Washington, DC Rental Market Trends
Last updated: August 01, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Washington is $2,446, a 3.77% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,542.
Studio Apartments at $1,821 offer the most budget-friendly option with 484 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 697 square feet for $2,302, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $3,090 offer 996 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,201 sq ft) for $3,671, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Washington, DC
Last updated: August 01, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,446 | 746 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,821 | 484 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $2,302 | 697 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,090 | 996 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $3,671 | 1,201 sq. ft. |
Washington, DC rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in Washington, DC?
The largest share of rentals in Washington, DC (27%) fall between $2,001-$2,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Washington, DC?
189,808 or 58% of the households in Washington, DC are renter-occupied while 134,683 or 42% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Washington?
Mayfair $1,305/month
Bellevue $1,381/month
Randle Highlands $1,381/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,446/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Washington?
Capitol Hill $3,015/month
Penn Quarter $3,409/month
West End Washington $3,947/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in Washington, DC By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| West End Washington | $3,947 |
| Penn Quarter | $3,409 |
| Capitol Hill | $3,015 |
| Woodley Park | $3,005 |
| McLean Gardens | $2,923 |
| Gallaudet | $2,878 |
| U Street Washington | $2,843 |
| Waterfront Washington | $2,832 |
| Mt Vernon Triangle Washington | $2,779 |
| Mount Vernon Square | $2,775 |
| Navy Yard | $2,768 |
| Shaw | $2,733 |
| Judiciary Square | $2,666 |
| Downtown Washington | $2,647 |
| Howard University | $2,619 |
| H Street Washington | $2,594 |
| Foggy Bottom | $2,583 |
| Near Northeast | $2,581 |
| North Capitol Street | $2,581 |
| Kalorama Heights | $2,557 |
| Adams Morgan | $2,551 |
| Logan Circle | $2,500 |
| Dupont Circle | $2,471 |
| Eckington | $2,470 |
| Forest Hills | $2,358 |
| Cleveland Park | $2,303 |
| Barney Circle | $2,266 |
| Takoma Dc Washington | $2,254 |
| Queens Chapel | $2,248 |
| Glover Park | $2,242 |
| Georgetown | $2,241 |
| Southwest Waterfront | $2,231 |
| Cathedral Heights | $2,203 |
| North Cleveland Park | $2,172 |
| Columbia Heights Dc Washington | $2,170 |
| 16th Street Heights | $2,163 |
| Fort Lincoln | $2,149 |
| Brookland | $2,129 |
| Good Hope | $2,128 |
| Le Droit Park | $2,113 |
| Edgewood | $2,103 |
| Trinidad | $2,028 |
| Chevy Chase | $1,974 |
| Carver - Langston | $1,952 |
| Fort Totten | $1,875 |
| Brightwood | $1,830 |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,811 |
| Langdon | $1,805 |
| Pleasant Hill | $1,795 |
| Buena Vista | $1,776 |
| Petworth | $1,743 |
| Shipley Terrace | $1,596 |
| Hillbrook | $1,571 |
| Fort Dupont | $1,494 |
| Washington Highlands | $1,488 |
| Congress Heights | $1,471 |
| Fairlawn | $1,402 |
| Marshall Heights | $1,390 |
| Randle Highlands | $1,381 |
| Bellevue | $1,381 |
| Mayfair | $1,305 |
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Washington | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in 16th Street Heights is 15% lower than in Adams Morgan
$2,163
16th Street Heights rent is 12% lower than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,163
$2,551
Adams Morgan rent is 4% higher than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,551
How Washington Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Washington | $2,446 |
| Arlington, VA | $2,741 |
| Alexandria, VA | $2,190 |
| Silver Spring, MD | $1,936 |
| Hyattsville, MD | $1,901 |
| Falls Church, VA | $2,335 |
| Bethesda, MD | $2,814 |
| Mc Lean, VA | $2,852 |
| Suitland, MD | $1,778 |
| Capitol Heights, MD | $1,529 |
| District Heights, MD | $1,537 |
Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Washington apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.