Arlington vs Alexandria VA: Best DC Suburb for Families?

Arlington and Alexandria might share an “A” and a border, but that’s where the similarities end. Living in each is as different as Buffy’s country club pool and Cletus’s tarp-lined pool in the bed of his pickup truck. 

One wins on historic charm, the other wins on development. One wins on water views, the other on convenience. One wins on schools, the other…doesn’t. 

There are Arlington people and there are Alexandria people, and they are not the same people. In this video, I’m going to break down living in Arlington and Alexandria. Which one are you? At the end, I’ll give you my honest take on who should choose Arlington and who should choose Alexandria.

One thing to know before we dive in – Arlington is a county and everyone there has an Arlington mailing address. Alexandria is trickier. The City of Alexandria is inside the beltway and is different from the part of Alexandria that is outside the beltway and within Fairfax County. Today’s video is about the City of Alexandria.

Round 1: Commute & Location

Let’s start with commute and location, because your future self, sitting in traffic, would like a vote.

Arlington is in the most convenient spot, just across the Potomac River from DC. You’re basically in the middle of a triangle of major job centers: downtown DC, Tysons Corner, and the Dulles tech corridor, plus the Pentagon and National Landing / Amazon HQ2 right next door.

On top of that, you have two airports in easy reach – Reagan National literally in Arlington, and Dulles about 35 minutes away. There are also multiple Metro lines feeding straight into DC and out toward Tysons and Ashburn.

The City of Alexandria is just south of Arlington along the river. There are several neighborhoods that comprise the City of Alexandria – Old Town, Del Ray, Rosemont, North Ridge, Seminary Hill, Landmark, Eisenhower. Many areas of the City of Alexandria are still very commutable to DC and the Pentagon, especially if you can are close to one of the two metro stations.

As you move further west into the West End of Alexandria, your commute will get a bit longer. You’ll use highways like 395 and 95, or you’ll drive to a Metro station and then ride in.

Both Arlington and Alexandria are close-in suburbs. Both can work for DC or Pentagon commutes. Arlington wins though on shortest, simplest commute into the city. But, commute may not matter if Alexandria’s charming, old-Virginia more residential lifestyle is what you want.

Round 2: Lifestyle & Neighborhood Feel

What does it actually feel like to live in these places?

People who are from Arlington are going to hate this, but, Arlington has a very distinct split.

North Arlington includes two different types of neighborhoods:

• Busy and Bustling – the Orange Line corridor neighborhoods Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square, Ballston. This is where you get a lot of walkability, condos, townhouses, and more expensive single-family homes. It’s very popular with professionals who still want an urban-ish lifestyle and to walk to coffee, restaurants, parks, and to hop on the Metro.
• Quiet and Community – the leafy, established neighborhoods like Cherrydale, Yorktown, Williamsburg Village.

Busy and Bustling attracts more singles and young professionals. The quieter areas in the northern parts of Arlington tend to attract more families.

South Arlington includes areas like Columbia Pike, Shirlington, and Pentagon City and Crystal City. Still close-in, still with bus routes and some walkable pockets, but a bit more mixed in terms of housing types and price points. You’ll find garden-style condos, townhomes, and single-family homes, often at slightly more affordable prices than prime North Arlington.

One thing that doesn’t always sink in is how much outdoor space Arlington families get to use. There are big parks like Potomac Overlook and Glebe Road Park in North Arlington, dozens of smaller neighborhood parks, spray grounds, and dog parks scattered all over the county.

You’ve also got serious trails. The Mount Vernon Trail runs 18 miles along the Potomac and the W&OD Trail starts in Shirlington and runs 45 miles all the way out to Purcellville.

Arlington’s Parks & Rec program is kind of on steroids – in a good way. Classes, camps, sports, pools, a huge gymnastics program, tennis, you name it. Even as a DC resident, I’ve managed to enroll my kids into a couple of those classes when there’s leftover space.

I know that people who live in Arlington do not like to feel like they are “different” from other parts of Arlington. But the truth is, there are many different vibes in Arlington. South Arlington feels a little more down to earth than the busier feel along the orange line neighborhoods. The quieter neighborhoods in North-North Arlington feel like there’s more wealth here because prices are indeed higher.

Overall, Arlington feels like “urban suburb.” It’s dense, has lots of amenities, great city access, and is increasingly expensive.

Alexandria, especially Old Town, has all the makings of “Old Colonial Virginia.”

Old Town and Del Ray have a lot of charm and character. Old Town has brick sidewalks, historic rowhouses, and a string of waterfront parks. Del Ray has a very “small town main street” feel, with local shops and restaurants. Rosemont and Seminary Hill are quaint areas with cool homes and a great sense of community. 

As you move west into the West End of the City of Alexandria, it starts to feel a bit more suburban in areas and commercial in others. There are more condos and townhomes, more driving, and less postcard charm.

So, if you want the “urban suburb, lots of glass and new construction” vibe, or you have the deep pockets required for the homes in North Arlington, or you like the more down-to-earth vibe of South Arlington, you’ll probably lean Arlington. If you love historic charm or classic suburban neighborhoods with yards, Alexandria – especially Old Town, Del Ray, Rosemont, Seminary Hill might feel more like home.

