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Living in
Alexandria.
About
Life in Alexandria
Living in Alexandria means settling into a quiet regional city where you can get around in under 20 minutes on average and find reasonably priced housing—median homes around $183,000 and rent averaging $931 monthly. The job market is steady with manufacturing plants from companies like Procter & Gamble and Union Tank Car, plus healthcare jobs from two major hospitals, though income levels run slightly below the national average. The cultural life centers on a performing arts district with symphony orchestra performances, theater, and seasonal events like Jazz on the River, plus golf courses and growing soccer leagues if you're into recreational sports.
Alexandria at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.0%
Foreign-Born
4.2%
Broadband Internet
87.9%
of households
Population Growth
-5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Alexandria: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Alexandria, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (15.6%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.0%
of households
Married Couples
30.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below LA average
Rent, home values, and income in Alexandria
In Alexandria, rent runs 12% below the LA average, and home values are 15% below the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$898
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $143,713 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for LA
Unemployment in Alexandria
Unemployment in Alexandria is close to the LA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Alexandria Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.4 min avg
How Alexandria residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Alexandria, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Alexandria International Airport (AEX)
Regional airport · few flights272k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 643% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Alexandria runs 643% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
2,447.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,783.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Alexandria Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rapides County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rapides Parish, which includes Alexandria, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $312,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $540,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Hail | $1.5M |
| 2022 | 9 | Hail | $176,000 |
| 2021 | 2 | Tornado | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $581.4M |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22.3M |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $803,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
24 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Rapides Parish, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rapides Parish, which includes Alexandria, is typically good.
Median AQI
37
Rapides Parish, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Alexandria has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
60.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.4"
Hot Days/Year
93
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
24
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 39°F | 6.13" |
| Feb | 63°F | 42°F | 5.13" |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 5.18" |
| Apr | 76°F | 55°F | 5.44" |
| May | 83°F | 64°F | 4.58" |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 5.29" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 4.55" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 4.30" |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 3.98" |
| Oct | 79°F | 57°F | 4.89" |
| Nov | 68°F | 46°F | 5.45" |
| Dec | 61°F | 40°F | 5.98" |
Healthcare7 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Alexandria
Alexandria has 7 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
7
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Christus St Frances Cabrini Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Rapides Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Christus Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Alexandria Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Central Louisiana State Hospital
Psychiatric · 3 mi away · Pineville
Alexandria VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · 4.8 mi away · Pineville
Mercy Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 14.1 mi away · Lecompte
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Alexandria
Alexandria's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Alexandria (within 15 miles)
Louisiana Christian University
3.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 672 students · in-state tuition $22,304 · 41% graduate · median earnings $49,573 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cane River Creole National Historical Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Alexandria
Alexandria has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cane River Creole National Historical Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
40 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
66 mi awayPublic Libraries in Alexandria
Rapides Parish Library
411 Washington Street, Alexandria
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Branch
1115 Broadway Ave., Alexandria
Westside Regional
5416 Provine Place, Alexandria
Cities Near Alexandria
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Alexandria?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Alexandria FAQ
Is Alexandria, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Alexandria's median rent is $931/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,113/year. Median home value is $183,700.
Is Alexandria, Louisiana safe?⌄
Alexandria's violent crime rate was 2448 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5784 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Alexandria, Louisiana?⌄
Alexandria has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Alexandria, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Alexandria is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $931/month and median household income is $47,113/year. The median home value is $183,700. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Alexandria, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Alexandria is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from