Alexandria vs Arlington VA — Which Is Right for You | Samantha Bard
Alexandria and Arlington sit side by side just across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., and buyers often have both on their list. They share a border, Metro lines, and quick access to Reagan National Airport. But they work differently in ways that matter once you own a home. Alexandria is an independent city with roots going back to 1749. Arlington is a county with no incorporated towns inside it. Tax rates, transit, home styles, and renovation rules all differ. So does what an Alexandria mailing address actually means, which surprises plenty of buyers on their first search.Samantha Bard, REALTOR® ABR|SRS with Coldwell Banker Realty, helps buyers weigh these trade-offs every week. This Alexandria and Arlington real estate comparison covers 10 practical differences, from Metro stations to historic district rules. It ends with answers to the questions buyers ask most. Use it to narrow your search before you start touring.
10 Key Differences Between Alexandria and Arlington VA
1. An Independent City vs. a Self-Governing County
Alexandria has been an independent city since 1870, so it is not part of any county. It covers about 15 square miles and has its own mayor, city council, and city services.
Arlington is a county, but an unusual one. Arlington County calls itself the geographically smallest self-governing county in the U.S., at about 25.8 square miles, and there are no incorporated towns or cities inside its boundaries. The County Board handles the services a town would handle elsewhere.
Fun fact: the two places used to share more than a border. Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood was part of Arlington County until it was annexed by the city in 1930.
2. Real Estate Tax Rates
Each jurisdiction sets its own real estate tax rate every spring. In April 2026, Alexandria City Council kept its rate at $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026. The Arlington County Board raised its rate two cents, to $1.053 per $100.
On a home assessed at $800,000, that works out to about $9,080 a year in Alexandria and about $8,424 in Arlington, before any added fees or district taxes. Assessments, not just rates, drive your bill, so compare the actual assessment history for any home you're considering.
Both jurisdictions also charge personal property tax on vehicles. Samantha Bard's blog has more Northern Virginia real estate tips on building a full monthly budget before you make an offer.
3. Metro Access
Arlington has 11 of the region's 86 Metrorail stations, served by the Orange, Silver, Blue, and Yellow Lines. The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor runs along the Orange and Silver Lines, while Pentagon City, Crystal City, and National Airport sit on the Blue and Yellow Lines.
Alexandria has five stations: King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street, and Potomac Yard, which opened in May 2023. They are served by the Blue and Yellow Lines. Van Dorn Street sits right on the city line, with its entrance in Alexandria and its platform in Fairfax County.
If you plan to ride Metro daily, map the walk from a specific address to the nearest platform. Two homes a few blocks apart can have very different commutes.
4. Commuter Rail, Airport, and Highways
Alexandria has an edge for train travel. Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) both stop at Alexandria's Union Station near King Street, which is handy for trips south toward Fredericksburg and Richmond or north to Union Station in D.C. Arlington's VRE stop is at Crystal City.
Reagan National Airport sits inside Arlington, and it is a short drive or a few Metro stops from most of both communities. For drivers, Arlington connects to I-66, I-395, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Alexandria connects to I-395, Route 1, and the Capital Beltway at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
Test your actual route during the hours you'd normally travel. Rush hour can change a drive a lot in both places.
5. Housing Styles and Inventory
Alexandria offers a wide mix in a small area. You'll find 18th- and 19th-century rowhouses in Old Town, early 1900s bungalows and colonials in Del Ray, newer townhomes and condos at Potomac Yard and Carlyle, and many condo and townhome communities in the West End.
In Arlington real estate, the biggest pattern is location relative to Metro. High-rise condos and apartments cluster near stations along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and in National Landing. Garden-style condos are common throughout the county, and single-family neighborhoods make up most of the land area farther from the stations.
If you're open to both, it helps to decide on home type first. That choice often narrows your search more than the city-or-county question does.
6. Historic District Rules
Old Town Alexandria was designated a historic district in 1946, the third in the country. Today, many exterior changes visible from a public street in the Old and Historic Alexandria District and the Parker-Gray District need approval from the city's Board of Architectural Review.
That review covers things like windows, doors, siding, roofing, and additions. Some minor work can be approved by city staff. If you're buying in either district and plan to update the exterior, build the review time into your plans.
Arlington has a smaller number of locally designated historic districts, reviewed by its Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board. Most Arlington homes sit outside those districts, so exterior projects there usually follow standard permitting.
