Neighborhoods in Alexandria, Virginia, sit within a few miles of each other and still trade like separate markets, with median prices that differ by six figures and selling speeds ranging from five days to over a month. This guide compares Old Town, Del Ray and Rosemont on prices, pace, Metro access, taxes and flood exposure, and explains a historic district rule that catches buyers off guard after closing. It's for buyers choosing between addresses inside the city, including anyone moving from Washington DC.
Quick Facts
- The citywide median sale price was $736,450 over the three months ending August 2026, up 11.2% year over year, at a median of $458 per square foot (Redfin).
- Homes took a median of 40 days to sell citywide, up from 34 a year earlier, and Redfin gives the city a Compete Score of 71 out of 100.
- Old Town's median sale price was $1,101,968 and Del Ray's was $945,000 in Redfin's most recent three-month readings, a gap of roughly $157,000.
- The City of Alexandria real estate tax rate for calendar year 2026 is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, with property assessed at 100% of fair market value.
- Five Metrorail stations serve the city on the Blue and Yellow Lines: King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road, Eisenhower Avenue, Potomac Yard and Van Dorn Street.
How Alexandria VA Neighborhoods Differ on Price and Pace
The citywide numbers hide more than they show. Across Alexandria, the median sale price reached $736,450 over the three months ending August 2026, up 11.2% from a year earlier, according to Redfin. Homes sold at 99.8% of list on average, 31% closed above list, and 28.4% took a price drop along the way.
Those averages cover a city where one neighborhood runs past a million and the next sits $157,000 below it, and where pace ranged from under a week to past a month against a 40-day citywide median.
Old Town Alexandria Homes
Old Town is the highest-priced of the three areas here. Redfin put the median sale price at $1,101,968 over the three months ending August 2026, up 3.7% year over year, at $736 per square foot. That per-foot figure rose 14.4%, faster than the median itself, which usually means smaller homes are carrying more of the volume.
Homes took a median of 38 days to sell, up from 27. Redfin scores Old Town 73 out of 100 on competitiveness, with the average home going under contract around list price. Walk Score rates it 84 out of 100, a level it classifies as Very Walkable.
Flood Exposure Is the Old Town Question to Settle Early
Flood risk here runs well above the city as a whole. First Street data published through Redfin puts 26% of Old Town properties at risk of severe flooding over the next 30 years, against 11% citywide. That says nothing about a specific house, so pull the FEMA flood zone for the address, ask whether an elevation certificate exists, and get insurance quotes during due diligence.
Del Ray Alexandria Homes for Sale
Del Ray moves faster than Old Town. The median was $945,000 in Redfin's most recent three-month reading, up 18.1% year over year, at $607 per square foot. Redfin scores it 96 out of 100 on competitiveness, with the average home selling about 3% above list and going pending in roughly five days. Sale-to-list ran 101.9%, and 44.4% of homes closed above asking.
That pace shapes how you shop. Buyers who are pre-approved and clear on their criteria are better positioned when a Del Ray listing comes up. Walk Score rates the neighborhood 84 with a Bike Score of 86, and First Street puts 10% of properties at risk of severe flooding over 30 years.
Rosemont Alexandria Real Estate
Rosemont sits northwest of Old Town. Its historic district covers about 84 acres and more than 450 residences built between 1908 and 1941, and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It was laid out as an early streetcar suburb beside Alexandria Union Station, and the housing stock shows it: Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquares, Arts and Crafts houses and Colonial Revivals.
The district runs roughly between Commonwealth Avenue, West Walnut Street, Russell Road, Rucker Place and King Street, and much of it is within walking distance of either King Street-Old Town or Braddock Road station.
On price it sits between the other two. Redfin's most recent reading for the district, covering the three months ending March 2026, put the median sale price at $955,000 at $714 per square foot, with homes taking a median of 22 days to sell and a sale-to-list ratio of 100.4%. Read the year-over-year movement with caution, because only nine homes sold in that period and a single sale moves the percentage a long way.
What Historic District Status Actually Controls
Historic district status can limit what you're allowed to change, and what those changes cost. Alexandria has seven National Register historic districts: Fairlington, the Alexandria Historic District, Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Uptown/Parker-Gray, Parkfairfax, Rosemont and the Town of Potomac. Only two are regulated locally: the Old and Historic Alexandria District and the Parker-Gray District. According to the city, changes in the other five don't require architectural review board approval.
