Population 8,213 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Old Town
Household size in Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.83 | 2.33 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.83 | 2.47 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.96 | 2.58 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.84 | 2.39 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.06 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Old Town are small: just 1.84 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. Only two of Alexandria's 15 neighborhoods 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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 36.9 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.9 | 37.0 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.3 | 37.4 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.8 | 38.8 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +1.9 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.8, Old Town is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.3, in line with the national trend. No other Alexandria neighborhood is older.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 10.1% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 10.1% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 9.4% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Old Town than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. Alexandria as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Old Town
Renters in Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7% | 50.1% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.3% | 52.8% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 52.1% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.1% | 52.7% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +2.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Old Town rent their homes (41.1%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in Alexandria overall (52.7%). Among homeowners, 32.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 3.6 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.6% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Old Town than nationally: 7.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Alexandria. Vacancy has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1971 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1971 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1973 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1975 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Old Town is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1957, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Of Alexandria's 15 neighborhoods, only two have older homes.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,646 | $1,440 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,782 | $1,609 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,954 | $1,915 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,510 | $2,281 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$863 | +$840 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Old Town pays $2,510 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $863 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Old Town
Bachelor's degrees in Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.5% | 53.2% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 79.0% | 54.3% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 54.8% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 81.3% | 58.7% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Old Town is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (81.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.6% | 88.7% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.9% | 87.9% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.9% | 89.9% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 90.0% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Old Town: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other Alexandria neighborhood has a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Old Town
| Period | Old Town | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 4.5% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 4.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Old Town has been strong: just 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Alexandria neighborhood has lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.7 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Old Town compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town | 1.84 | 47.8 | 8.9% | 41.1% | 7.1% | 1957 | $2,510 | 81.3% | 98.9% | 1.4% |
| Southwest Quadrant | 1.74 | 37.0 | 5.9% | 60.4% | 7.0% | 1992 | $2,230 | 82.2% | 96.4% | 2.6% |
| Braddock Road Metro | 1.92 | 41.3 | 5.8% | 54.7% | 12.5% | 1989 | $2,406 | 77.6% | 94.4% | 4.7% |
| Eisenhower East | 1.56 | 39.4 | 5.6% | 83.2% | 6.7% | 2006 | $2,665 | 81.4% | 98.3% | 2.7% |
| Potomac Yard-Potomac Greens | 2.10 | 37.1 | 1.8% | 56.9% | 7.9% | 2003 | $2,983 | 88.3% | 97.9% | 1.4% |
| Belle Haven | 2.37 | 43.9 | 3.4% | 25.9% | 8.3% | 1959 | $2,482 | 70.1% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Taylor Run | 2.71 | 37.2 | 8.3% | 33.8% | 2.7% | 1967 | $2,350 | 71.9% | 93.0% | 2.5% |
| Potomac West | 2.31 | 35.4 | 9.0% | 57.6% | 5.1% | 1954 | $2,157 | 63.3% | 83.6% | 2.8% |
| North Ridge Rosemont | 2.41 | 45.6 | 4.7% | 23.6% | 3.6% | 1950 | $2,215 | 82.5% | 96.1% | 3.4% |
| Groveton | 2.76 | 38.0 | 20.1% | 53.2% | 11.4% | 1980 | $2,108 | 42.1% | 81.3% | 8.3% |
| Long Branch Creek | 2.15 | 30.6 | 6.9% | 76.1% | 5.8% | 1992 | $2,463 | 65.5% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Reservoir-Whiskey Hill, Bridgeport, CT · Hopkins-Middle East, Baltimore, MD · Howe, Minneapolis, MN · Kirkman North, Orlando, FL · Liberty Wells, Salt Lake City, UT · Midtown Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA · North Sharon Amity, Charlotte, NC · Ortega Hills, Jacksonville, FL · Piper Glen Estates, Charlotte, NC · Prescott, Oakland, CA
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 Old Town. 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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