Old Town
Alexandria.
Founded in 1749 on the Potomac. Captain's Row, Christ Church, Market Square, and one of the oldest historic districts in the United States.
Who are the best real estate agents in Old Town Alexandria?
FORWARD at Corcoran McEnearney represents buyers and sellers in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Marc Cashin, Founder and CEO, Ashling McGowan, Head of Sales, and Charlotte Lee, sales advisor, lead the team's Northern Virginia work, backed by more than $300 million in lifetime team sales, dedicated transaction management, and a partner mortgage strategist. Call (202) 900-3020.
How do I buy or sell a home in Old Town Alexandria with FORWARD?
Start with a consultation. Buyers get a search built around Old Town Alexandria's neighborhoods and offers priced from recent closed sales. Sellers get pricing from comparable sales, preparation advice, and marketing to buyers across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Read how it works for buyers and sellers, or see the Northern Virginia guide.
What is Old Town Alexandria?
Old Town is the historic core of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, on the Potomac River south of Washington, DC. The City of Alexandria dates the town to 1749, when lots were auctioned at Hugh West's tobacco warehouse site. By the late 1700s, the City says, Alexandria was among the ten busiest ports in America.
Much of Old Town sits inside the Old & Historic Alexandria District. The City of Alexandria describes it as the third oldest historic district in the United States, established in 1946. Its Board of Architectural Review approves new construction and exterior changes visible from a public way, which matters to anyone planning a renovation.
NVAR's mid-year 2026 forecast projects a 1.1% increase in the median sales price of single-family homes in the City of Alexandria from 2025 to 2026.
| Metric | Figure | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $942,236 | -17.7% YoY |
| Median price per sq ft | $626 | -12.9% YoY |
| Homes sold in September | 76 | 77 a year earlier |
| Median days on market | 39 days | 27 a year earlier |
| Sale-to-list price | 99.3% | -1.3 pt YoY |
| City single-family forecast (NVAR) | +1.1% | 2025 to 2026 |
What are Old Town's best-known addresses?
Captain's Row on Prince Street, Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern, and Market Square anchor Old Town's history, and each carries a date you can check. The details below come from Visit Alexandria and the City of Alexandria.
Visit Alexandria calls it the oldest cobblestone block in the city. It is named for Captain John Harper, who built many of its homes in the late 1700s.
Built in 1773, three years before the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington's place of worship, according to Visit Alexandria.
Opened in 1792 and one of George Washington's local haunts. Visit Alexandria describes it as one of the oldest taverns in the United States.
The City of Alexandria says the Old Town Farmers' Market has operated at Market Square since 1753, the oldest farmers' market in the country held continuously at the same site. It runs Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon. During the City Hall and Market Square renovation it sits on the 100 block of North Royal Street.
What schools serve Old Town?
Old Town is served by Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). Alexandria City High School is the city's public high school, renamed from T.C. Williams in 2021. Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, at 530 South St. Asaph Street in Old Town, serves kindergarten through grade 5 and is, per ACPS, Alexandria's only traditional model school.
School assignments vary by address. Confirm with ACPS before you buy. Sources: ACPS, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, published school profiles.
How do you get around Old Town?
King Street-Old Town station serves Metro's Blue and Yellow lines. The King Street Trolley is free and runs along King Street between the station and City Hall at Market Square, every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, according to Visit Alexandria. DASH operates it.
The Mount Vernon Trail, about 18 miles long, runs from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island and links the City of Alexandria with Fairfax County, according to the National Park Service.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office headquarters is at 600 Dulany Street in Alexandria, between the King Street and Eisenhower Avenue Metro stations, according to the USPTO.
Our read on Old Town Alexandria
For the three months ending September 2026, Redfin puts Old Town's median sale price at $942,236, down 17.7% from a year earlier. Homes took a median of 39 days to sell, against 27 a year earlier, and sold at 99.3% of list price.
Old Town remains below Georgetown on price per square foot: a median of $626, against $723 in Georgetown, per Redfin for the same period. Georgetown's median sale price was $1,599,552.
Sellers should plan for the historic district. Exterior changes visible from a public way need Board of Architectural Review approval, according to the City of Alexandria, and buyers will ask what has been approved. FORWARD prices from recent closed sales and gathers that history before a home goes to market.
Old Town Alexandria, frequently asked
Ready to explore Old Town?
Historic character and waterfront access. Talk with FORWARD about buying or selling in Old Town. Looking beyond Old Town? Read the Alexandria, VA guide.