Last updated: July 8, 2026

Here is a conversation I have with buyers all the time. They fall in love with a listing that says “Alexandria, VA,” picture Old Town’s brick sidewalks, and then discover the home is seven miles south of King Street in a completely different jurisdiction with different schools and a different tax bill. Nobody misled them. The mailing address just does not tell the whole story. This guide explains exactly where the City of Alexandria ends, where Fairfax County begins, and what that means for your money and your kids’ schools.

Why is “Alexandria” in two jurisdictions?

Virginia does something almost no other state does: its cities are independent. The City of Alexandria is not part of Fairfax County or any county. It is its own jurisdiction with its own government, schools, police, and tax rates.

The confusion comes from the U.S. Postal Service, which assigns the “Alexandria, VA” mailing city to a service area far larger than the city limits. A huge swath of southeastern Fairfax County, from the Beltway down to Mount Vernon, uses an Alexandria address while having nothing to do with the city government.

The ZIP code is your first clue:

• City of Alexandria (generally): 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22314, and parts of 22312. Old Town, Del Ray, Rosemont, the West End.
• Fairfax County with an Alexandria address: 22303, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22315, and parts of 22312. Huntington, Hybla Valley, Fort Hunt, Waynewood, Mount Vernon, Rose Hill, Franconia, and Kingstowne.

A few ZIP codes split across the line, so for any specific home, confirm the jurisdiction in the tax record. Every Virginia property pays taxes to exactly one city or county, and the MLS listing shows which.

City of Alexandria vs. Fairfax County Alexandria: what buyers should compare

Factor	City of Alexandria	Fairfax County (Alexandria address)
Real estate tax rate	$1.135 per $100 of assessed value (2026)	$1.12 per $100 of assessed value (FY 2027)
Schools	Alexandria City Public Schools; one public high school (Alexandria City High School)	Fairfax County Public Schools; multiple pyramids including West Potomac, Mount Vernon, Edison, and Hayfield
Housing character	Historic rowhouses and townhomes, walkable urban neighborhoods, smaller lots	Wider mix: mid-century single-family homes on larger lots, plus large townhome communities like Kingstowne
Metro access	King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, Eisenhower Ave, Potomac Yard	Huntington (Yellow Line terminus), Franconia-Springfield (Blue Line terminus)
Feel	Compact, historic, urban; restaurants and shops within walking distance	More suburban; parkland along the GW Parkway and the Potomac, car-oriented conveniences

Tax rates change annually when each jurisdiction adopts its budget. Confirm current rates before writing an offer.

The tax difference is smaller than most people expect

Unlike some Northern Virginia comparisons, this one is nearly a wash. On an $800,000 home, the City of Alexandria’s $1.135 rate is about $9,080 per year, while Fairfax County’s $1.12 rate is about $8,960. That is roughly a $120 difference. Both jurisdictions also carry smaller add-on levies and fees that vary by location, so compare the actual tax bills on the specific homes you are considering. The bigger financial differences here are usually price per square foot and lot size, not the tax rate.

Inside the city: Old Town, Del Ray, and the West End

The City of Alexandria is one of the most distinctive places to live in the DC area. Old Town’s 18th and 19th century rowhouses, Del Ray’s bungalows and Main Street feel, and Rosemont’s early streetcar-suburb charm all come with real walkability: restaurants, the Potomac waterfront, and four Metro stations. The trade-offs are smaller lots, older housing stock that often needs updating, and a premium price per square foot for the historic neighborhoods. I know the city side firsthand: I have sold homes in Rosemont, Seminary Valley, and Pavilion on the Park in the West End.

School structure is a real difference here: Alexandria City Public Schools operates a single public high school, Alexandria City High School, which serves the entire city. Some families love the one-community model; others prefer the smaller-pyramid structure next door in Fairfax County. Visit the schools and decide what fits your family.

The county side: Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Kingstowne, and Franconia

South and west of the city line, the “Alexandria” address covers some of Fairfax County’s most livable territory. The Fort Hunt and Waynewood areas offer mid-century single-family homes on generous lots along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, minutes from the river and Mount Vernon. Kingstowne is one of the region’s largest townhome communities, with shopping and commuter access built in. Huntington sits right on the Yellow Line for one-stop access into the city, and Rose Hill and Franconia offer established single-family neighborhoods inside the Beltway at prices that often beat comparable city homes. This is territory I work in constantly: I have sold homes in Kingstowne (see my full Kingstowne buying and selling guide), Stratford Landing, Riverside Estates, Mount Zephyr, Groveton Woods, and many other neighborhoods on the Fairfax County side of Alexandria.

These areas attend Fairfax County Public Schools: the West Potomac, Mount Vernon, Edison, and Hayfield pyramids, depending on the address. Same county government, same tax rate, and same school system as the rest of Fairfax County, no matter what the mailing address says.

So which “Alexandria” should you buy in?

• Choose the City of Alexandria if walkability, historic character, and Metro-to-doorstep urban living are the priority, and you are comfortable with smaller lots and city pricing.
• Choose the Fairfax County side if you want more house and lot for the money, suburban single-family neighborhoods or a townhome community like Kingstowne, and Fairfax County Public Schools.

I have sold homes on both sides of this line, from Rosemont and Seminary Valley in the city to Kingstowne and Stratford Landing in the county, and the first thing I do with any “Alexandria” listing is pull the tax record so we know exactly what jurisdiction, tax bill, and school assignment we are looking at. Want me to do that for a home you are watching? Call or text me at 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.

Selling instead of buying? Start with my Alexandria home seller’s guide or my Fairfax County home seller’s guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alexandria, VA in Fairfax County?

The City of Alexandria is not in Fairfax County; it is an independent city. However, a large part of southeastern Fairfax County uses “Alexandria, VA” as its mailing address, including Mount Vernon, Fort Hunt, Kingstowne, Franconia, and Huntington. Whether a specific home is in the city or the county depends on its exact location, not its mailing address.

Which Alexandria ZIP codes are in Fairfax County?

ZIP codes 22303, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, and 22315 are in Fairfax County despite the Alexandria mailing address, along with parts of 22312. ZIP codes 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, and 22314 are generally within the City of Alexandria. For split ZIP codes, check the property tax record.

Are taxes different in the City of Alexandria vs. Fairfax County?

Slightly. The City of Alexandria’s 2026 real estate tax rate is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, while Fairfax County’s FY 2027 rate is $1.12. On an $800,000 home that is a difference of only about $120 per year, so taxes are rarely the deciding factor in this comparison.

What schools serve Alexandria addresses in Fairfax County?

Fairfax County Public Schools serves county addresses with Alexandria mailing addresses, primarily through the West Potomac, Mount Vernon, Edison, and Hayfield pyramids. City of Alexandria addresses are served by Alexandria City Public Schools, which operates one public high school, Alexandria City High School. Confirm any specific address with the school district, since boundaries can change.

Is Old Town Alexandria in Fairfax County?

No. Old Town is the historic heart of the City of Alexandria, an independent city. It has never been part of Fairfax County in modern times, and homes there pay City of Alexandria taxes and attend city schools.

David Mount is a REALTOR® with The Redux Group at eXp Realty serving Alexandria, Fairfax County, and all of Northern Virginia. Questions about a specific address? Call 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com.