https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-places-to-live/s/district-of-columbia
Washington DC is an amazing city and there are so many really cool neighborhoods to choose from. So, today we’re going to go through niche.com’s 2024 Best Places to Live in DC! And in case you think this list is similar to last year, you would be wrong! I’ll also tell you niche.com’s median home value for each neighborhood and then look them up myself because a lot of times, the real time data is different.
niche.com bases their criteria on a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of an area. They take into account several key factors of a location, including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities in an attempt to measure the overall quality of an area.
They get their data from the Department of education, US Census and FBI. They also gather over 100 million reviews and survey responses from students, parents, and residents to help better understand what a school or neighborhood is really like.
So, lets dive right in.
So, let’s take at the top 10 and I’ll chime in as well!
#10. Chinatown
Chinatown has made it back into the top 10 so congrats to Chinatown! Chinatown is a small, historic area of Downtown DC. It’s so fun to walk down Chinatowns historic alleys and of course the iconic Friendship Archway. You’ll always find plenty of local restaurants to choose from but be aware if the caps or wizards are playing, they will be really crowded before game time. You do have a metro stop Gallery Place/Chinatown which makes a commute super convenient. The median home value according to niche.com is $595,584 but I can tell you the most recent sales are between $320,000-$559,000. The median rent according to niche is $2588. And the median household income according to niche is $135,605
#9. Mount Vernon Square
Mount Vernon Square was originally planned to be an open space but was eventually developed into a bustling array of restaurants, nightclubs and shops. You have the convention center located here which brings a lot of people into the neighborhood as well as the beautiful Carnegie Library building . Fortunately there is also a metro stop here since traffic and parking is a beast. The median home value according to niche.com is $602,033 but I can tell you the most recent sales are between $500,000-725,000. The median rent according to niche is $2259. And the median household income according to niche is $134,766
#8. Burleith/Hillandale
Burleith is a quiet, almost purely residential, community of about 535 households nestled alongside Glover Archbold Park. Burleith is within easy walking distance of Wisconsin Avenue shops and restaurants, served by frequent buses to downtown, there is no metro stop. Burleith draws people with its proximity to Georgetown and Wisconsin Avenue but keeps them with its sense of community and access to green spaces. It is a “village in the city,” according to residents, with a mix of Colonials, Tudors, rowhouses and townhouses.
To the west of Burleith is a 24-hour gated community called Hillandale; some consider this a separate neighborhood but it is technically part of Burleith. Median home value according to niche is $1,116,919. The recent sales show a price range of 1.1-3.7 The median rent according to niche is $3408. And the median household income according to niche is $224,023
#7. Cathedral Heights
Cathedral Heights is named for the Washington National Cathedral which sits at the heart of the neighborhood. The neighborhood’s name generated some buzz when it appeared in the Netflix series “House of Cards” as a D.C. Metro station (although no Metro station has ever existed there). Much of Cathedral Heights’ housing stock is in the form of large, older apartment, condo and co-op complexes that sit on swaths of green lawn, with names like the Westchester, the Warwick, and Idaho Terrace. There’s no Metro in Cathedral Heights. Cathedral Heights is an area that caters to those are seeking a quiet, residential atmosphere. Median home value according to niche is $878,646. The recent sales show a price range of 450,000-1.2 for a 2 bd or more. The median rent according to niche is $2150. And the median household income according to niche is $127,595
#6. Georgetown
Georgetown is a super cute part of DC that has cobblestone streets, high end shops and tons of restaurants. It sits on the Potomac River where you have a great view of the Kennedy Center while having a picnic in Georgetown waterfront park or you can take paddle boards and kayaks out on the water. While Georgetown itself is very pedestrian friendly, there is no metro stop here so just be aware of that. Georgetown is riddled with beautiful homes- you can actually visit the one time homes of JFK and Julia Child. I absolutely love Georgetown but be mindful that it’s really hard to park there and traffic can be really bad. Median home value according to niche is $1,241,807. The recent sales show a price range of 900,000-8.5mil. The median rent according to niche is $2997. And the median household income according to niche is $186,682
#5. Downtown
Now, I’m going to be honest. When I saw downtown as a neighborhood listed, I had to look it up. Growing up here, we didn’t call one neighborhood downtown. It was just known as the city center. But there it is, Downtown DC which is mostly commercial but there is some residential homes. It’s located right next to our most famous residence, the White House and includes several museums, tons of restaurants and shopping galore at CityCenterDC. Median home value according to niche is $652,592. The recent sales show a price range of 1.4-1.9mil. The median rent according to niche is $2773. And the median household income according to niche is $161,508
#4 Glover Park
Glover Park is a popular neighborhood in Washington, D.C. just north of Georgetown, west of Wisconsin Avenue, and cradled by the serene forested parklands of Glover-Archbold Park and Whitehaven Park. Glover Park is loved for its walkability, proximity to parkland, quaint row houses, its commercial strip and restaurant row and its convenience to downtown. It’s hard not to like cute, peaceful, preppy Glover Park. After all, other than a few thousand parking spaces and a metro stop, the neighborhood isn’t lacking much. It feels like a real community, despite being in the middle of the city. The median home value according to niche is $953,097.Recent sales for townhomes have a price range of 840,000-1.7 The median rent according to niche is $2477. And the median household income according to niche is $136,016
#3 Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a lively and diverse neighborhood located in the heart of Washington, D.C. known for its vibrant energy and multicultural atmosphere. As you go through the streets, you’ll find a rich tapestry of international influences, with a wide array of restaurants, cafes, and shops representing cuisines and traditions from all around the world. It’s also a lot of fun to go out at night in Adams Morgan. Adams Morgan’s tree-lined streets and historic rowhouses add to its charm. The closest metro stop would probably be Woodley park. The median home value according to niche is $748,192. Recent sales for townhomes have a price range of 715,000-1.4. The median rent according to niche is $2382. And the median household income according to niche is $156,039
#2 Lanier Heights
Lanier Heights is a small residential area which is really considered part of Adams Morgan so I’m not sure why niche is making it a separate neighborhood but here we go. You get all of the benefits of Adams Morgan with its extensive restaurants, coffee shops and international influences. As far as Lanier Heights itself, apart from a commercial stretch along Columbia Rd, Lanier Heights is largely residential and dominated by row houses built between 1900-1940. Closest metro stations would be Woodley park and Columbia heights. Median home value according to niche is $516,748. Recent sales show up to $1,350,000. The median rent according to niche is $2170. And the median household income according to niche is $131,247
#1 Mount Pleasant
One of DC’s early streetcar suburbs, Mount Pleasant was carved out of former farmland at the turn of the 20th century. Located not too far away from the Columbia Heights Metro, it’s now full of charming vintage storefronts (many of which hold funky bars and restaurants) and blocks of iconic townhomes. One of the liveliest farmers’ markets in the city takes place on the paved, main plaza in “Mt. P” every Saturday morning from May through December. Expect baked goods, cheese, produce and snacks like sandwiches or pork buns. Live music ups the appeal. You’re also close to Rock Creek Park and Meridian Park. Median home value according to niche: $881,696. Recent sales of Townhomes show a range from 700-2.6 mil.
The median rent according to niche is $1851. And the median household income according to niche is $114,641