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City of Alexandria neighborhood
Living in Old Town Alexandria
Old Town is Alexandria's 18th century port turned walkable riverfront neighborhood, where brick rowhouses, King Street shops and two Metro stations share a grid laid out before the Revolution.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Old Town Alexandria?
Old Town Alexandria is the historic eastern core of the City of Alexandria, an independent city on the Potomac River. Homes range from 18th and 19th century brick rowhouses to newer townhouses and condos. King Street-Old Town and Braddock Road Metro stations, a free King Street Trolley, VRE and Amtrak serve the area. Most of Old Town lies in a local historic district where visible exterior changes need Board of Architectural Review approval, and the lowest waterfront blocks flood.
- Jurisdiction: City of Alexandria, VA (independent city)
- Metro: King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road (Blue and Yellow)
- Typical homes: Historic rowhouses, newer townhouses, condos
- Rail: VRE and Amtrak at Alexandria Union Station
- Getting around: Free King Street Trolley, Mount Vernon Trail, Route 1
- Public schools: Alexandria City Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Old Town Alexandria
What it's like to live in Old Town Alexandria
Old Town works on foot. King Street runs roughly a mile from the Metro station down to the river, lined with shops, restaurants and galleries, and the side streets hold blocks of brick and frame homes with window boxes and narrow gardens.
The waterfront end has the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a marina and riverside parks. Market Square at City Hall hosts the Old Town Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. North of King Street the grid gets more residential, and the Braddock Road station anchors the north side.
When I walk buyers through Old Town, the first question is usually parking, and the second is what they’re allowed to change on the house. Both are fair questions, and I cover them below.
Old Town Alexandria
Homes and housing types in Old Town Alexandria
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Historic rowhouses | Late 1700s and 1800s brick or frame homes, Federal and Victorian styles, narrow deep lots | BAR rules, masonry and mortar, sewer line, old wiring, party walls |
| Detached historic homes | Fewer in number, on larger lots | Preservation easements, foundation moisture, roof materials |
| Newer townhouses | Infill and redeveloped blocks, often with garages | HOA documents, flood zone near the river, BAR review if in the district |
| Condos | Converted warehouses, mid-rise buildings near Metro, garden-style buildings at the edges | Reserves, flood insurance on the master policy, parking |
For a deeper look at historic homes, ownership costs and inspections, read my full article on living in Old Town Alexandria and my guide to buying an older home.
Old Town Alexandria
Getting around Old Town Alexandria
- Metro: King Street-Old Town and Braddock Road stations serve the Blue and Yellow lines. Reagan National Airport is three stops north of King Street-Old Town.
- Trolley: The DASH King Street Trolley is free and runs between the King Street-Old Town station and City Hall/Market Square every 15 minutes, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., every day.
- Commuter rail: VRE and Amtrak stop at Alexandria Union Station, next to the King Street Metro.
- By bike or car: The Mount Vernon Trail follows the river north to Arlington and south to Mount Vernon. The George Washington Memorial Parkway becomes Washington Street through Old Town, and Route 1 and the Beltway are close by.
Old Town Alexandria
Parks, shopping and things to do in Old Town Alexandria
- Torpedo Factory Art Center: artist studios and galleries in a former naval torpedo plant on the river.
- Old Town Farmers Market: Saturday mornings at Market Square.
- Waterfront parks: riverside green space along Union Street, with water taxis in season.
- Annual events: the George Washington Birthday Parade in February and holiday traditions in December. My 2026 holiday events guide lists dates.
Old Town Alexandria
Owning a home in Old Town Alexandria
Alexandria is an independent city, not part of Fairfax County, so owners pay city real estate tax only. City Council kept the rate at $1.135 per $100 of assessed value when it adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget on April 29, 2026. The city also bills separate stormwater and refuse fees.
- Historic districts: Most of Old Town sits in the Old and Historic Alexandria District, created in 1946, and part of the area is in the Parker-Gray District. The Board of Architectural Review must approve new construction and exterior changes visible from a public way, and removing more than 25 square feet of historic material needs a permit to demolish regardless of visibility.
- Flooding: Blocks near the river flood from tides and storms. In June 2026 City Council advanced an enhanced gravity storm sewer system with raised bulkheads in place of a pump station the National Park Service rejected; design was about 30 percent complete. Check flood maps and price insurance first, using my flood risk guide.
- Parking: Many rowhouses rely on residential permit parking. Confirm the rules for the block.
- Schools: ACPS adopted new attendance boundaries effective July 1, 2026. Verify every address with the ACPS Attendance Zone Locator and see school boundaries and home values.
For questions about easements, renovation approvals or taxes on a specific home, consult a Virginia real estate attorney or CPA.
Old Town Alexandria
Is Old Town a good fit?
If you want to walk to Metro, the river and dinner, and you’re comfortable maintaining an older home within design rules, Old Town fits well. If you need a garage, a large yard or freedom to remodel the exterior, look at newer townhouses at the edges or compare Del Ray.
Prices vary a great deal by block, age and parking. See my Alexandria market report or ask me for recent sales near the homes you like.
Old Town Alexandria
Keep exploring Old Town Alexandria
Read more about Old Town Alexandria and the area
- Living in Old Town Alexandria: Historic Homes, Waterfront Life and What Ownership Involves
- Buying an Older Home: How to Tell If a House Has Good Bones
- How to Check Flood Risk Before Buying a Home in Northern Virginia
- Alexandria Housing Market 2025 Review
- Living in Del Ray, Alexandria: Main Street Living Near National Landing
Run the numbers
- Closing Cost Estimator
- Mortgage Calculator
- What’s My Home Worth?
- Alexandria housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Alexandria
Sources: City of Alexandria: Old & Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray districts; WMATA: King Street-Old Town station; DASH: King Street Trolley; Alexandria Times: FY 2027 budget adopted with no tax rate increase; ALXnow: Council advances waterfront flood mitigation system (June 2026); Alexandria City Public Schools: school boundaries for SY 2026-27. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
Neighborhood Advice
Not sure which neighborhood fits?
Book a call and I’ll help you compare neighborhoods around your commute, budget and lifestyle, and figure out where you’ll be happiest living.
Old Town Alexandria FAQ
Questions about living in Old Town Alexandria
Is Old Town Alexandria in Fairfax County?
No. Old Town is in the City of Alexandria, an independent city. Owners pay city real estate tax, $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027, and use city services.
Is the King Street Trolley free?
Yes. DASH runs the free trolley between King Street-Old Town Metro and City Hall/Market Square every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., every day of the year.
Can I replace windows on a historic house in Old Town?
If the windows are visible from a public street, alley, waterway or park, the change generally needs Board of Architectural Review approval. Call city historic preservation staff early to understand what is likely to be approved.
What schools serve Old Town Alexandria?
Old Town is served by Alexandria City Public Schools, which adopted new boundaries effective July 1, 2026. Verify the address with the ACPS Attendance Zone Locator; my guide at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ explains how.
Does Old Town Alexandria flood?
The lowest blocks near the waterfront flood regularly from tides and storms. The city is designing a revised flood mitigation system, so check flood maps and insurance costs for each address.
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Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or investing, tell me what worries you most. We’ll talk through your goals and build a clear plan, with no pressure and no obligation.
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