Neighborhood · Alexandria, VA

Fort Ward Heights Eviction Risk: Lower

2 census tracts · pop 8,132 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 2.6/10 · range 2.2–3

Fort Ward Heights is a black-white neighborhood in Alexandria with 2 census tracts and a population of 8,132 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 2.6/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 41% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 18% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,825/month sits 13% lower than the Alexandria citywide average ($2,089).

Risk score

2.6

Lower

2 tracts · population-weighted

Fort Ward Heights vs Alexandria How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

41.2% +46%

Alexandria: 28.3%

Average gross rent

$1,825 -13%

Alexandria: $2,089

Average HH income

$84,199 -26%

Alexandria: $113,638

Poverty rate

5.1% -39%

Alexandria: 8.4%

Renter share

89.8% +55%

Alexandria: 57.9%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Fort Ward Heights and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 2.2–3

Why Fort Ward Heights scores 2.6

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 3.2–3.2 across tracts

3.2

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 8.1–8.1 across tracts

8.1

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 8.0–8.0 across tracts

8.0

Rent control risk

41% of income on rent · Range 3.5–3.5 across tracts

3.5

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Tenant organizing strength

90% renter households · Range 6.5–6.5 across tracts

6.5

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 5.5–5.5 across tracts

5.5

Economic stress

5.1% below poverty line · Range 1.0–2.0 across tracts

1.6

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 1.6–4.6 across tracts

2.9

Risk score comparison

Fort Ward Heights vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in Fort Ward Heights

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
51510200105	3	4,549	36%	$1,520
51510200111	2.2	3,583	48%	$2,212

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 42

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 50%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 3%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 78%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 70%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Fort Ward Heights

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

15.4%Housing insecurity
9.9%Utility shutoff threat
17.1%Food insecurity
14.1%SNAP enrollment
9.6%No health insurance
26.7%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Fort Ward Heights

What is the eviction-risk score for Fort Ward Heights?

Fort Ward Heights scores 2.6/10 (Lower tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Fort Ward Heights compare to Alexandria overall?

Fort Ward Heights scores 2.0 points lower than Alexandria overall (4.6/10). Renters spend 41% of income on rent vs 28% citywide. Average rent: $1,825 vs $2,089.

What is the average rent in Fort Ward Heights?

Average gross rent in Fort Ward Heights is $1,825/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Fort Ward Heights residents are renters?

90% of Fort Ward Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 58% in Alexandria). The neighborhood has 8,132 residents.

Is Fort Ward Heights a high social-vulnerability area?

Fort Ward Heights sits in the 42nd percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in Fort Ward Heights have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in Fort Ward Heights is census tract 51510200105 (score 3/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 2.2 to 3, a spread of 0.8 points.

How safe is Fort Ward Heights for landlords?

Fort Ward Heights carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (2.6/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Alexandria as a whole (4.6/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Fort Ward Heights?

Fort Ward Heights has 7,681 residents (Black-White Neighborhood). Top groups: Black (non-Hispanic) (44.2%), White (non-Hispanic) (30.5%), Hispanic / Latino (15%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Fort Ward Heights

3.4 Dowden Terrace 2 tracts · pop 8,999 2 Seminary Valley 2 tracts · pop 7,698 2.1 Delta 2 tracts · pop 7,179 3.4 WestEnd Alexandria 5 tracts · pop 21,076 3.1 Lincolnia Park 2 tracts · pop 4,723 3.1 Beverley Hills 2 tracts · pop 7,955

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Alexandria

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Fort Ward Heights.

2.7 Washington Forest 1 tracts · pop 3,203 2.5 Varsity Park 1 tracts · pop 3,225 2.9 Lincolnia Park 2 tracts · pop 4,723 2.3 Delta 2 tracts · pop 7,179 2.3 Lynhaven 2 tracts · pop 5,315 3 Clover 1 tracts · pop 2,935

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