Neighborhood guide

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria covers historic Old Town and the independent city around it, plus a large stretch of Fairfax County that shares the Alexandria name.

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Living in Alexandria

Welcome to Alexandria.

There are really two Alexandrias. The City of Alexandria is an independent city on the Potomac, home to Old Town, Del Ray, Rosemont and the newer Potomac Yard area. A much bigger area to the south and west, including Franconia, Rose Hill, Kingstowne, Huntington and the Mount Vernon corridor, is part of Fairfax County but still uses Alexandria addresses.

I work on both sides of that line, from Old Town rentals to single-family homes and condos in the county. The two feel quite different, and taxes, schools and services differ too.

Alexandria

Old Town and the City

Old Town’s brick sidewalks and 18th- and 19th-century rowhouses run from King Street down to the river, with shops, restaurants and waterfront parks a short walk away. Del Ray, just to the north, has bungalows and foursquares along Mount Vernon Avenue, its main street of local businesses.

Alexandria

Rowhouses to Garden Condos

In the city, you’ll find historic rowhouses, mid-rise condos in the West End and newer townhome communities like Cameron Station. In the county, there are brick Colonials and ramblers from the 1950s and ’60s, mid-century modern houses in Hollin Hills, and the townhomes and condos of Kingstowne.

Older condo buildings can be a good value, but I read the association documents closely for reserves, special assessments and any big repairs coming up.

A row of colorful new townhomes with front porches

Alexandria

Waterfront Trails and Huntley Meadows

The Mount Vernon Trail follows the Potomac from Old Town south to Mount Vernon, past Jones Point Park, Belle Haven Park and Dyke Marsh. In Old Town, Founders Park, Waterfront Park and Tide Lock Park put you right on the water.

Farther south, Huntley Meadows Park has a half-mile boardwalk through a wetland where herons, turtles and beavers are regular sightings.

The canal lock at Tide Lock Park on the Potomac

Alexandria

Metro, DASH and National Airport

Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines run through Alexandria, with stations at King Street–Old Town, Braddock Road, Potomac Yard, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street and Huntington. DASH buses cover the city, and Reagan National Airport is just to the north.

On the county side, I-95, the Beltway and Route 1 do most of the work, and the Franconia-Springfield Metro is close for anyone near Kingstowne or Rose Hill.