Arlington feels like movers and shakers, get-things-done people. Alexandria feels a little less business, a little more fun. That’s my opinion, not gospel, so don’t come for me in the comments.

Round 3: Housing & Affordability

Let’s talk housing and affordability, because this is where people’s dreams and their budgets have a very real conversation. This is not a market where you’re going to find “cheap” anything, but there are differences.

In Arlington, especially North Arlington along the Orange Line, expect higher prices for both condos and single-family homes. Tear-downs turned into new construction are common. If you want a walkable neighborhood, top-rated schools, and an easy commute to DC, you will pay for it. Expanded cape cods can easily sell for $1.5M, and the McMansions can go well over $2.5M.

South Arlington can be more affordable relative to North Arlington, but even “more affordable” here is still not entry-level cheap. You’re mostly trading a little more commute / a little less prestige for a slightly better purchase price. There’s more variety in housing stock – old bungalows, ramblers and also McMansions.

The upside? Once you’re in, your home value tends to stay strong because demand doesn’t really let up.

In Alexandria, Old Town and Del Ray are very desirable, very charming, and very expensive. West End is a bit more affordable than Old Town, more condos and townhomes, still close-in but less polished charm. In some areas, almost no charm.

If you want to be painfully realistic, here’s the general pattern. In Arlington you pay more for location and schools, especially in the north. In Alexandria you pay for charm in the neighborhoods with charm, but we do need to talk about schools so let’s do that next. 

Round 4: Schools – Arlington vs Alexandria

Okay, let’s talk schools, because this is usually the point where people go one way or the other.

I am not here to tell you where to send your kids to school. I am here to tell you what I see on the ground, what my clients tell me, and what’s been happening recently.

Arlington Public Schools are generally well-regarded with a reputation for strong academics, high per-student spending and… a lot of administrators relative to the number of students. There have been some issues, like in any district. Everything from safety concerns to governance questions. But overall, many families feel good about Arlington schools, especially in certain pyramids.

If you just look at test scores, the two North Arlington high schools, Yorktown and Washington–Liberty, rank higher than Wakefield in South Arlington. But half of Wakefield’s students have English as a second language. That alone pulls scores down on paper in a way that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Elementary schools tend to score well on the online rating sites. Middle school scores slide a bit, but that’s not unique to Arlington. Middle school is rough everywhere.

Now for the City of Alexandria. There’s a simple way I put this: no one has ever said, “We’re moving to the City of Alexandria for the schools.” They’ve lagged behind other Northern Virginia districts in performance for years and by years, I mean decades. They’ve had significant turnover in principals and staff. And then there’s the high school situation.

Alexandria has one high school serving the entire city, with an enrollment around 4500 students across grades 9–12. They are split into two buildings but, that’s still not a high school, that’s a small college. Those numbers are unmanageable for even the best administrators and staff.

So if schools are a priority for you, Arlington is hands-down the safer bet between Arlington and the City of Alexandria.

Round 5: Think of the Children!

In Arlington, especially North Arlington, weekend life might look like soccer in the morning, walk to a coffee shop, hit a playground, and then hop on Metro into DC for a museum or event. Parks are woven into the neighborhoods. Bike trails, spray parks, and kid-friendly spaces are everywhere. You will always see strollers and scooters on nice days.

In South Arlington, life can feel a bit more mixed. There are some very walkable pockets, some more car-dependent areas, and a ton of diversity in who your neighbors are and where they’re from.

In Alexandria, weekend life might be stroller walk on the waterfront, brunch on King Street or Mount Vernon Avenue, and letting the kids run around at a local park. Del Ray and Rosemont have that very “everyone knows each other from the playground” energy. Old Town has festivals, parades, and that charming little-town-in-a-big-metro feel.

Kids will do just fine in either place. It’s more about what you want for their education. If you plan to home school or send the kids to private, the City of Alexandria may work. Or, if you want to take advantage of that charm while the kids are little but plan to move if the schools don’t work for you by middle or high school, there is always that option too. Otherwise, if you want public from K-12 and you want continuity, then Arlington it is. 

So… Which Is Better for Your Family?

Here’s how I break it down with my clients.

You might lean Arlington if:

• You or your partner is commuting regularly to DC, the Pentagon, or Tyson’s Corner, and you want the shortest, simplest commute possible.
• You want strong, generally well-regarded schools and you’re okay paying a premium for that.
• You like the idea of an urban-suburban hybrid – high walkability, lots of amenities, and a busier feel, especially in North Arlington.
• Your budget can handle higher housing prices in exchange for location and schools.

You might lean Alexandria if:

• You’re obsessed with the charm of Old Town or the community vibe in Del Ray, Seminary Hill or Rosemont, and you’re willing to pay for that lifestyle.
• You’re more laid back and don’t want the hustle and bustle right out your front door.
• You’ve got a clear plan for the schools, or they don’t matter for your situation. 
• I’ve had plenty of families choose Alexandria because they plan to do private school or homeschool, and they love the lifestyle. I’ve also had people who spent their pre-kid years in Alexandria and just don’t want to leave once the kids come. They’re that attached to the vibe.

Reach out, tell me your story. Where is work, what do your kids need, what is your budget. I’ll help you narrow this down to two or three neighborhoods that make sense for your family.