Alexandria Named to America's 50 Best Cities to Live

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Despite having a higher cost of living than the national average, a supply of good jobs and other attractions makes Alexandria one of America’s 50 Best Cities to Live in, says a national business website.

24/7WallSt.com site ranks Alexandria at No. 20 on its list of best places to call home. Extra weight was given to the job picture in cities as the site drew up its list.

In Alexandria and the other top 50 cities, the annual unemployment rates are below the national rate, and with a few exceptions, all 50 cities reported job growth that at least matches the national job growth rate. Incomes in these cities, when adjusted for cost of living, exceed the national annual household income of $55,775 in the vast majority of cases.

Here’s how 24/7WallSt describes the city:

• Population: 153,511
  
• Median home value: $541,700
  
• Poverty rate: 9.1 percent
  
• Percent with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.8 percent (U.S. Census says 61.5 percent)

"Like many of the best cities, Alexandria is located within commuting distance of a major city. While living in safer neighborhoods, Alexandria residents have access to Washington D.C.’s good schools and amenities. The nation’s capital is also home to some of the nation’s highest paying jobs, which likely accounts for the relatively high incomes in Alexandria. Although when adjusting for the cost of living, median household income in the city drops from over $90,000 a year to $65,211 a year, it is still well above the national annual median income.

Alexandria also appears to be an appealing destination for Americans seeking to relocate. Over the five years through 2015, the city’s population growth rate of 8.9% was more than double the national five-year population growth rate of 3.9%."

What do you love about Alexandria? Tell us in the comments.

And most of the cities noted are suburbs of large metro areas within commuting distance of the urban center.

The website says the top 5 cities are:

1. Broomfield, Colorado
2. Meridian, Idaho
3. Richardson, Texas
4. Johns Creek, Georgia
5. Lee’s Summit, Missouri

To determine America’s best cities to live in, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the 550 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more as measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on a range of variables, including crime rates, employment growth, access to restaurants and attractions, educational attainment and housing affordability, the website made its list.

By Deb Belt, Patch staff

PHOTO of Alexandria courtesy of Visit Alexandria