Population 23,962 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Potomac West
Household size in Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.33 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.47 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.58 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.39 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.06 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Potomac West is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the northeast.
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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4 | 36.9 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.6 | 37.0 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.5 | 37.4 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.4 | 38.8 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.9 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Potomac West is young: half of its residents are under 35.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 33.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other Alexandria neighborhood is younger.
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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.7% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.1% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Potomac West (9.0%), below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Alexandria. The single-parent share is down 0.9 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 Potomac West
Renters in Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.9% | 50.1% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 53.3% | 52.8% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.8% | 52.1% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.6% | 52.7% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +2.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Potomac West rent: 57.6% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 18.8% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 6.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 9.6% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 6.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Potomac West: just 5.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. The picture is much the same across Alexandria. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 7.7 points, a much bigger shift than 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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1971 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1971 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1973 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1975 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −5 | +4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Potomac West is a place of older homes: half were built before 1954, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Only one other Alexandria neighborhood has 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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,329 | $1,440 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,551 | $1,609 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,878 | $1,915 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,157 | $2,281 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$828 | +$840 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Potomac West pays $2,157 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Alexandria overall ($2,281). Rent has climbed $828 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 28.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Potomac West
Bachelor's degrees in Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.0% | 53.2% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 58.7% | 54.3% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.3% | 54.8% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.3% | 58.7% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Potomac West: 63.3% 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 has risen 9.4 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.6% | 88.7% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.4% | 87.9% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.5% | 89.9% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.6% | 90.0% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Potomac West never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.0 points, 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 Potomac West
| Period | Potomac West | Alexandria | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 4.5% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Potomac West has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Potomac West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Potomac Yard-Potomac Greens | 2.10 | 37.1 | 1.8% | 56.9% | 7.9% | 2003 | $2,983 | 88.3% | 97.9% | 1.4% |
| Long Branch Creek | 2.15 | 30.6 | 6.9% | 76.1% | 5.8% | 1992 | $2,463 | 65.5% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Braddock Road Metro | 1.92 | 41.3 | 5.8% | 54.7% | 12.5% | 1989 | $2,406 | 77.6% | 94.4% | 4.7% |
| Taylor Run | 2.71 | 37.2 | 8.3% | 33.8% | 2.7% | 1967 | $2,350 | 71.9% | 93.0% | 2.5% |
| Arlington Ridge | 2.12 | 37.6 | 1.2% | 64.1% | 11.5% | 1961 | $2,761 | 87.3% | 99.4% | 2.4% |
| Fairlington-Shirlington | 1.81 | 38.3 | 7.4% | 46.2% | 7.9% | 1964 | $2,569 | 78.0% | 97.4% | 3.0% |
| Nauck | 2.16 | 34.8 | 8.7% | 49.5% | 14.8% | 1978 | $2,264 | 66.7% | 98.8% | 2.9% |
| Aurora Highlands | 1.70 | 37.6 | 2.7% | 86.4% | 12.1% | 1989 | $2,610 | 82.8% | 97.5% | 2.8% |
| Crystal City | 1.66 | 37.8 | 1.5% | 86.3% | 14.3% | 1986 | $2,680 | 85.2% | 98.5% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA · Wharton-Hawthorne-Bella Vista, Philadelphia, PA · Cedar Brook, Philadelphia, PA · West Park, Irvine, CA · Upper Roseville, Newark, NJ · Weequahic, Newark, NJ · Poplar-Ludlow-Yorktowne, Philadelphia, PA · Prospect Hill, San Antonio, TX · Rice Military, Houston, TX · Rochdale Village, Queens, NY
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 Potomac West. 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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