Washington, DC packs very different neighborhoods into a small footprint: the rowhouse streets of Capitol Hill, the cafes and embassies around Dupont Circle and Kalorama, Georgetown’s waterfront and cobblestones, and the quieter, leafier blocks of Northwest near Cathedral Heights and Tenleytown. Which one is best depends on your budget, your commute, and how much you want to walk. We scored 44 DC neighborhoods on Movoto data and public sources so you can compare them side by side.
Key takeaways
- Best overall: Foggy Bottom (8.0), followed by West End, Glover Park, Georgetown, and Cathedral Heights.
- Best for commuters: Foggy Bottom, with Georgetown and West End next.
- Best for families: American University Park, then McLean Gardens and Tenleytown.
- Best for young professionals: Foggy Bottom, West End, and Dupont Circle.
- Best value: Barry Farm, Anacostia, and Southwest Waterfront.
- Best for luxury buyers: Georgetown, Spring Valley, and Massachusetts Avenue Heights.
- Best for pet owners: Dupont Circle, West End, and U Street.
How we ranked DC’s neighborhoods
Each neighborhood received a 0 to 10 score on affordability, price appreciation, school quality, safety, walkability, food and dining, kid-friendliness, and commute time. Movoto supplied the walk, food, kid, and pet scores, prices, and GreatSchools ratings. We added incident reports from the Metropolitan Police Department’s open data, commute times from the American Community Survey, and 2025 appreciation from FHFA ZIP-code price indexes. Each “best for” list reweights those scores for that audience, and the score beside each neighborhood is its score for that list. Full methodology is at the end.
Not sure what fits your budget? Movoto’s home affordability guide and calculator can help you estimate a price range before you start comparing neighborhoods.
Best Washington, DC neighborhoods overall
1. Foggy Bottom (score 8.0)
Median price: $479K | Walk score: 92 | Average commute: about 22 minutes
The shortest commute in our data, in a walkable neighborhood around George Washington University.
Foggy Bottom sits between the Potomac River and the White House area, with the Kennedy Center, GW’s campus, and Metro access nearby. Most homes are condos, which keeps the median under $500K. At around $479K, it is one place to see what a $500K budget can buy compared with other markets, and the guide to the income needed for a $500K home breaks down what lenders look for. School ratings come from a single highly rated school, so treat that part of the score with caution.
Ready to look? Browse homes for sale in Foggy Bottom or see Foggy Bottom market trends.
2. West End (score 7.8)
Median price: $819K | Walk score: 100 | Average commute: about 26 minutes
A perfect walk score between Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown.
West End is a compact, mostly high-rise neighborhood close to the offices and restaurants of the central business district, with easy access to Rock Creek Park’s trails and the surrounding neighborhoods. As in Foggy Bottom, its school rating comes from one highly rated school.
Want to be in the middle of it all? See homes for sale in West End or West End market trends.
3. Glover Park (score 7.2)
Median price: $449K | Walk score: 71 | Average school rating: 8.0/10
Low crime, good schools, and a median under $450K.
Glover Park is a residential neighborhood in northwest DC along Wisconsin Avenue, with a small commercial strip of restaurants and shops and Rock Creek Park nearby. Crime is the lowest of the walkable neighborhoods in our data. If you’re shopping near $400,000, Movoto’s guide to what kind of house you can buy with $400K shows how that budget compares across major markets.
Ready for a quieter address? Browse homes for sale in Glover Park or Glover Park market trends.
4. Georgetown (score 7.2)
Median price: $1.68M | Walk score: 92 | Average school rating: 7.7/10
Cobblestone streets, the waterfront, and the shopping on M Street.
Georgetown is home to Georgetown University, the C&O Canal, and Georgetown Waterfront Park, with historic rowhouses and some of the city’s best-known shops and restaurants. It has the shortest commute among the top picks outside the central core, at about 24 minutes, though there is no Metro station in the neighborhood.
Explore homes for sale in Georgetown or Georgetown market trends.
5. Cathedral Heights (score 7.1)
Median price: $550K | Walk score: 72 | Kid score: 70
Low crime and a high kid score near the Washington National Cathedral.
Cathedral Heights is a quiet residential neighborhood around the Washington National Cathedral, with a mix of apartments, condos, and single-family homes. Crime is among the lowest in our set.
See homes for sale in Cathedral Heights and Cathedral Heights market trends.
Best neighborhoods in Washington, DC for commuters
Weighted toward commute time, then walkability and safety.
