Best Life Index › States › Virginia › Cities › Alexandria

Virginia city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Alexandria?

What it costs to live in Alexandria, and how it compares with other Virginia cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

37

71st best value in Virginia

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Virginia cities.

Overall livability

62

25th overall in Virginia

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Alexandria is home to about 158,185 people. A typical home runs $579,100 and a household earns around $105,400, a price-to-income ratio of 5.5. Among Virginia's largest cities, it ranks 71st for value and 25th overall.

Alexandria at a glance

Median home price

$579,100

85th in VA of 90

Median rent

$1,848/mo

Median household income

$105,400

Home price to income

5.5x

Unemployment

3.2%

19th in VA of 90

School rating

10/10

1st in VA of 90

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in VA of 90

Walk score

18/100

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‹ See all top Virginia cities ranked  ยท  Virginia state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Virginia only. Updated 2026.