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Old Town Alexandria from George Washington Masonic National MemorialPhoto: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Alexandria

Alexandria spent more per resident in 2022 than 79% of similar cities

Alexandria’s city government spent $958.6 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $6,164 per resident. Water and other utilities ($31.7 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$958.6M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$6,164
In 2022: $5,574, more than 79% of 34 similar cities
Long-term debt
$1.7B
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
5,630
full-time · 912 part-time · March payroll $45.6M
Typical tax bill
$7,024
0.96% of home value · VA 0.73%

What stands out about how Alexandria is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$5,574 per resident in 2022: more than 79% of them

Alexandria’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,574 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools: the median was $4,692, and the middle half spent $4,188–$5,471. Alexandria spent more than 79% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,188–$5,471Median $4,692Alexandria

Includes sewer and trash ($46.6 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
34

Virginia cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Alexandria itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $6,164 per resident a year, or $16.89 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 38% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 50%Fees & charges 10%From the federal government 10%Sales taxes 9%From the state 9%Interest, fines & other 7%Other taxes & licenses 5%From other local governments 1%Utility sales <1%
Schools included

Alexandria runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $474.8 million; interest on debt $52.3 million; payments to other governments $1.6 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $1.5 billion.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 8% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Alexandria reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$884.8 million
2023$926.5 million
2024$958.6 million

Per resident: 2022: $5,574 · 2023: $5,989 · 2024: $6,164.

City staff
5,630

full-time in March 2025, up from 5,150 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $7,024 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.96% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Arlington$8,153
Alexandria$7,024
Rose Hill$6,763
Lincolnia$6,459
Belle Haven$5,831
Huntington$5,443
Washington$4,312
Bailey's Crossroads$4,172
Virginia$2,790
$7,024
typical bill a year
0.96%
effective rate
$735,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Alexandria’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Alexandria’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Alexandria →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Alexandria

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See alexandriava.gov for Alexandria’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Alexandria yet.alexandriava.gov ↗
Agendas

Alexandria’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on alexandriava.gov ↗.

Who works for Alexandria

One full-time city employee for every 28 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (155,525).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Schools2,857 + 422 pt
Health & welfare542 + 84 pt
Parks & libraries218 + 366 pt
Police369 + 10 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections350 + 13 pt
Administration & buildings345 + 5 pt
Fire343 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash243 + 2 pt
Housing & development95 + 3 pt
Roads & transportation88 + 1 pt
Other180 + 5 pt
5,630
full-time
912
part-time
$45.6M
payroll for March 2025
$547.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$89,900
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
299
sworn police officers
309
full-time firefighters
Not compared.Staff are compared with the same group as the budget, and Alexandria’s 2022 budget was a Census estimate, so there is no group to compare with.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Alexandria, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Alexandria →
$21,928
per pupil · VA $17,169
16,406
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $21,928 per pupil, $11,497 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 71%State 19%Federal 10%

Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Alexandria voted in 2024

Official results for Alexandria’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President80,904 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat77.0%62,326 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican19.9%16,112 votes

Others: 3.0% (2,466 votes).

Most votes in Alexandria: Kamala D Harris

Alexandria city: Harris 77.0%, Trump 19.9% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%

Turnout
73%

of Alexandria’s 111,276 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate79,994 votes
Timothy M KaineDemocrat78.3%
Hung CaoRepublican21.5%
Others0.3%

Most votes in Alexandria: Timothy M Kaine

Alexandria city: Kaine 78.3%, Cao 21.5% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%

U.S. House · Virginia’s 8th District383,915 votes
Donald S Beyer JrDemocrat71.5%
Jerry W TorresRepublican24.7%
Others3.8%

Most votes in the district: Donald S Beyer Jr

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Alexandria, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Alexandria77.0%19.9%3.0%80,904
Alexandria city77.0%19.9%3.0%80,904
Virginia51.8%46.1%2.1%4,503,288
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Alexandria

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Alexandria.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Virginia House of DelegatesAlexandria is split between 3 districts
  3. 3
    Virginia SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Alexandria compares with the towns next door

Alexandria spent $5,574 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Alexandria$5,574$7,024

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Alexandria’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Alexandria’s government

How much does Alexandria spend per resident?

About $6,164 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,574 was more than 79% of 34 Virginia cities that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Alexandria?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,024 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.96% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see alexandriava.gov.

Who runs Alexandria’s government?

See alexandriava.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Alexandria yet.

How did Alexandria vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 77.0%, Donald J Trump 19.9% (80,904 votes, official results). Alexandria city: Harris 77.0%, Trump 19.9%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.

How many people work for Alexandria?

5,630 full-time and 912 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $45.6M (about $547.0M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Alexandria in the state legislature?

Alexandria is split among 3 House of Delegates districts, so your address decides. The Virginia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 39 (Elizabeth Bennett-Parker). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Alexandria’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →