Alexandria, VA Local Data & Statistics

State: VA

Total population: 156,976 Household income: $119,681 Rent: $2,089

Overview

Total population

156,976

Rent

$2,089

Year built

1974

Household income

$119,681

Per capita income

$79,474

Poverty rate

7.9%

Unemployment rate

2.2%

Household size

2.0 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Virginia

Total population

156,976

Adults over 25

119,341

Total households

76,096

Household size

2.0 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$119,681

Per capita income

$79,474

Poverty rate

7.9%

Unemployment rate

2.2%

Rent over 30% of income

44.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,089

Year built

1974

Households that rent

57.9%

Households that own

42.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

51%

Black

21.3%

Asian

6.4%

Two or more races

14.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

18.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

81.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

71.1%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

28.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

17.8%

High school graduate or GED

10.7%

Some college or associate degree

5.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

66.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Alexandria, VA with: Virginia United States

Alexandria, VA

Total population156,976

Rent$2,089

Year built1974

Household income$119,681

Per capita income$79,474

Poverty rate7.9%

Unemployment rate2.2%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityAlexandria, VA	StateVirginia	CountryUnited States
Total population	156,976	8,705,170	334,922,499
Rent	$2,089	$1,579	$1,413
Year built	1974	1984	1980
Household income	$119,681	$93,170	$80,734
Per capita income	$79,474	$50,666	$44,673
Poverty rate	7.9%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.2%	2.8%	4%

View the complete comparison of Alexandria, VA, Virginia and United States →

Summary for Alexandria, VA

Alexandria is located in Virginia.

Rent & Income

In Alexandria, the typical monthly rent is $2,089 and the typical household income is $119,681. Rent here is higher than in both Virginia and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 7.9%, which is lower than in both Virginia and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 57.9% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 44.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 66.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.2%, which is lower than both Virginia and the national rate.

Alexandria, VA — Rent vs Household Income

Alexandria, VA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Alexandria, VA compares in Virginia (24 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,089	23 / 24	from lower rent	$996 – $2,089
Household income	$119,681	1 / 24	from higher income	$55,378 – $119,681
Poverty rate	7.9%	1 / 24	from lower poverty	7.9% – 25.7%
Unemployment rate	2.2%	1 / 24	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Virginia with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Alexandria, VA

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Alexandria places 23rd among 24 large places in Virginia. Across the state, rents run from $996 in Roanoke, VA up to $2,089 in Alexandria, VA.

Household income

Alexandria ranks 1st among 24 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $55,378 in Roanoke, VA to $119,681 in Alexandria, VA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Alexandria is ranked 1st among 24 major areas. Across Virginia, poverty runs from 7.9% in Alexandria, VA to 25.7% in Harrisonburg, VA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Alexandria in 1st place among 24 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.2% in Alexandria, VA to 3.7% in Portsmouth, VA.

💰 Rent in Alexandria, VA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,089 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Alexandria, VA

Annual Household Income: $119,681

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Alexandria, VA

Estimated Rate: 7.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Alexandria, VA

In Alexandria, VA, households that rent: 44,031 (57.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	44,031	57.9%
Owner-Occupied	32,065	42.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Alexandria, VA

In Alexandria, VA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 19,537 (44.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	19,537	44.4%
Other renter households	24,494	55.6%
Total renter households	44,031	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Alexandria, VA

Less than High School: 21,274 people (17.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 12,784 people (10.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,324 people (5.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 78,959 people (66.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 119,341

📊 Unemployment Rate in Alexandria, VA

Estimated Rate: 2.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Murfreesboro, TN157,547 Lakewood, CO156,309 Paterson, NJ157,660 Killeen, TX156,144 Corona, CA158,839 Kansas City, KS154,776 Hayward, CA159,201 Springfield, MA154,751 Sunnyvale, CA153,455 Hollywood, FL152,935

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.