7. Main Streets and Walkable Hubs
Alexandria's best-known main street is King Street, which runs from the King Street-Old Town Metro down to the Potomac waterfront, lined with shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray is a second main street, with locally owned shops, cafes, and a weekly farmers market.
Arlington's hubs grew up around its Metro stations. Clarendon, Ballston, and Rosslyn each have their own mix of restaurants, shops, and offices. Shirlington Village and Columbia Pike add more dining and entertainment options away from the Orange Line.
Visit on a weekday evening and a Saturday morning. You'll get a better feel for the pace of each area than you will from a single tour.
8. Waterfront, Parks, and Trails
Alexandria's Old Town waterfront has a nearly continuous line of riverfront parks, along with the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former munitions plant that now holds artist studios and galleries. The Mount Vernon Trail runs along the river through Old Town, from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate north to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Arlington maintains 164 county parks and about 53 miles of off-street multi-use trails. The Custis Trail runs along I-66 and links the W&OD Trail with the Mount Vernon Trail near Rosslyn, so cyclists can head west toward Vienna and Reston or south toward Alexandria.
If trail access matters to you, check how close a specific address is to the nearest entry point. It can vary a lot block to block.
9. Employers and New Development
Arlington is home to the Pentagon and to Amazon's second headquarters at National Landing, where the first phase, Metropolitan Park, opened in 2023. The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor holds a large share of the county's offices, and several universities run campuses in the county.
Alexandria is home to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office headquarters in Carlyle. At Potomac Yard, the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus opened in January 2025 next to the new Metro station, and the surrounding area continues to fill in with homes, offices, and shops.
If you're moving here for a new job in either area, Samantha's Northern Virginia relocation services can help you plan a search around your start date and commute.
10. School Divisions and Address Checks
Each community has a single public school division. Homes in the City of Alexandria are served by Alexandria City Public Schools, and homes in Arlington are served by Arlington Public Schools. Both divisions publish official boundary lookup tools.
Here's the catch: an Alexandria mailing address does not always mean the City of Alexandria. Many homes with Alexandria addresses, including areas along Route 1 and near Kingstowne, sit in Fairfax County instead, with county taxes, county services, and Fairfax County Public Schools.
Always confirm the jurisdiction and assigned schools for a specific address directly with the locality or school division before you write an offer.
FAQs
Q: Is it better to live in Alexandria or Arlington VA?
A: It depends on your priorities. Arlington has more Metro stations and four Metro lines, while Alexandria has Amtrak and VRE service at its Union Station and historic neighborhoods like Old Town and Del Ray. Compare tax rates, commute, and home type for the specific addresses you like. Samantha Bard can help you weigh them side by side.
Q: Which has lower property taxes, Alexandria or Arlington?
A: For the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026, Arlington's real estate tax rate is $1.053 per $100 of assessed value and Alexandria's is $1.135 per $100. Your actual bill depends on your home's assessment, so compare assessment history for any home you're considering.
Q: Is Alexandria part of Arlington or Fairfax County?
A: No. The City of Alexandria has been an independent city since 1870 and is not part of any county. Many homes with an Alexandria mailing address sit in Fairfax County, though, so confirm the jurisdiction for any address.
Q: Which has better Metro access, Alexandria or Arlington?
A: Arlington has 11 Metrorail stations on the Orange, Silver, Blue, and Yellow Lines. Alexandria has five stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines, including Potomac Yard, which opened in 2023. The better fit depends on where you work and how close a specific home is to a station.
Q: How do I decide between Alexandria and Arlington?
A: Start with your budget, your commute, and the type of home you want. Then tour a few neighborhoods in each on the same day. Samantha Bard offers buyer consultations and can build a search across both areas around your timeline and priorities.
Ready to Compare Alexandria and Arlington Homes?
If you're torn between Alexandria and Arlington, let's look at real listings in both and talk through what matters most to you, from a short walk to Metro to an Old Town rowhouse. Samantha Bard can set up a side-by-side search, tour both areas with you, and help you move with confidence when the right home comes up. Do you have time to talk this week?
Samantha Bard, REALTOR® | ABR | SRS
Coldwell Banker Realty
📞 (703) 298-2651 | ✉ samantha.bard@cbmove.com | 🌐 www.samanthabard.com
Virginia License #0225198344 | Equal Housing Opportunity