In the two locally regulated districts, the Board of Architectural Review must approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for new construction and for exterior changes visible from a public way. Removing more than 25 square feet also requires a Permit to Demolish. Buildings on the city's 100-year-old building list fall under the same board even outside these districts. Note that the local district lines don't match the National Register boundaries.
As a result, a Rosemont home marketed as historic generally isn't subject to city design review, while an Old Town address usually is. If you're planning replacement windows, a rear addition or any demolition, check the city's historic preservation map for that address first.
Metro Access and Commuting to DC
Five Metrorail stations serve the city on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Potomac Yard-VT is the newest, opening in May 2023 as Metro's 98th station, built in between the Braddock Road and Reagan National Airport stops.
King Street-Old Town doubles as a regional hub. Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains stop at Alexandria Union Station beside it, with VRE running its Manassas and Fredericksburg lines on weekdays, and fare-free DASH buses connect to every Metro station in the city. Walk Score gives Alexandria a Transit Score of 55, labeled Good Transit, though that figure flattens a real gap between blocks near a station and blocks that need a bus first.
Alexandria VA Property Taxes and What Else You Will Pay
Alexandria set its real estate tax rate at $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for calendar year 2026, and assesses property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1. On the citywide median of $736,450, that is roughly $8,360 a year before anything else.
Two city charges are billed alongside it: a residential refuse fee of $500 per can per year and a stormwater utility fee of $324.10 per equivalent residential unit. Alexandria also levies an annual vehicle personal property tax of $5.33 per $100, a real budget line for anyone moving from DC with a car. Condo and HOA fees sit on top, so ask for the budget, the reserve study and any planned special assessments before your contingencies run out.
What schools serve Alexandria, Virginia?
Alexandria addresses are served by Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). School assignments vary by address, and ACPS recently redrew its boundaries, so confirm the current assignment for any home before you buy.
For performance data, enrollment details and boundary confirmation, these sources are maintained independently of this office:
- ACPS Attendance Zone Locator: assignment by address
- Virginia School Quality Profiles: Virginia's official school data
- GreatSchools: third-party ratings and parent reviews
Independent and parochial schools also operate nearby. The Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington maintains a full directory.
We do not evaluate or rank schools. All information above is sourced from third parties and provided equally to every client, in accordance with the Fair Housing Act. We do not steer buyers toward or away from any neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this guide compare Old Town, Del Ray and Rosemont?
They sit within about two miles of each other and price very differently. Redfin put Old Town at a $1,101,968 median and Del Ray at $945,000, while Rosemont offers period housing near two Metro stations. The same comparison works for any Alexandria neighborhood on your list.
Should I buy in Del Ray or Old Town?
They differ on price, pace and flood exposure, so it depends on your priorities. Del Ray's median was $945,000 at $607 per square foot, with homes going pending in about five days and 44.4% closing above list. Old Town's was $1,101,968 at $736 per square foot over a 38-day median, and First Street puts 26% of its properties at severe flood risk over 30 years against 10% in Del Ray.
How does buying in Alexandria compare with Washington DC?
Alexandria is the more competitive of the two markets right now. Redfin scores it 71 out of 100 against 47 for Washington DC, where the average home sells about 2% below list and goes pending in around 61 days, against roughly 40 days in Alexandria. The tax structures differ too, so run both sets of numbers with your lender before comparing monthly costs.
What are property taxes in Alexandria VA?
The 2026 real estate tax rate is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, with property assessed at 100% of fair market value. On the citywide median sale price of $736,450 that comes to about $8,360 a year. A residential refuse fee of $500 per can and a stormwater utility fee of $324.10 per equivalent residential unit are billed with it.
Which Alexandria neighborhoods are closest to Metro?
Old Town and Rosemont sit nearest to King Street-Old Town and Braddock Road. Potomac Yard opened in 2023 between Braddock Road and Reagan National, Eisenhower Avenue serves the Eisenhower Valley corridor, and Van Dorn Street covers the west end. Walking distance varies within each neighborhood, so check the specific block rather than the name.
Comparing Alexandria Neighborhoods on Your Own Short List
Choosing between Alexandria VA neighborhoods comes down to the numbers attached to a specific address rather than the reputation attached to a name. Daniel Brewer at Advisory Partners DMV can pull comparables for the blocks you are considering, check historic district and flood status before you write an offer, and work through what a property would cost to own month to month.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Daniel Brewer and Advisory Partners DMV comply with the Fair Housing Act and provide equal professional service to all, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, familial status, national origin, source of income, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
