City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Alexandria, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Alexandria - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

156,788
Residents
$113,638
Median income
$696,800
Median home
$2,246
Median rent (state)

Alexandria - the verdict

Nationally, Alexandria sits in the 85th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

85th
percentile, household income
93rd
percentile, home value
87th
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Alexandria, VA

156,788 people live in Alexandria, Virginia - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $113,638 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.2%. Typical homes in Alexandria are valued around $696,800, and the median resident age is 37.5 years. About 65.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 73.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 25 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 62% from five years earlier. Alexandria's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2859.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Virginia at 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,246 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Alexandria report an average commute of 21.9 minutes, with 50.2% driving alone and 25.2% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 73.7 out of 100 (High).

Population

156,788 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$113,638 /yr

Poverty 6.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Alexandria compare to other US cities?

Here's how Alexandria stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 93% pricier than other cities
Median rent 87% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Virginia alone, Alexandria ranks #90 of 117 Virginia cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Alexandria's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

85thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Alexandria's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Alexandria's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Alexandria's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Alexandria's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$696,800 7th percentile more affordable than 7% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Alexandria $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Alexandria, VA Alexandria, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alexandria, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Alexandria, VA median $113,638/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Alexandria, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Alexandria, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 65.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 73.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
156,788
Median Income
$113,638
Median Home Value
$696,800
Median Age
37.5
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Labor force participation
73.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
65.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2859.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
219.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2640.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
55
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
154,000 residents156,000 residents158,000 residents160,000 residents162,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 159,147 residents 160,662 residents ▲ +1.0%
Alexandria's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
25
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 65
2020 107
2021 200
2022 1,490
2023 121
2024 25

Permit volume decreased 62% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.9 minutes
Drive Alone
50.2%
Carpool
6.6%
Public Transit
12.7%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
25.2%
Other
2.8%

Based on 97,528 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Alexandria sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,246/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Hampton
137,334 people
Newport News
184,774 people
Roanoke
98,677 people
Portsmouth
97,299 people
Suffolk
96,638 people
Richmond
227,595 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alexandria's 156,788 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Macon-Bibb County, GA
156,543 people
Lakewood, CO
156,309 people
Killeen, TX
156,144 people
Murfreesboro, TN
157,547 people
Paterson, NJ
157,660 people
Kansas City, KS
154,776 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alexandria's $113,638 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Henry, OH
$113,629 median income
Loxahatchee Groves, FL
$113,654 median income
Pompton Plains, NJ
$113,661 median income
Wylie, TX
$113,661 median income
Suamico, WI
$113,614 median income
Omena, MI
$113,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alexandria, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Alexandria, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.6% 21.1% 6.3% 12.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.2% White 53.6% Black or African American 21.1% Asian 6.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 12.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Alexandria compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Alexandria (this city) 156,788 $113,638
Hampton 137,334 $67,758
Newport News 184,774 $66,718
Roanoke 98,677 $52,671
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alexandria, VA?

What is the population of Alexandria, VA? +

156,788 people live in Alexandria, VA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Alexandria, VA? +

In Alexandria, the typical household earns $113,638 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alexandria? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alexandria; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Alexandria, VA safe? +

Alexandria has a total crime rate of 2859.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Alexandria, VA? +

The median home value in Alexandria is $696,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.