DC’s Metro, buses, and bike lanes make car-free commuting possible, and the neighborhoods below have the shortest average travel times in our data, between 22 and 27 minutes.
1. Foggy Bottom (score 9.0)
Median price: $479K | Average commute: about 22 minutes
The shortest commute in our set, with Metro access and many jobs within walking distance.
Foggy Bottom is next to GW, the State Department and other federal offices, and the Metro station, so many residents walk to work.
Want to walk to the office? Browse homes for sale in Foggy Bottom and Foggy Bottom market trends.
2. Georgetown (score 8.2)
Median price: $1.68M | Average commute: about 24 minutes
A short trip to downtown and the waterfront from one of the city’s most scenic neighborhoods.
Georgetown has frequent bus service to Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and Rosslyn, and many residents bike or walk along the canal.
See homes for sale in Georgetown or Georgetown market trends.
3. West End (score 8.1)
Median price: $819K | Average commute: about 26 minutes
A walk score of 100 and many jobs nearby.
West End is close to downtown offices, hotels, and the Foggy Bottom Metro station.
Explore homes for sale in West End and West End market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Dupont Circle (score 7.7) and Penn Quarter (score 7.6)
Dupont Circle has Metro access and a 100 walk score, and Penn Quarter is near the Capital One Arena and the museums downtown. See homes for sale in Dupont Circle or homes for sale in Penn Quarter.
Best neighborhoods in Washington, DC for schools and families
Weighted toward school ratings, safety, and kid-friendliness. Neighborhoods without GreatSchools ratings are not ranked.
1. American University Park (score 7.8)
Median price: $1.68M | Average school rating: 7.3/10 | Kid score: 83
The highest kid score among the top picks, with low crime.
American University Park is a leafy residential neighborhood near American University, with detached homes, quiet streets, and a short drive to Tenleytown’s shops and Metro.
Ready for a quiet street? Browse homes for sale in American University Park or see American University Park market trends.
2. McLean Gardens (score 7.5)
Median price: $332K | Average school rating: 7.3/10 | Kid score: 70
The lowest median among the top picks, with low crime.
McLean Gardens is a historic complex of garden-style condos and apartments near Cathedral Heights and Glover Park, with grounds and quick access to Wisconsin Avenue’s shops. It is the most affordable of the family picks.
See homes for sale in McLean Gardens or McLean Gardens market trends.
3. Tenleytown (score 7.5)
Median price: $500K | Walk score: 75 | Kid score: 75
Metro access, a high kid score, and a median at $500K.
Tenleytown has a Red Line Metro station, a shopping area on Wisconsin Avenue, and a mix of condos and houses on nearby blocks. School ratings average 7.3.
Explore homes for sale in Tenleytown and Tenleytown market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Cathedral Heights (score 7.5), Brightwood (score 7.3), and Glover Park (score 7.2)
Cathedral Heights has a kid score of 70 and low crime, Brightwood has a kid score of 79 and a school average of 7.3, and Glover Park has a 71 walk score. See homes for sale in Cathedral Heights, homes for sale in Brightwood, or homes for sale in Glover Park.
Best neighborhoods in Washington, DC for young professionals
Weighted toward walkability, dining, commute, and affordability.
If your weekends involve brunch, rooftop bars, and live music, these neighborhoods put the most within reach.
1. Foggy Bottom (score 9.3)
Median price: $479K | Walk score: 92 | Food score: 98
The shortest commute and a walkable neighborhood at a median under $500K.
Foggy Bottom has restaurants and bars around GW’s campus, the Kennedy Center’s performances, and the river’s trails nearby.
Ready to live near it all? Browse homes for sale in Foggy Bottom and Foggy Bottom market trends.
2. West End (score 9.0)
Median price: $819K | Walk score: 100 | Food score: 98
A perfect walk score and a central location.
West End is close to Dupont Circle’s restaurants, Georgetown’s waterfront, and downtown’s offices.
See homes for sale in West End or West End market trends.
3. Dupont Circle (score 9.0)
Median price: $447K | Walk score: 100 | Food score: 98
The classic young-professional neighborhood, with a Metro station and a median under $450K.
Dupont Circle has the circle’s fountain, a Sunday farmers market, and a dense mix of bars and restaurants along Connecticut Avenue and P Street. Most homes are condos and co-ops.
Explore homes for sale in Dupont Circle and Dupont Circle market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Penn Quarter (score 8.9), Mount Vernon Square (score 8.7), and Logan Circle (score 8.6)
Penn Quarter is near the Capital One Arena and the museums, Mount Vernon Square has a median of $479K, and Logan Circle has Victorian rowhouses and a 100 walk score. If you’re shopping near $750K, Movoto’s guide to what kind of house you can buy with $750K shows how that budget compares across markets. See homes for sale in Penn Quarter, homes for sale in Mount Vernon Square, or homes for sale in Logan Circle.
