Arlington vs Alexandria: The 2026 Moving & Living Guide
Arlington and Alexandria sit right next to each other along the Potomac, but they feel like different cities — one is Metro-first, glass-tower, career-forward Northern Virginia; the other is cobblestone, waterfront, and the oldest tree-lined blocks in the DMV. Here's how they compare on the four things that actually decide where people land: housing cost, commute to DC, schools, and neighborhood vibe.
Short Answer
Pick Arlington if you want the shortest commute to DC, the best public schools in Northern Virginia, and a Metro-oriented lifestyle with newer high-rises. Pick Alexandria if you want more space for the money, a walkable historic downtown, and a slower, more residential feel. Both are safe, well-served by our moving crews (ZIPs 22202, 22206, 22301, 22314), and share the same low Virginia car tax and grocery tax.
Quick Comparison Table
| Category | Arlington | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Median 1BR rent (2026) | ~$2,400 | ~$2,050 |
| Median single-family home | ~$1.15M | ~$925K |
| Commute to DC (avg) | 10-20 min | 20-35 min |
| Metro lines | Blue, Orange, Silver, Yellow | Blue, Yellow |
| Public school ranking | Top 5 in Virginia | Middle of state |
| Walkability of downtown core | Rosslyn/Ballston: 85+ | Old Town: 90+ |
| Population | ~240,000 | ~160,000 |
| Feel | Newer, denser, career-driven | Historic, residential, waterfront |
Housing Cost: Alexandria Wins on Value
If your budget is fixed, Alexandria stretches further. Across every property type — one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom condos, and single-family houses — Alexandria averages roughly 15-20% less than the comparable Arlington neighborhood.
What $2,400/month rents in each city
- Arlington: a modern one-bedroom in Ballston, Courthouse, or Pentagon City with in-unit laundry and a gym.
- Alexandria: a two-bedroom townhouse in Del Ray or a spacious one-bedroom in Old Town with dedicated parking.
What $1M buys
- Arlington: a 2-bedroom condo in Clarendon, or a small (1,200-1,400 sqft) 1950s bungalow in South Arlington needing updates.
- Alexandria: a 3-bedroom townhouse in Del Ray, a renovated 4-bedroom colonial in the West End, or a small Old Town row house needing work.
Old Town Alexandria (ZIP 22314) is the one Alexandria submarket that competes with — and sometimes beats — North Arlington on price per square foot. Federal-era row houses on Prince, Duke, and Queen Streets regularly clear $1.5M for 1,800 sqft.
Commute to DC: Arlington Is Faster, Full Stop
If you work downtown DC (Foggy Bottom, Farragut, Metro Center, Capitol Hill), Arlington is faster from almost every neighborhood.
Arlington commute averages
- Rosslyn to Foggy Bottom: 3 minutes on Metro (Orange/Silver).
- Courthouse to Farragut West: 12 minutes on Metro.
- Pentagon City to L'Enfant Plaza: 8 minutes on Metro (Blue/Yellow).
- Ballston to Metro Center: 20 minutes on Metro.
Alexandria commute averages
- King Street-Old Town to L'Enfant Plaza: 20 minutes on Metro (Blue/Yellow).
- Braddock Road to Gallery Place: 22 minutes on Metro.
- Van Dorn Street to Farragut West: 35 minutes on Metro.
- Driving Old Town to downtown DC via GW Parkway: 25-40 minutes at rush hour.
The Alexandria trade-off: many Alexandria commuters drive to a Metro station rather than walk, adding parking hassle and cost ($5-$6/day at Van Dorn or Franconia-Springfield).
Schools: Arlington Public Schools Have the Edge
Arlington Public Schools (APS) is consistently among the top-rated districts in Virginia. Its high schools — Washington-Liberty, Yorktown, Wakefield, and H-B Woodlawn — post 95%+ graduation rates and strong AP participation. Elementary and middle schools are well-funded and small (average class size around 22).
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has one comprehensive high school, Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams, the school from Remember the Titans), which is one of the largest in Virginia. State test scores rank in the middle of the state overall, though ACPS has strong International Baccalaureate and magnet programs, particularly in STEM.
Because Alexandria has one main high school for the whole city, your specific ZIP doesn't determine your school like it does in Arlington. In Arlington, school boundaries are a real factor in choosing a neighborhood — homes zoned for Yorktown or Washington-Liberty command a 5-10% premium.
Neighborhood Vibe: Different Cities, Different Weekends
Arlington neighborhoods you should know
- Rosslyn / Courthouse / Clarendon / Virginia Square / Ballston (the R-B Corridor): Dense, Metro-first, mostly high-rise apartments and condos with new restaurants and rooftop bars. Popular with young professionals and Amazon HQ2 workers.
- Pentagon City / Crystal City (National Landing): Amazon HQ2 gravity. New towers, walking distance to Reagan National, easiest single-seat Metro to L'Enfant.
