Alexandria closed out 2025 with median apartment rental rates down 2.5% from the start of the year — the first annual decline in five years.
The 2.5% dip is more than twice the rate of decline across the metro area, with Alexandria pushed down in part by a 1.1% drop in median rents from November to December.
In Alexandria, the median rental cost for December was $1,974 for a one-bedroom unit, $2,425 for two bedrooms and $2,155 overall, according to figures reported Dec. 31 by Apartment List.
The last time the city experienced a year-over-year decline came in 2020, when the arrival of the pandemic led to an exodus of urban living and sent median rentals costs in Alexandria down 6.8%
But 2021 provided a rebound, with median rents up 14.8%, according to Apartment List data. More typical levels of appreciation took place in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with increases in the mid-single digits.
The Apartment List survey also ranks 100 large urban areas by median rents. While Alexandria is not included, neighboring Arlington and D.C. are.
Arlington had the fifth most expensive rental rates among those urban areas in December, with a median rental price of $2,519 ($2,372 for one-bedroom units, $2,867 for two bedrooms).
The District of Columbia ranked 14th among the 100, with a median rental price of $2,093 ($2,069 for one bedroom, $2,124 for two).
The December rates for local communities in Fairfax County were:
- Annandale: The median rental cost for a one-bedroom unit was $1,951 and for two bedrooms was $2,226, representing an increase of 5.2% from the start of 2025
- Centreville: Median rates were $1,990/$2,312, down 1.5%
- Fair Oaks: Median rates were $2,106/$2,354, down 2.6%
- Fairfax: Median rates were $1,841/$2,107, down 2.3%
- Herndon: Median rates were $1,763/$2,115, up 0.6%
- Reston: Median rents were $2,138/$2,264, up 0.1%
- Tysons: Median rates were $2,312/$2,722, down 1%
Across the metro area, December’s median apartment-rental cost of $2,519 was down 1.2% from a year ago.
The D.C. region’s 2025 market generally followed cyclical norms. Over the summer, median rents were up compared to the start of the year — in some cases 4% or more — but then began a gradual but steady descent.
The same was true of the national market, according to Apartment List analysts:
“Earlier this year, it appeared that annual growth was on track to flip positive for the first time since mid-2023. However, that rebound stalled out and reversed course during a particularly slow summer.”
Statewide, the median rental rate was up 0.8% during 2025.
Nationally, the median rental rate to close out December was $1,356, with medians of $1,191 for one-bedroom units and $1,342 for two bedrooms. That overall median cost was down 0.8% from a year before.
Four California communities had the highest median overall apartment costs among the 100 urban areas: $3,076 in San Francisco, $3,053 in Irvine, $2,861 in San Jose and $2,720 in Fremont.
The most affordable urban area for the month was Cleveland, where the median rental rate was $1,004.
Photo via The Blake/Facebook.