Best value neighborhoods in Washington, DC
Weighted toward affordability, appreciation, and amenities per dollar.
DC is expensive, so value means finding the lowest prices with strong appreciation or good amenities.
1. Barry Farm (score 9.1)
Median price: $356K | 2025 appreciation: 4.9%
A low median and the strongest ZIP-level appreciation in the city.
Barry Farm is in Southeast DC, across the Anacostia River from downtown, with a kid score of 80. The commute is long, about 37 minutes, and the median comes from a small number of listings.
Ready to buy for less? Browse homes for sale in Barry Farm or Barry Farm market trends.
2. Anacostia (score 9.0)
Median price: $375K | 2025 appreciation: 4.9%
A median under $400K, a historic setting, and strong appreciation.
Anacostia is home to Cedar Hill, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, and a growing set of restaurants and arts venues. The commute to downtown is long, about 40 minutes.
See homes for sale in Anacostia and Anacostia market trends.
3. Southwest Waterfront (score 8.6)
Median price: $362K | Walk score: 81
Walkable waterfront living at a low median price.
Southwest Waterfront is home to The Wharf, a waterfront district of restaurants, a music venue, and marinas on the Potomac, with a Metro station nearby.
Explore homes for sale in Southwest Waterfront or Southwest Waterfront market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Glover Park (score 8.4), Navy Yard (score 8.3), and Mount Vernon Square (score 8.3)
Glover Park has low crime at a median of $449K, Navy Yard is next to Nationals Park and the riverfront, and Mount Vernon Square has a 100 walk score. See homes for sale in Glover Park, homes for sale in Navy Yard, or homes for sale in Mount Vernon Square.
Best luxury neighborhoods in Washington, DC
Neighborhoods qualified if the median price was at least $1 million, or $550 per square foot and $750,000 or more. Ten met the threshold.
A million dollars goes a long way in some markets and less in others. Movoto’s guide to what kind of house you can buy with $1 million compares the budget across major cities, and the income needed for a $1 million home covers the qualification side.
1. Georgetown (score 7.1)
Median price: $1.68M | Median price per sq ft: $844
Historic rowhouses, the waterfront, and a short commute.
Georgetown has the highest price per square foot of the neighborhoods that cleared our threshold for a walkable setting, with a walk score of 92, schools averaging 7.7, and low crime compared with other walkable neighborhoods.
Ready for a historic address? Browse homes for sale in Georgetown and Georgetown market trends.
2. Spring Valley (score 6.9)
Median price: $2.72M | Median price per sq ft: $660
Large homes on quiet streets, with the lowest crime in our data.
Spring Valley is an upscale residential neighborhood in northwest DC, near American University, with large lots and detached homes. The walk score is 57, so most errands are by car.
See homes for sale in Spring Valley or Spring Valley market trends.
3. Massachusetts Avenue Heights (score 6.8)
Median price: $5.1M | Median price per sq ft: $931
The highest price per square foot in our data, close to Embassy Row.
Massachusetts Avenue Heights is a quiet, high-end neighborhood of large homes and embassy residences, with a walk score of 73. The median comes from a small number of sales.
Explore homes for sale in Massachusetts Avenue Heights and Massachusetts Avenue Heights market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Forest Hills (score 6.7), Berkley (score 6.6), and Wesley Heights (score 6.6)
Forest Hills has a median of $2.3M, Berkley has $4.2M, and Wesley Heights has $4.75M, all with low crime. See homes for sale in Forest Hills, homes for sale in Berkley, or homes for sale in Wesley Heights.
Best neighborhoods in Washington, DC for pet owners
Weighted toward the Movoto pet score, walkability, safety, and dog-friendly amenities. Tree cover was not available for Washington, DC, so it is not included.
1. Dupont Circle (score 8.9)
Pet score: 100 | Walk score: 100
A perfect pet score and a perfect walk score.
Dupont Circle has dog-friendly patios, the circle itself, and Rock Creek Park’s trails a short walk away.
Ready to bring your dog along? Browse homes for sale in Dupont Circle and Dupont Circle market trends.
2. West End (score 8.8)
Pet score: 100 | Walk score: 100
Walkable streets close to Rock Creek Park and the Georgetown waterfront.
West End is dense and walkable, with parks and the Rock Creek trail system within reach.
