North Ridge
Neighborhood Reviews
Post-World War II suburban homes and the Parkfairfax condo community
A walk through the neighborhood reveals the intricate landscaping projects many residents commit to with their front lawns, moderate tree cover, and a decently challenging walk, as most streets are built on hills. Buyers can find single-family homes from $800,000 to over $1.7 million, with 1950s-era ramblers and Cape Cods with around 2,000 square feet running at the bottom of the range and stately Colonial Revivals with four or more beds at the top of the range. Brick siding is a popular feature for many homes here. North Ridge also hosts Parkfairfax, a midcentury, garden-style condominium community with three swimming pools, an exercise facility, tot lots and manicured landscaping. Most units are one or two bedrooms with around 1,000 square feet or less and sell between $200,000 and $400,000.Alexandria was ranked No. 2 in U.S. News and World Report's list of the 25 safest communities in 2024, measured by violent and property crime rates, access to emergency services and vehicle crash fatalities in localities nationwide. Gernhart mentions that North Ridge is one of the safer neighborhoods in the city, saying, "If you get a new puppy and he needs to go on a walk at 3:30 a.m., you don't think anything about it."
Alexandria City High remembers the Titans
North Ridge falls under Alexandria City Public Schools, and students can attend Charles Barrett Elementary, graded a B-minus on Niche. George Washington Middle School gets a B rating, while Alexandria City High School scores a B-plus. The 2000 Disney film “Remember the Titans” immortalized the high school’s 1971 football season. The team won the state championship the same year the school, then known as T.C. Williams High, integrated. To this day, folks around the city come out on Friday nights to root for the Titans. North Ridge is home to two prestigious private schools, Alexandria Country Day School for kindergarten through eighth grade and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Lower School for preschool through fifth grade. Niche gives Alexandria Country School an A while grading St. Stephen's and St. Agnes A-plus.Neighborhood pocket parks and riverfront walks in nearby Old Town
Beverly Park features a playground, picnic tables and a zipline for kids. Further south is Monticello Park, a tree-lined park bordering several backyards. It is intercut with a walking trail that leads to a cul-de-sac. Four Mile Run Park is to the northeast and has a hiking trail through wetlands along Four Mile Run Creek. Old Town Alexandria is the city's historic downtown district, just 3 miles from North Ridge. Old Town has numerous popular green spaces along the Potomac River, like Founders Park and Oronoco Bay Park, with walking paths for a morning run. Old Town is also a popular destination for seeing Fourth of July fireworks or taking a sunset river cruise with one of several boat agencies stationed there.Options to shop or eat in Shirlington, Del Ray and Potomac Yard
Though the neighborhood itself has no retail or dining, locals can walk a few blocks west to The Fresh Market on King Street for groceries. Fairlington Centre is a 1950s shopping center that hosts Rocket Fizz Candy Shop, with unique sodas and sweets, and neighborhood hangouts like Rampart Tavern and Grill with microbrews, pub fare and TVs for sports watch parties. A few blocks east in the Del Ray neighborhood are local diners along Mount Vernon Avenue. There's Bagel Uprising for a quick breakfast bite, Pork Barrel BBQ for counter-service smoked brisket, and Cheestique, a wine bar offering gourmet cheese and charcuterie.Further east past Richmond Highway is Potomac Yard Center, a strip mall with a Target, Home Goods and Best Buy. Shirlington features a newer shopping center just across Interstate 395 in Arlington. "I think Old Town and Del Ray have more of a mature vibe, [while there are] a lot more younger party types in Shirlington; [it] depends on what you feel like," Gernhart says. "Shirlington is one restaurant after the other. With Old Town, you can go there for pleasant strolls by the water, or you can go there to eat out for the evenings." Shirlington features several bars and restaurants on either side of Campbell Avenue, including Astro Beer Hall and Copperwood Tavern.
Neighbors gather for Wheel Day
North Ridge remains a close-knit community in large part due to neighborhood events sponsored by the North Ridge Citizens Association. For example, Wheel Day, an annual tradition since the 1940s, finds kids of all ages on elaborately decorated bikes and wagons parading down the street and ending at a neighborhood-wide party.Close to I-395 for drives to D.C. and Potomac Yard Metro
North Ridge residents aren’t dependent on cars, says Shaun Murphy, a native Alexandrian and Realtor with Compass. "The Metro is very close; some people bike to work when the roads are a little busier or take the buses there.You can also get to South Arlington for more restaurants." Commuters can take I-395 just 7 miles north to reach downtown D.C., which takes 20 to 35 minutes depending on rush hour traffic. The Potomac Yard—VT Metro station is 2 miles east and offers Blue and Yellow Line access through D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a massive travel hub offering domestic and international flights, and it's just a 4-mile drive from North Ridge.Numerous houses of worship in North Ridge
North Ridge has diverse houses of worship, such as Dassanaya Buddhist Community, a temple in the Parkfairfax community, and Agudas Achim Congregation, a synagogue along Valley Drive. Churches in the neighborhood include Trinity United Methodist Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
Photography Contributed By
Caleb Jones
Video By
Jason Jacot
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Candee Currie
Candee Currie
CENTURY 21 New Millennium
(240) 414-4641
130 Total Sales
3 in North Ridge
$411K - $426K Price Range
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Chris Fraser
Chris Fraser
Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
(844) 292-6187
36 Total Sales
1 in North Ridge
$295,000 Price
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Erick Portillo
Erick Portillo
Metro Elite Homes, LLC
(571) 601-3967
48 Total Sales
1 in North Ridge
$395,000 Price
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Loretta Gray
Loretta Gray
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
(202) 360-4304
55 Total Sales
3 in North Ridge
$280K - $320K Price Range
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Brian MacMahon
Brian MacMahon
Sheridan-MacMahon Ltd.
(202) 517-8582
154 Total Sales
1 in North Ridge
$385,000 Price
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Brandon Scott
Brandon Scott
Keller Williams Capital Properties
(202) 953-2491
62 Total Sales
1 in North Ridge
$400,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park
- Bike Trails
- Trails
Jennie Dean Park
Fairlington Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Trails
George Mason Park
Monticello Park
Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Pool
Transit
Reviews
Niche Reviews
5/11/2016
Niche Review
Since we are a city, we do experience minor crimes especially when neighbors don't lock the cars at night!
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | North Ridge | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
North Ridge Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Ridge, Alexandria sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in North Ridge, Alexandria over the last 12 months is $475,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$475,999
Median Sale Price
$475,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,230,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$639,250
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$414,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
141
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
4%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$463
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,928
Number of Homes for Sale
23
Median Year Built
1941
Months of Supply
2.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,540
Above the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,529
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
941
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
777
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Jul 2712 - 2pm
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Sunday, Aug 101 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,134
Median Age
45
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$151,062
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$177,218
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.2%
College Graduates
85.1%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
44.2%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
80.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
13''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
71
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
44
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
44
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Arlandria
The border between Arlington and Alexandria, 8 miles south of D.C.
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, Virginia 22305 — a drama-free lifestyle
Arlington Ridge
Close to the Pentagon with top-rated schools and Metro access
Del Ray
Trendy neighborhood close to Potomac Yard for retail and Old Town's nightlife
Fairlington
Affordable multi-family housing and friendly community in southern Arlington
Long Branch Creek
South Arlington suburb with parks and commuter access to D.C. and the Pentagon
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