City Comparison

Alexandria vs Centreville: How they compare

Historic Old Town charm meets modern living in Alexandria. Centreville offers spacious homes and residential neighborhoods at accessible price points. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Alexandria's median sold price is $675K with homes averaging 32 days on market; Centreville is at $579K and 26 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Alexandria is pricier ($675K median vs $579K), a difference of about $96K. Centreville moves faster, with homes averaging 26 days on market compared to 32 in Alexandria. Centreville offers a lower entry point at $245K–$3.1M.

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$675K

$579K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

32 days

26 days

Price Range

$300K–$2M

$245K–$3.1M

Notable Neighborhoods

Old Town, Del Ray, Rosemont, Potomac Yard

Centre Ridge, Sully Station, Virginia Run, Little Rocky Run

Schools

Alexandria has a 78% average SOL pass rate; Centreville has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Alexandria include T.C. Williams High School and George Mason Elementary; in Centreville, Centreville High School and Westfield High School. See Alexandria schools | See Centreville schools

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Avg Pass Rate

78%

84%

Public schools

T.C. Williams High School, George Mason Elementary, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy

Centreville High School, Westfield High School, Liberty Middle School

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Alexandria is closer to downtown at ~20 minutes vs ~40 minutes. Alexandria has 4 Metro stations, including King St-Old Town on the Blue/Yellow lines. Major highway access: Alexandria (I-395, I-495, GW Parkway), Centreville (I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29).

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Drive to Downtown

~20 min

~40 min

Metro Stations

4 Metro stations (nearest: King St-Old Town)

No Metro access

Metro Lines

Blue, Yellow

N/A

Major Highways

I-395, I-495, GW Parkway

I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29

Commuter Rail

VRE (Fredericksburg line)

None

Property Tax

On a $675K home in Alexandria, you would pay ~$7,493/yr in property tax. In Centreville, a $579K home costs ~$6,427/yr. Both cities share the same rate of $1.110 per $100 of assessed value.

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Rate per $100

$1.110

$1.110

Est. Annual Tax

Based on median home price

$7,493/yr

$6,427/yr

Notes

None

Fairfax County rate

Walkability

Alexandria is more walkable with a Walk Score of 57 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 25 in Centreville. Transit scores: Alexandria (44) vs Centreville (15). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Old Town and Centre Ridge score much higher than suburban areas.

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Walk Score

57Somewhat Walkable
25Car-Dependent

Transit Score

44

15

Bike Score

64

28

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Alexandria and Centreville. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Alexandria

VA

Centreville

VA

Reported Violent Crime

1.7/1K

0.7/1K

Reported Property Crime

17.8/1K

9.1/1K

VA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alexandria or Centreville more affordable?

Centreville is more affordable with a median sold price of $579K, compared to $675K in Alexandria (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Alexandria prices range from $300K–$2M. Centreville prices range from $245K–$3.1M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Alexandria and Centreville?

Alexandria public schools have a 78% average SOL pass rate; Centreville has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Alexandria include T.C. Williams High School and George Mason Elementary; in Centreville, Centreville High School and Westfield High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Alexandria or Centreville?

Alexandria has the shorter commute to downtown at ~20 minutes vs ~40 minutes. Alexandria has Metro access (King St-Old Town). Centreville has no direct Metro access.

What are property taxes in Alexandria vs Centreville?

Alexandria has a property tax rate of $1.110 per $100 (~$7,493/yr on a $675K home). Centreville's rate is $1.110 per $100 (~$6,427/yr on a $579K home). Tax rates are set annually by each locality.

How do Alexandria and Centreville compare?

Historic Old Town charm meets modern living in Alexandria. Centreville offers spacious homes and residential neighborhoods at accessible price points. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

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