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Christine C.
best-worst
Best and worst neighborhoods in Alexandria
Curious what people think. I'm single, late 20s, and You can expect to pay around $2,031 for rent here.
46 upvotes
11 Replies
Grace Chavez
exactly what I was thinking
37 upvotes
Anna Myers
been saying this for years
36 upvotes
Aaliyah Jimenez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 45, moved here 15 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Raleigh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a pharmacist, 45, moved here 15 years ago from Raleigh. I've lived in Lakewood and Pine Hills, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Strong job market in several industries
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Lakewood: Great for singles. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Pine Hills: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Raleigh, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is wild. You can live comfortably on $100K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Hope this helps!. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
25 upvotes
Emma Williams
Hot take but I'm still on the fence after all this time. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
24 upvotes
Ethan S.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are pretty good, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
17 upvotes
Jeremiah Brown
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in South and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 40, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in South and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally excellent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Not a lot of cultural diversity
3. The public transit situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- South: Great for retirees. decent vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $100K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
15 upvotes
Ethan Watson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Houston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in retail. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Downtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in retail. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
8 upvotes
Isla Bennett
Public transit is tough here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's not perfect but it works for me.
8 upvotes
Madeline Diaz
I've lived in Highland for about 13 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The walkability scene is tough
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Good luck with whatever you decide..
it's been a really good experience overall. When I first moved here from Dallas, I was surprised by school system. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Great outdoor activities nearby
- Nice parks and green spaces
- The walkability scene is tough
The downsides:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Rising rent and home prices
Overall I'd rate it 5/10 for retirees. Good luck with whatever you decide..
2 upvotes
Nova E.
couldn't agree more
2 upvotes
Samuel Gonzalez
Public transit is solid here. You'll probably need a car for most things. it's been a really good experience overall.
1 upvotes