In Alexandria’s West End, Seminary Valley is a slice of suburban peace surrounded by commuter convenience. The neighborhood is south of Interstate 395, offering a direct drive to the Pentagon and Washington, D.C., less than 10 miles north. But even with this highway access, Sue Goodhart, a team lead with The Goodhart Group of Compass Real Estate and a Seminary Valley resident of over 25 years, says the neighborhood’s family-friendly environment is its biggest draw. “It’s not like a lot of neighborhoods in Alexandria that are just commuters coming and going,” she says. “Families live here. Kids walk to schools, parks and the library. Life feels slower compared to other neighborhoods this close to the city.” Locals will also find several grocery stores in the neighborhood, and Old Town Alexandria is less than 5 miles east.
Ben Brenman Park in Seminary Valley offers scenic trails and relaxation.
Seminary Valley features beautiful homes with unique architectural styles.
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A higher selling price than Alexandria’s average
Houses built throughout the 1950s dot Seminary Valley's sidewalk-lined streets. Homes can have four to five bedrooms and may sit on 8,000-square-foot lots, often shaded by white oak trees. Driveways typically run alongside houses, which are often split-levels, red-brick ranch styles and Cape Cod cottages. Prices tend to be higher than Alexandria’s average $650,000 selling price. Buying here can cost between $750,000 and $950,000. There are also a few townhouses, with prices ranging between $625,000 and $650,000.
You can find many split-levels single home in Seminary Valley.
Second-story overhang with built-in garage is common in Seminary Valley.
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Interstate 395 leads to downtown D.C. and The Pentagon
Though locals can walk to schools and parks, Seminary Valley is a car-dependent community. A 9-mile drive northeast on Interstate 395 leads to downtown D.C., and Goodhart says traffic is rarely an issue. “It never takes me more than 15 to 30 minutes to drive into the city, even during rush hour.” Drivers with E-Z Passes can hop on the highway’s Express Lanes to shorten that drive time. The neighborhood has several Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus stops, as well, offering direct routes to D.C., nearby Metro stations and The Pentagon, about 6 miles northeast. The King Street-Old Town Metro station is less than 3 miles east of the neighborhood. It follows the Blue and Yellow lines, both reaching stops in downtown D.C. in about 30 minutes. Residents can also hop on the Amtrak or Virginia Railway Express trains at Alexandria Union Station, adjacent to the Metro stop. The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 7 miles northeast, while Dulles International Airport is 35 miles northwest.
Alexandria City Public Schools are within walking distance
Children can attend James K. Polk Elementary School, graded a C-plus by Niche, and Francis C. Hammond Middle School, earning a C. They may continue to B-plus-rated Alexandria City High School, where the Governor's Health Sciences Academy offers pathway programs in sports medicine, nursing and surgical sciences. The elementary and middle schools are both in the neighborhood. “Kids walk to Polk [Elementary] and Hammond [Middle], but the high school is over 2 miles away, so they take the bus or drive to get there,” Goodhart says. Some students are also zoned for Patrick Henry K-8 School on Taney Avenue. Residents can join the Patrick Henry Recreation Center, which has pickleball courts, exercise equipment and an indoor track.
Several private schools are near the neighborhood. About a mile east, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School receives an A-plus rating and serves preschool through high school students. Episcopal High School gets the same grade; the boarding school’s 130-acre campus is 2 miles east of the neighborhood. The Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus is 3 miles north, and The Virginia Theological Seminary is 2 miles east.
Students in Seminary Valley goes to Alexandria City High School.
Francis C Hammond Middle School near Seminary Valley is the place for children to learn.
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The Holmes Run Trail cuts through Brookvalley Park
Playgrounds, picnic tables and a community garden dot Brookvalley Park, which spans the neighborhood’s western edge. The green space is home to Alexandria’s oldest tree, a 100-foot-tall willow oak planted over 200 years ago. It's one of 17 trees in the city dubbed a “living witness to the American Revolution.” Aside from relaxing under the park’s tree, locals can hike the Holmes Run Trail, a 5-mile route running from Alexandria to Fairfax County. Following the trail south for a mile leads to All Veterans Memorial Park, home to a dog park, and Ben Brenman Park, which hosts the West End Farmers Market every Sunday from April through December. Knitting clubs, tai chi classes and baby play times are held regularly at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library. A short walking path cuts across Brookvalley Park and leads to the library, located on Duke Street.
Enjoy the magificient view in Holmes Run Park in Seminary Valley.
Located in Seminary Valley, Brookvalley Park features walking and biking trails.
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Grocery stores in the neighborhood, restaurants in Old Town Alexandria
Aldi and Planet Fitness anchor the Seminary Plaza shopping center on Kenmore Avenue. There's a Harris Teeter and chain restaurants, such as Dunkin’ and Cava, at the Shoppes of Foxchase, less than a mile south of the neighborhood. But even with these nearby commercial options, Goodhart says locals often drive to other shopping districts in Alexandria. Stores like Target, T.J. Maxx and Barnes & Noble can be found at Potomac Yard Center, less than 6 miles east. “It has the only Target in Alexandria, so it gets pretty busy just because of that,” Burke says. Locally owned boutiques, restaurants and art galleries fill many of the Georgian Revival-style townhouses from the 18th century in Old Town, less than 5 miles east. “Old Town is where everyone goes out to eat. It’s got the best restaurants, and some of them are waterside.” Il Porto offers Italian classics amid a cozy interior made of red brick and plaster walls. Red umbrellas shade patio seating overlooking the Potomac River at Vola’s, known for its raw bar.
Seminary Valley locals rely on Harris Teeter for their grocery shopping needs
Il Posto Ristorante near Seminary Valley brings classic Italian dishes to life
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A new hospital is being built near Seminary Valley
Inova Alexandria Hospital, less than a mile east of the neighborhood on Seminary Road, currently has an emergency department, surgical center and radiology unit. However, the hospital will soon be demolished and replaced by Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark, less than 3 miles northwest of the neighborhood. Goodhart says the project, which broke ground in 2024, is affecting Seminary Valley’s real estate market. “People working on the hospital’s construction have already started buying houses here, and that’s only going to increase the closer we get to the opening.” Construction is set to be complete by 2028.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Randy Huntley,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Holmes Run Greenway
James Marx Park
Winkler Botanical Preserve
Trails
Lodging
Hiking
Polk Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Hiking
Brookvalley Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Calisthenics Park
Bike Trails
Trails
Nature Center
Transit
Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
14 min drive
Bus
Taney Ave & N Pickett St
Bus
Taney Ave & N Ripley St
Bus
Taney Ave & N Latham St
Bus
Taney Ave & N Naylor St(Sb)
Bus
Van Dorn St & Taney Ave
Bus
N Van Dorn St & Taney Ave
Bus
N Van Dorn St & Sanger Ave
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Seminary Valley
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Seminary Valley, Alexandria sell after 21 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Seminary Valley, Alexandria over the last 12 months is $788,500, up 2% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Just minutes from 395 offers quick commute to DC and all parts of Northern Virginia. This 3 bedroom, 2 full plus 2 half bath townhouse has plenty of parking on a quite dead end street. The kitchen was just remodeled and the master bath was also recently remodeled. There is lot of living room with a well lit eat in kitchen, and a fully finished basement walk out recreation room.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Randy Huntley,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,784
Median Age
36
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$120,125
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$152,126
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.9%
College Graduates
41.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
19.4%
% Population in Labor Force
78.3%
Above the national average
65.1%
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®
70/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
41/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
52/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