- North Arlington (Cherrydale, Lyon Village, Waverly Hills): Single-family homes, tree-lined streets, strong schools, family-oriented.
- Shirlington: Compact walkable "village" with restaurants, a movie theater, and Signature Theatre — quieter than the R-B corridor but not on the Metro.
Alexandria neighborhoods you should know
- Old Town (ZIP 22314): Cobblestone streets, Federal row houses, waterfront restaurants, Torpedo Factory Art Center, and a Saturday farmers market that has run since 1753. Instagram-famous, expensive.
- Del Ray: "Where Main Street still exists." Single-family bungalows, independent shops on Mount Vernon Avenue, monthly First Thursday street festivals, family-heavy.
- Rosemont & Beverley Hills: Craftsman and colonial homes on quiet, walkable streets near King Street Metro.
- West End (near I-395): More affordable, high-rise-heavy, diverse, closer to Bailey's Crossroads.
- Eisenhower Valley: Newer development along the Metro Yellow line, home to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Taxes, Fees & Everyday Costs
Both cities are in Virginia, so most tax rates are similar — but there are small differences worth knowing.
| Item | Arlington | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate tax rate (2026) | $1.014 / $100 | $1.135 / $100 |
| Personal property (car) tax | $5.00 / $100 | $5.33 / $100 |
| Sales tax | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Meals tax | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| Vehicle registration decal | $33/yr | $33/yr |
Alexandria's higher real-estate and meals-tax rates offset some of its lower housing prices — worth budgeting into a rent-vs-buy comparison.
Moving Between Arlington and Alexandria
An Arlington-to-Alexandria (or vice versa) move is the single most common local move we do — the two cities are 15 minutes apart on I-395, share ZIPs like 22202 (which technically straddles both), and thousands of people every year move across the county line as they change jobs, add a kid, or downsize.
Typical local-move cost
- Studio / 1BR apartment: $540 - $900 (3-4 movers, 3-5 hours).
- 2BR apartment or townhouse: $900 - $1,600 (3-4 movers, 5-7 hours).
- 3-4BR single-family home: $1,600 - $2,800 (4-5 movers, 7-10 hours).
Things that affect the price
- Old Town Alexandria: narrow streets and no driveways — a parking permit (or reserved cones) is often needed. Budget an extra $50-$100 in permit fees.
- Arlington high-rises: elevator reservations and COIs (Certificates of Insurance) are almost always required. Book the freight elevator at least a week ahead.
- Stairs vs elevator: a 3rd-floor walk-up in Del Ray or Clarendon adds roughly 45-60 minutes of labor.
Both cities are covered by our long-distance moving service. The most common inbound routes we handle are NYC, Boston, and Charlotte — see our long-distance moving guide for how the FaceTime quote and delivery-window process works.
Which City Is Right for You?
Choose Arlington if...
- You work in DC and take Metro daily.
- You have school-age kids and want the strongest public schools in NoVA.
- You prefer newer construction with amenities (gyms, rooftops, in-unit laundry).
- You want to live close to the Amazon HQ2 / National Landing economy.
Choose Alexandria if...
- You want more space and a yard for the money.
- You love historic architecture and a walkable, restaurant-dense downtown.
- You're okay with a 25-35 minute commute (or work in Old Town, Crystal City, or the Pentagon).
- You prefer a slower, more residential neighborhood feel over a career-corridor vibe.
Moving to Arlington or Alexandria?
We move families between these two cities every week. Local flat-rate quotes in 60 seconds.
Call (703) 888-8332Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arlington or Alexandria safer?
Both consistently rank among the safest cities their size in the DC metro. Arlington's overall violent-crime rate is slightly lower per capita, but the difference is small and neighborhood-specific.
Which has better restaurants?
Arlington wins on volume and variety — the R-B corridor and National Landing added dozens of new restaurants around HQ2. Alexandria wins on ambiance — waterfront dining in Old Town and the independent Del Ray scene are hard to match.
Can I keep my job in DC if I move to Alexandria?
Absolutely — thousands do. Blue and Yellow line Metro service runs from King Street and Braddock Road stations directly into downtown DC. Budget 20-35 minutes door to door depending on your DC office.
Do I need a car in either city?
In Arlington's R-B corridor and Pentagon City, you can live car-free — Metro and Capital Bikeshare cover most trips. In Old Town Alexandria you can go car-light. Elsewhere in either city, a car is very useful for grocery runs and weekend trips.
How long does an Arlington-to-Alexandria move take?
Most one-bedroom moves finish in 4-5 hours door to door; a 3-bedroom townhouse move typically runs 7-9 hours including drive time between addresses (usually 15-25 minutes).
Is the military discount available for moves between these cities?
Yes — Top Movers Pro's 5% military discount applies to any local or long-distance move for active-duty, reserves, National Guard, and veterans. Bring orders or ID at booking.