ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria and Arlington were among the nation's 100 best cities for renters in 2026, although residents pay a premium for the Northern Virginia locations, according to a new analysis.
Richmond, the other Virginia location to make the list, bested Northern Virginia in the rankings. Arlington was ranked number 46, Alexandria number 73 and Richmond number 42.
Both Northern Virginia locations were included in RentCafe's 2026 Best Cities for Renters report, which compared 150 U.S. cities using 20 metrics covering cost of living, housing, local economies and quality of life.
The study illustrates some of the trade-offs facing Northern Virginia renters: Arlington scored well for location, schools and transportation options, while Alexandria offered larger apartments. Both, however, had living costs well above the national average.
What does Alexandria offer renters? Room to stretch out.
Apartments in Alexandria averaged 869 square feet, making them larger than the typical units in Arlington and Richmond included in the comparison.
About 6 in 10 Alexandria apartments are located in what RentCafe considers prime locations.
But Alexandria renters also face above-average expenses. The city's cost of living was 26 percent higher than the national average, according to the report.
The study also identified a relatively weak employment picture in Alexandria. Employment was down 2.9 percent over the previous year, one of the factors RentCafe considered in evaluating the local economy for renters.
For renters prioritizing proximity to amenities, Arlington stood out.
Nearly nine in 10 Arlington apartments are considered to be in "prime locations," according to RentCafe. The report defines that measure based on apartments' proximity to amenities such as shopping, dining and entertainment.
Arlington also had some of the highest-rated schools among the cities included in the study.
Transportation was another strength. Nearly 20% of Arlington residents commute without a car, according to the analysis, potentially making the county attractive to renters who rely on public transportation, walking or other ways of getting around.
However, RentCafe found Arlington's cost of living to be 36 percent higher than the national average. The area also has relatively little new apartment construction, increasing competition among renters for available units, according to the report.
RentCafe's overall rankings are based on three broad categories: cost of living and housing, local economy and quality of life. Those categories incorporate 20 individual metrics.
For Arlington renters, the numbers point to greater access to amenities and transportation but higher costs. In Alexandria, renters generally get more apartment space while still having relatively strong access to amenities, but also face living costs substantially above the national average.
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