Alexandria is a city located in Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Alexandria city Virginia. Alexandria has a 2024 population of 151,925. Alexandria is currently declining at a rate of -1.17% annually and its population has decreased by -4.52% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 159,125 in 2020.
The average household income in Alexandria is $156,781 with a poverty rate of 8.82%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Alexandria is 37.4 years, 37 years for males, and 37.7 years for females.
Alexandria is an independent city that has been heavily influenced by Washington D.C., which is located just seven miles away. The city of Alexandria was originally founded in 1749 and wasn't incorporated as a city until 1852. It was designated later as an independent city in 1870.
Alexandria’s residents are more educated than others in the state, with about 58% of the city’s residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree, exceeding the 33% average of Virginia.
The city has exhibited steady population growth, and recent estimates show that the figures are up over 11% since the city’s last recorded population in 2010. This growth is driven primarily by the number of jobs in the area, including roles in the U.S. military, the Department of Defense and other government and private entities.
The town founders called the new town "Belhaven," but this was never officially approved and fell out of favor quickly, replaced with the name Alexandria upon official incorporation in 1779.
Alexandria was included in the area chosen by George Washington in 1791 to become the District of Columbia. George Washington was also the land surveyor that sketched the shoreline where the city would eventually be.
In 1814 - during the War of 1812, Alexandria suffered an attack by the British which was successful. The surrender of the city allowed the British to loot from the town stores - including flour, sugar, and wine. After three days, the British troops withdrew to rally forces for another attack.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Alexandria was:
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 74,818 | 2.09 | 42.7 | 57.3 |
| Non Family | 40,317 | 1.26 | 36.5 | 63.5 |
| Married | 26,185 | 3.02 | 57.2 | 42.8 |
| Female | 5,906 | 3.22 | 26.6 | 73.4 |
| Male | 2,410 | 3.02 | 28 | 72 |
2.96
Average Family Size
2.09
Average Household Size
42.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 81.58%.
All
Male
Female
$79,069
Average Earnings
$82,088
Average Male
$75,904
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
69.94% of Alexandria residents speak only English, while 30.06% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 12.84% of the population.
rate
8.82%
Overall Poverty Rate
8.11%
Male Poverty Rate
9.5%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Alexandria is Other, with 20.98% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Alexandria is White, with 3.98% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.93%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.83%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.54%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
42.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.2%
Male Marriage Rate
39.6%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
3.16%
Veteran Poverty Rate
12.45%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
78%
Labor Force Participation
73.2%
Employment Rate
3.2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
22.9%
Born in Alexandria
75.54%
Native Born
24.46%
Foreign Born
12.73%
Non Citizen
11.73%
Naturalized
75.54% of Alexandria residents were born in the United States, with 22.9% having been born in Virginia. 12.73% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 142,925 | -1,800 | -1.24% |
| 2028 | 144,725 | -1,800 | -1.23% |
| 2027 | 146,525 | -1,800 | -1.21% |
| 2026 | 148,325 | -1,800 | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 150,125 | -1,800 | -1.18% |
| 2024 | 151,925 | -1,800 | -1.17% |
| 2023 | 153,725 | -1,800 | -1.16% |
| 2022 | 155,525 | 322 | 0.21% |
| 2021 | 155,203 | -3,922 | -2.46% |
| 2020 | 159,125 | 75 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 159,050 | 673 | 0.42% |
| 2018 | 158,377 | -395 | -0.25% |
| 2017 | 158,772 | 2,151 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 156,621 | 2,762 | 1.8% |
| 2015 | 153,859 | 2,315 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | 151,544 | 1,777 | 1.19% |
| 2013 | 149,767 | 2,388 | 1.62% |
| 2012 | 147,379 | 3,110 | 2.16% |
| 2011 | 144,269 | 3,532 | 2.51% |
| 2010 | 140,737 | 12,454 | 9.71% |
| 2000 | 128,283 | 17,100 | 15.38% |
| 1990 | 111,183 | 7,966 | 7.72% |
| 1980 | 103,217 | -7,710 | -6.95% |
| 1970 | 110,927 | 19,904 | 21.87% |
| 1960 | 91,023 | 29,236 | 47.32% |
| 1950 | 61,787 | 28,264 | 84.31% |
| 1940 | 33,523 | 9,374 | 38.82% |
| 1930 | 24,149 | 6,089 | 33.72% |
| 1920 | 18,060 | 2,731 | 17.82% |
| 1910 | 15,329 | 801 | 5.51% |
| 1900 | 14,528 | 189 | 1.32% |
| 1890 | 14,339 | 680 | 4.98% |
| 1880 | 13,659 | 89 | 0.66% |
| 1870 | 13,570 | 918 | 7.26% |
| 1860 | 12,652 | 3,918 | 44.86% |
| 1850 | 8,734 | 234 | 2.75% |
| 1840 | 8,500 | 300 | 3.66% |
| 1830 | 8,200 | 0 | 0% |
| 1820 | 8,200 | 1,000 | 13.89% |
| 1810 | 7,200 | 2,200 | 44% |
| 1800 | 5,000 | 2,252 | 81.95% |
| 1790 | 2,748 | 0 | 0% |