The 10 Safest Neighborhoods In Washington DC

Upgraded Home Team
by Upgraded Home Team

For many years Washington DC has attracted young individuals across the nation and has been a booming city. This is a place where young professionals move because of job opportunities and wealth. Another highly-regarded decision when moving to Washington DC is how safe it is, and it’s much safer than you think.

The safest neighborhoods in Washington D.C. are Glover Park, AU-Tenleytown, Barnaby Woods, The Palisades, and Cleveland Park. Berkley, Foxhall Village, Chevy Chase, and Woodley Park also have low crime rates. Mount Pleasant is one of the safest neighborhoods in Washington, DC, and there are only 216 violent crimes per 100k residents.

If you’re curious about all of the neighborhoods that are deemed safe and community-oriented, keep on reading. We will look at property crime, violent crime, and the population of each city. This will give you a good idea of what to expect when looking for neighborhoods.

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What Are The Best Neighborhoods In Washington DC?

Every city you find will have the best and worst neighborhoods to live in. Many people are driven to Washington DC to provide new opportunities to their families and earn a good living. These neighborhoods will keep your family safe, provide excellent education support for your kids, and leave you feeling secure within a community. The neighborhoods that made our top ten list are:

  • Foxhall Village
  • Hawthorne
  • Palisades
  • Van Ness
  • Woodland Normanstone
  • Adams Morgan
  • Brookland
  • Foggy Bottom
  • Logan Circle
  • Mount Pleasant

Best Neighborhoods In DC

Below are the top ten with crime rate facts and a little history on the surrounding area. This will help you get to know each individual community and find one you may be interested in. Ready? Let’s get started!

1. Foxhall Village

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 391
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,698
  • Population: 5,363

Most Foxhall Village residents own their own homes and love the urban and suburban feel of this neighborhood. This part of Washington DC has a lot of young professionals who tend to be more on the liberal side of things.

It provides homes with big yards for the kids, yet many bars have some type of nightlife. As many kid activities, there are just as many for adults. The public schools in this area are rated far above average and provide the children who attend some of Washington DC’s best education. The median home value in this neighborhood is $1,141,895, making it a more budget-friendly place to live in DC.

2. Hawthorne

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 6
  • Population: 3,106

This is probably one of the safest places to live in because, in 2019, the only crime reported was a few broken in cars and two stolen cars. There have not been any violent crimes reported in this area of Washington DC. It remains one of the safer neighborhoods to this day.

Hawthorne was named after all of the Hawthorn trees that grow around the local community, and it has created a stunning place to live. It continues to draw in people with safe and budget-friendly homes. The median home value is $1,050,245, and most people choose to own instead of rent.

3. Palisades

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 192
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,655
  • Population: 6,912

Our third top-ranked community on the list is Palisades; it is on the top of the list because its crime rate is 26% below the national average. It’s a community known to be one of the best places to live, where most people own their own homes and choose to live here because of the suburban feel. The school rating is above average and allows kids a better education than other areas in Washington DC.

This area attracts newcomers, and once in the neighborhood, they tend to stay forever. Due to this, there may be limited homes on the market, and you have to act quickly to take advantage of them. The average median home value is $1,496,751 though it may be more depending on the home.

4. Van Ness

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 71.2
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 640
  • Population: 1,801

This neighborhood in DC was not always known for very much. Still, in 2013, some significant renovations attracted a lot of people. An area that is now known for amazing Mediterranean restaurants, art, culture, and some museums is a great area to settle down. It’s a fresh and upbeat neighborhood to relax in.

It is a super quiet area with a massive organic food grocery store and attracts many older couples looking for a change of scenery. So far, of the entire list, this town’s school system is rated among the best, better than the others. The median home value in this neighborhood is $1,028,200, and most people choose to buy over rent.