See homes for sale in West End or West End market trends.
3. U Street (score 8.8)
Pet score: 100 | Walk score: 100
Dog-friendly patios and a lively music and dining scene.
U Street is known for its historic music venues and restaurants, with many patios that welcome dogs and rowhouse blocks with small yards nearby.
Explore homes for sale in U Street and U Street market trends.
4. Honorable mention: Adams Morgan (score 8.7), Georgetown (score 8.5), and Foggy Bottom (score 8.5)
Adams Morgan has a walk score of 95, Georgetown has the C&O Canal towpath and waterfront park, and Foggy Bottom has the river’s trails. See homes for sale in Adams Morgan, homes for sale in Georgetown, or homes for sale in Foggy Bottom.
Best historic neighborhoods in Washington, DC (editorial pick)
This section is editorial and not part of the scoring.
1. Georgetown
DC’s oldest neighborhood, with colonial-era streets and Federal-style rowhouses.
Georgetown predates the capital itself and has a historic district along the Potomac. Browse homes for sale in Georgetown.
2. Capitol Hill
A large historic district of Victorian rowhouses around the U.S. Capitol.
Capitol Hill has Eastern Market, tree-lined streets, and one of the city’s largest collections of historic rowhouses. See homes for sale in Capitol Hill.
3. Logan Circle
A neighborhood of Victorian mansions and rowhouses around a landscaped circle.
Logan Circle has some of the city’s best-preserved 1870s and 1880s architecture, with restaurants along 14th Street. Browse homes for sale in Logan Circle.
4. U Street
The historic center of Black culture and jazz in DC.
U Street’s history as “Black Broadway” is preserved in its venues and murals, and its rowhouses date to the late 1800s. See homes for sale in U Street.
Bottom line
Foggy Bottom and West End lead DC’s overall list in our data, with Glover Park and Georgetown close behind. Commuters and young professionals should look at Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and West End, families at American University Park and Tenleytown, and luxury buyers at Georgetown and Spring Valley. Always check current listings, flood zones, and school assignments before you buy.
Methodology and data notes
We scored 44 neighborhoods from 0 to 10 on each criterion using min-max normalization, with price, crime, and commute inverted so lower is better. The overall score weights affordability 15%, appreciation 10%, schools 15%, safety 15%, walkability 15%, food 15%, kid-friendliness 5%, and commute 10%. Each category list reweights these inputs.
- Movoto data: walk, food, kid, and pet scores, GreatSchools ratings (up to three non-private schools listed on each neighborhood page), and market trends (median price, price per square foot, days on market, active listings).
- Neighborhood boundaries: Movoto’s neighborhood pages do not publish boundaries. For crime, population, and commute we used a one-mile circle around each neighborhood’s center point, so neighboring areas overlap and values are approximate.
- Crime: crime incidents in the Metropolitan Police Department’s open data, covering the most recent 365 days, within one mile of each center, divided by 2020 Census population in that circle. Rates run high in the central core, such as Penn Quarter, Mount Vernon Square, and Logan Circle, because of commercial activity and visitors.
- Commute: average travel time to work estimated from American Community Survey block-group data inside the same circle.
- Appreciation: 2025 annual change in the FHFA house price index for the ZIP code containing each neighborhood’s center. Several neighborhoods share ZIP codes, so their figures are identical. FHFA has no data for 20004 (Penn Quarter), 20008 (Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, and Kalorama), 20024 (Southwest Waterfront), 20036 (Dupont Circle), and 20037 (Foggy Bottom and West End), so we used averages of nearby ZIP codes for those.
- Schools: Foggy Bottom and West End each have a single GreatSchools rating (9), which lifts their overall scores more than a broader school sample would. Neighborhood school lists on Movoto are shared by adjacent neighborhoods.
- Prices: medians come from Movoto’s market-trends pages. Many central neighborhoods are dominated by condos, which pulls their medians below those of nearby rowhouse and single-family neighborhoods, and several medians (Barry Farm, Penn Quarter, and the high-end northwest neighborhoods) come from small samples.
- Left out: Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Takoma, Shepherd Park, Langdon, Fort Lincoln, Colonial Village, Fort Dupont, Hillcrest, and Deanwood were excluded because their one-mile circles extend into Maryland, outside the District’s crime data, which understates crime. Chinatown, NoMa, Carver Langston, Ivy City, Pleasant Plains, Van Ness, and Brentwood had no usable median price, and Movoto has no pages for Shaw, H Street, Le Droit Park, or Union Market. Tree cover was not available.
