Health Profile of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A
Alexandria Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Alexandria | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.3 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 8.8% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 9.8% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Alexandria is 81.3 years, about 4.1 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3 years. The uninsured rate is 8.8%, higher than the Virginia average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 9.8% of residents, lower than the Virginia average of 16.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
46,330 residents in Alexandria are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 2,167 671 men · 1,496 women
- 75–84 5,005 2,032 men · 2,973 women
- 65–74 10,850 4,888 men · 5,962 women
- 50–64 28,308 13,802 men · 14,506 women
Younger residents
26,794 residents in Alexandria are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 6,304 3,193 boys · 3,111 girls
- 7–12 6,926 3,717 boys · 3,209 girls
- 3–7 7,178 3,767 boys · 3,411 girls
- 0–3 6,386 3,206 boys · 3,180 girls
About 3,699 residents in Alexandria (2.4% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.3 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Alexandria | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 7.6% | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.1% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.8% | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 26.9% | 36.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Alexandria is about 44% lower than in Virginia. The rate of diabetes in Alexandria is about 38% lower than in Virginia. The rate of obesity in Alexandria is about 26% lower than in Virginia.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Alexandria | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 11.5% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 17.5% | 15.2% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 16.7% | 24.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Alexandria is about 39% lower than in Virginia. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Alexandria is about 33% lower than in Virginia.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 148,260 cigarettes a day, 4.4 million a month, or 54.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.6 million minutes a day and 595.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Alexandria is 81.3 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 14 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Alexandria | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.59 | 6.12 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.6 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Alexandria is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Alexandria, VA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Alexandria, VA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 156,972 | 81.3 yrs #2/3 | 8.8% #2/3 | 26.9% #2/3 |
| Rose Hill, VA | 22,696 | 80.9 yrs | 5.0% | 24.3% |
| Bailey's Crossroads, VA | 24,625 | 82.0 yrs | 19.0% | 27.7% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Alexandria, Virginia has an overall health index grade of A, making it notably better than Virginia, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Alexandria, Virginia.
Is Alexandria, Virginia a healthy place to live?
Alexandria, Virginia has a Map AI Health Index grade of A, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A grade means residents are much healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the life expectancy in Alexandria, Virginia?
People in Alexandria, Virginia can expect to live 81.3 years on average, 4.1 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3.
How many people lack health insurance in Alexandria, Virginia?
8.8% of residents in Alexandria, Virginia have no health insurance, about 1 in 11 people, 1.9 points above the Virginia rate of 6.9%.
What percentage of Alexandria, Virginia residents are obese?
26.9% of adults in Alexandria, Virginia are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 9.5 points below the Virginia rate of 36.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Alexandria, Virginia go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 148,260 cigarettes a day, 4.4 million a month, or 54.1 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.6 million minutes a day and 595.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Alexandria is 81.3 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.04 lifetimes a day, or 14 lifetimes a year.
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