Quick answer: Northern Virginia ZIP codes do not follow county lines, and the post office town on your mail often is not the jurisdiction you actually live in. You can get “Alexandria, VA” mail and live in Fairfax County, or “Chantilly, VA” mail and live in Loudoun County. The tables below map the region’s residential ZIP codes to their real county or independent city, because the jurisdiction, not the mailing label, decides your property taxes, your schools, and how your home is marketed when you sell.
I am David Mount, a REALTOR® with The Redux Group of eXp Realty. I have sold more than 200 homes across Northern Virginia, and this question comes up constantly with buyers and sellers. Bookmark this page, and if you want the deeper story on the three most confusing spots, I wrote full guides on Chantilly, Alexandria, and Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County.
Why Is This So Confusing in Northern Virginia?
Because Virginia has independent cities. Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Manassas, and Manassas Park are their own jurisdictions, completely separate from the counties that surround them. The postal service ignores all of that. USPS assigns place names by mail route, so hundreds of thousands of homes carry a city name on their mail while sitting in a county, or carry one county’s town name while sitting in the next county over.
Fairfax County ZIP Codes
Direct answer: these ZIP codes are in Fairfax County, even though many of them get “Alexandria,” “Falls Church,” or “Chantilly” mailing addresses.
| ZIP | Mailing name | Actual jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| 20120, 20121 | Centreville | Fairfax County |
| 20124 | Clifton | Fairfax County |
| 20151 | Chantilly | Fairfax County |
| 20170, 20171 | Herndon | Fairfax County (20170 includes the Town of Herndon) |
| 20190, 20191 | Reston | Fairfax County |
| 22003 | Annandale | Fairfax County |
| 22015 | Burke | Fairfax County |
| 22031, 22032, 22033 | Fairfax | Fairfax County (not Fairfax City) |
| 22039 | Fairfax Station | Fairfax County |
| 22041, 22042, 22043, 22044 | Falls Church | Fairfax County (not Falls Church City) |
| 22060 | Fort Belvoir | Fairfax County |
| 22079 | Lorton | Fairfax County |
| 22101, 22102 | McLean | Fairfax County |
| 22124 | Oakton | Fairfax County |
| 22150, 22151, 22152, 22153 | Springfield | Fairfax County |
| 22180, 22181, 22182 | Vienna | Fairfax County (22180 includes the Town of Vienna) |
| 22303, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22315 | Alexandria | Fairfax County (not the City of Alexandria) |
Selling in one of these ZIP codes? Start with my Fairfax County seller’s guide. And if your “Alexandria” home is actually in 22315, my Kingstowne guide covers exactly that situation.
City of Alexandria ZIP Codes
Direct answer: 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, and 22314 are in the independent City of Alexandria. The city runs its own schools and sets its own tax rate. If your Alexandria-addressed ZIP is 22303, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, or 22315, you are in Fairfax County instead. My Alexandria city vs. county guide breaks down what that means for taxes and schools, and my Alexandria seller’s guide covers both sides of the line.
Arlington County ZIP Codes
Direct answer: 22201, 22202, 22203, 22204, 22205, 22206, 22207, 22209, and 22213 are in Arlington County. Arlington has no incorporated towns or cities inside it, which makes it the simplest jurisdiction in the region. One wrinkle: 22206 (Shirlington area) sits right against the Alexandria line and is often mistaken for the city. Selling in Arlington? Here is my Arlington home seller’s guide.
Fairfax City ZIP Codes
Direct answer: the independent City of Fairfax is essentially ZIP 22030, and even 22030 spills into Fairfax County south and west of the city limits. ZIPs 22031, 22032, and 22033 with “Fairfax” addresses are county, not city. The city has its own schools agreement and its own tax rate, which I cover in my Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County guide.
Falls Church City ZIP Codes
Direct answer: only 22046 is the independent City of Falls Church. The “Falls Church” addresses in 22041, 22042, 22043, and 22044 (Bailey’s Crossroads, Seven Corners, Idylwood) are all Fairfax County. This two-square-mile city has its own top-rated school district and one of the region’s highest price points, so the distinction genuinely matters to your home’s value.
Loudoun County ZIP Codes
Direct answer: these ZIP codes are in Loudoun County.
| ZIP | Mailing name | Actual jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| 20105 | Aldie | Loudoun County |
| 20147, 20148 | Ashburn | Loudoun County |
| 20152 | Chantilly (South Riding) | Loudoun County (not Fairfax County) |
| 20164, 20165, 20166 | Sterling | Loudoun County |
| 20175, 20176 | Leesburg | Loudoun County (includes the Town of Leesburg) |
| 20132 | Purcellville | Loudoun County |
Yes, there are two Chantilly ZIP codes in two different counties. 20151 is Fairfax County and 20152 is Loudoun County, and the difference changes your schools and your tax bill. Full story in my Chantilly county guide. Selling in Ashburn or Leesburg? Start with my Loudoun County seller’s guide.
Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park ZIP Codes
Direct answer: these ZIP codes are in Prince William County or one of the two independent cities inside its borders.
| ZIP | Mailing name | Actual jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| 20109, 20112 | Manassas | Prince William County (not the city) |
| 20110 | Manassas | City of Manassas (independent city) |
| 20111 | Manassas / Manassas Park | Split: City of Manassas Park and Prince William County |
| 20155 | Gainesville | Prince William County |
| 20181 | Nokesville | Prince William County |
| 22025 | Dumfries | Prince William County |
| 22191, 22192, 22193 | Woodbridge | Prince William County |
Selling in Woodbridge or Manassas? My Prince William County seller’s guide covers the county-versus-city differences that affect your sale.
Why Does the County Actually Matter When You Sell?
Because buyers shop by jurisdiction, whether they realize it or not. Three things change the moment you cross a county or city line:
- Property taxes. Each county and independent city sets its own real estate tax rate, and the difference on the same house can be over a thousand dollars a year.
- Schools. School district assignment follows the jurisdiction, not the mailing address. A “Falls Church” address in 22042 is Fairfax County Public Schools, not Falls Church City Public Schools, and buyers pay premiums for specific districts.
- Marketing your home correctly. A listing that claims the wrong city or school district draws the wrong buyers and can kill deals at the contract stage. Pricing your home against comps from the wrong jurisdiction is one of the most common mistakes I see in for-sale-by-owner and out-of-area-agent listings.
If you are getting ready to sell and you are not sure which side of a line you are on, call or text me at 571-946-8418 or email david.mount@thereduxgroup.com and I will confirm your jurisdiction, your school assignment, and what it means for your price in one conversation.
Northern Virginia ZIP Code FAQ
What county is ZIP code 20151 in?
ZIP 20151 (Chantilly) is in Fairfax County. Its neighbor 20152, also with Chantilly mailing addresses, is in Loudoun County.
What county is ZIP code 22311 in?
ZIP 22311 is in the independent City of Alexandria, not Fairfax County. It includes neighborhoods off Seminary Road on the city’s West End.
What county is ZIP code 22153 in?
ZIP 22153 (Springfield) is in Fairfax County. All four Springfield ZIPs, 22150 through 22153, are Fairfax County.
What county is ZIP code 22314 in?
ZIP 22314 is in the independent City of Alexandria. It covers Old Town Alexandria and the surrounding blocks.
Is ZIP code 22315 in the City of Alexandria?
No. ZIP 22315 (Kingstowne) has Alexandria mailing addresses but sits in Fairfax County, with Fairfax County taxes and schools.
What county is ZIP code 22046 in?
ZIP 22046 is the independent City of Falls Church, a separate jurisdiction from Fairfax County with its own schools and tax rate.