |
| Fairfax City | 2.74 | 36.8 | 6.5% | 30.1% | 3.4% | 1970 | $2,239 | 62.5% | 90.3% | 3.2% |
| Prince George's County | 2.84 | 39.7 | 14.8% | 37.7% | 5.8% | 1979 | $2,013 | 36.8% | 86.1% | 6.4% |
| Manassas Park City | 3.71 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 33.5% | 6.4% | 1983 | $2,042 | 25.7% | 78.8% | 5.5% |
| Manassas City | 3.17 | 35.3 | 12.6% | 28.5% | 3.3% | 1985 | $1,893 | 33.7% | 81.2% | 3.9% |
| Talbot County | 2.33 | 49.9 | 10.0% | 24.9% | 14.6% | 1982 | $1,411 | 40.0% | 92.1% | 4.2% |
| Warren County | 2.71 | 40.7 | 10.1% | 24.1% | 10.7% | 1985 | $1,260 | 25.1% | 88.9% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kings County, CA · Madera County, CA · Cumberland County, NJ · Penobscot County, ME · Maui County, HI · Indian River County, FL · Dorchester County, SC · Jackson County, MI · Merrimack County, NH · Santa Fe County, NM
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alexandria City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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