Washington, DC Rental Market Trends
Last updated: October 30, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Washington is $2,450, a 2.68% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,517.
Studio Apartments at $1,818 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 $2,304, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $3,105 offer 999 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,215 sq ft) for $3,802, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Washington, DC
Last updated: October 30, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,450 | 746 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,818 | 484 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $2,304 | 697 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,105 | 999 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $3,802 | 1,215 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?
Skyland $1,254/month
Mayfair $1,324/month
Randle Highlands $1,378/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,450/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Washington?
Woodley Park $3,033/month
Penn Quarter $3,371/month
West End Washington $3,902/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 | $3,902 |
| Penn Quarter | $3,371 |
| Woodley Park | $3,033 |
| Capitol Hill | $3,015 |
| McLean Gardens | $2,949 |
| Gallaudet | $2,855 |
| U Street Washington | $2,846 |
| Mount Vernon Square | $2,792 |
| Waterfront Washington | $2,781 |
| Mt Vernon Triangle Washington | $2,776 |
| Navy Yard | $2,751 |
| Shaw | $2,730 |
| Howard University | $2,660 |
| Downtown Washington | $2,648 |
| Judiciary Square | $2,629 |
| H Street Washington | $2,596 |
| Kalorama Heights | $2,579 |
| Near Northeast | $2,577 |
| Adams Morgan | $2,543 |
| North Capitol Street | $2,538 |
| Foggy Bottom | $2,537 |
| Logan Circle | $2,496 |
| Dupont Circle | $2,496 |
| Eckington | $2,434 |
| Forest Hills | $2,346 |
| Southwest Waterfront | $2,326 |
| Cleveland Park | $2,319 |
| Barney Circle | $2,277 |
| Glover Park | $2,262 |
| Takoma Dc Washington | $2,245 |
| Georgetown | $2,223 |
| Queens Chapel | $2,203 |
| Fort Lincoln | $2,181 |
| 16th Street Heights | $2,178 |
| Columbia Heights Dc Washington | $2,157 |
| North Cleveland Park | $2,154 |
| Cathedral Heights | $2,154 |
| Edgewood | $2,134 |
| Brookland | $2,120 |
| Trinidad | $2,119 |
| Le Droit Park | $2,104 |
| Good Hope | $2,092 |
| Chevy Chase | $1,998 |
| Carver - Langston | $1,980 |
| Fort Totten | $1,908 |
| Brightwood | $1,876 |
| Langdon | $1,802 |
| Pleasant Hill | $1,794 |
| Buena Vista | $1,792 |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,788 |
| Shipley Terrace | $1,752 |
| Petworth | $1,735 |
| Hillbrook | $1,571 |
| Fort Dupont | $1,499 |
| Washington Highlands | $1,487 |
| Congress Heights | $1,465 |
| Fairlawn | $1,425 |
| Marshall Heights | $1,411 |
| Bellevue | $1,407 |
| Randle Highlands | $1,378 |
| Mayfair | $1,324 |
| Skyland | $1,254 |
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Washington | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in 16th Street Heights is 14% lower than in Adams Morgan
$2,178
16th Street Heights rent is 11% lower than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,178
$2,543
Adams Morgan rent is 4% higher than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,543
How Washington Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Washington | $2,450 |
| Arlington, VA | $2,716 |
| Alexandria, VA | $2,189 |
| Silver Spring, MD | $1,917 |
| Hyattsville, MD | $1,882 |
| Falls Church, VA | $2,340 |
| Bethesda, MD | $2,841 |
| Mc Lean, VA | $2,760 |
| Suitland, MD | $1,785 |
| Capitol Heights, MD | $1,508 |
| District Heights, MD | $1,493 |
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.