Alexandria, VA

Alexandria VA scores 60/100 on safety (below average). Crime is near the national average. Expect more property crime (car break-ins, package theft) than a quiet suburb.

Detail: overall crime index 100 (100 = avg); violent crime index 69; property crime index 131. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

School quality varies by neighborhood in Alexandria. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP.

Typical rent in Alexandria is about $2,089/month (expensive). At $2,089/month for a typical unit, you need about $75,204+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $735,100.

Median household income is $119,681, property taxes run about 1.45%, and homes typically sell in around 28 days. Local median income ($119,681) clears the $75,204 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 64°F (highs near 72°F, lows near 56°F).

You can be outside most of the year without extreme gear. Heating and cooling costs are usually moderate compared with hotter or colder metros. If you visit, go in winter or midsummer (not only in spring) to see the extremes.

Who tends to thrive in Alexandria: (1) Dual-income households (at $2,089/month, the rent math works much better with two salaries) (2) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and local pay near $119,681 helps carry housing costs) (3) Households earning $75,204+ who can clear the 3× rent rule at $2,089/month (4) Movers with a locked job offer in Alexandria who already priced rent and commute

Who should look elsewhere: (1) People with young kids who want to let them roam freely (crime pressure is real here; safety 60/100) (2) Single earners under $70k (the rent-to-income ratio is tight at $2,089/month) (3) Anyone stretching past 40% of take-home on housing at $2,089/month

Income sniff test: clear about $75,204 household income for $2,089/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Alexandria is a mixed picture. Safety is average and rent at $2,089/month is on the high side. It works for the right household but is not an obvious choice.