5. Woodland Normanstone

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 23.5
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 774
  • Population: 4,953 

People choose to move to this neighborhood because it’s close enough to the capital yet far enough away you get a sense of nature. It is a peaceful neighborhood with a creek running through it that kids love to play in and a lot more to do. Once in a while, the neighbors come together to pick up trash around their neighborhood, keeping it nice and clean. They also plant trees and gather for other functions that bring the community together.

The local schools have a very high rating from those who attend and the parents of the kids. The average median home value is $1,039,367, while the average rent price is $2,043. Many people in this neighborhood choose to rent over buy a property.

6. Adams Morgan

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 430
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,186
  • Population: 13,104

A neighborhood north of the white house attracts many people for the urban feeling surrounding the community. One of this neighborhood’s best features is all of the ethnic food you can enjoy; every restaurant is from African to Venezuelan. There is a super funky nightlife, meaning you walk outside from your home, and it’s an action-packed day that’s never dull, leading into an eccentric night.

This can easily make it on any top ten list because of the unique vibe and enormous safety of the neighborhood. The median home value is around $689,402, while average rent prices are $2,052. This is one of the more budget-friendly areas to own a home in Washington DC, and because of that, many people choose to own homes.

7. Brookland

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,150
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,766
  • Population: 7,484

Overall, this is a tranquil neighborhood that does not have a lot of nightlife going on. Most of the homes for sale are single-family homes, and the local schools have average ratings. It’s an easy place to live that offers many historical landmarks to view from most homes. This community is one of the safer places to live in Washington DC due to how quiet it is. The median home value of this neighborhood is $627,977, while the median rent is $1,429.

8. Foggy Bottom

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 75
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 771
  • Population: 11,398

This neighborhood is one of the best for federal employees because it is budget-friendly and super close to the White House. It is one of the best ways for employees and politicians to avoid traffic to the White House. In this neighborhood, you will find a unique variety of homes to rent and buy. There are historic homes for sale but incredibly modern homes to rent. This draws in various people, making it one of the more diverse neighborhoods in the District of Columbia.

The schools connected to the neighborhood are ranked above average, and the kids seem to love living in this area. The median home value is $526,215, while the median rental price is $1,846. Many people choose to rent over buying a home in this neighborhood.

9. Logan Circle

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 465
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,823.4
  • Population: 26,528

If you need a neighborhood with excellent public transportation to get to work and not deal with traffic or let your kids get around, this is the best spot. It is close to a massive grocery store that is health-focused and allows for anyone in the community to get around quickly with no hassle. It is a super quiet neighborhood, one where you can take a walk safely while admiring the beautiful architecture the buildings have to offer. Most of the homes have no yards and are in the form of townhomes.

This makes it better for young professionals who want the city amenities while remaining outside of the city. The median home value is $722,391, a much more budget-friendly price than other places in DC. However, due to the amount of younger people, more people choose to rent. The median rental income is $1,934.

10. Mount Pleasant

  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 321
  • Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,806
  • Population: 13,294

There is a nearby park called Rock Creek Park that provides amazing scenic views and lots of trails in this neighborhood. Nearby there are local shops where everyone can enjoy a little spree. This little neighborhood is brought in various groups of people, making it one of the more diverse places to live in Washington DC. You will find houses, mid-rise apartment buildings, and also a mix of historical buildings that are habitable.

It’s far enough away from downtown it feels homier, but it is a quick drive to the middle of the city. Due to the influx of younger people and many apartment buildings, people typically choose to rent a place over buying it. The average rental price is $1,535, while the median home value is $679,775.

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Our Takeaway

This is our top ten list, and some of the best places you can live in include Hawthorne, Van Ness, and Woodland Normanstone. Any of these places will allow you to live and roam around freely.

Though most of Washington DC is safe, you should avoid a few places like Columbia Heights, Brentwood, and Anacostia. These three places are known for high violent crimes and an immense amount of property crimes. Now you have all of the information to select the best neighborhoods in Washington DC.

Upgraded Home Team
Upgraded Home Team

We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.

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