Washington, DC Rental Market Trends
Last updated: February 20, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Washington is $2,452, a 2.33% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,511.
Studio Apartments at $1,854 offer the most budget-friendly option with 484 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 698 square feet for $2,316, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $3,051 offer 994 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,196 sq ft) for $3,672, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Washington, DC
Last updated: February 20, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,452 | 747 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,854 | 484 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $2,316 | 698 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $3,051 | 994 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $3,672 | 1,196 sq. ft. |
Washington, DC rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in Washington, DC?
The largest share of rentals in Washington, DC (30%) 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?
189,268 or 59% of the households in Washington, DC are renter-occupied while 132,288 or 41% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Washington?
Skyland $1,278/month
Randle Highlands $1,374/month
Bellevue $1,379/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,452/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Washington?
Capitol Hill $3,029/month
Penn Quarter $3,518/month
West End Washington $3,732/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 | $3,732 |
| Penn Quarter | $3,518 |
| Capitol Hill | $3,029 |
| McLean Gardens | $2,935 |
| Waterfront Washington | $2,925 |
| Shaw | $2,850 |
| Woodley Park | $2,840 |
| U Street Washington | $2,832 |
| Gallaudet | $2,824 |
| Navy Yard | $2,813 |
| Mt Vernon Triangle Washington | $2,723 |
| Judiciary Square | $2,698 |
| Near Northeast | $2,652 |
| H Street Washington | $2,632 |
| Howard University | $2,614 |
| Downtown Washington | $2,605 |
| North Capitol Street | $2,594 |
| Foggy Bottom | $2,567 |
| Adams Morgan | $2,545 |
| Logan Circle | $2,487 |
| Dupont Circle | $2,458 |
| Eckington | $2,448 |
| Kalorama Heights | $2,432 |
| Mount Vernon Square | $2,407 |
| Takoma Dc Washington | $2,325 |
| Georgetown | $2,292 |
| Forest Hills | $2,289 |
| Cleveland Park | $2,274 |
| Le Droit Park | $2,260 |
| Barney Circle | $2,255 |
| Southwest Waterfront | $2,240 |
| Brookland | $2,218 |
| Cathedral Heights | $2,204 |
| North Cleveland Park | $2,185 |
| Queens Chapel | $2,178 |
| 16th Street Heights | $2,177 |
| Columbia Heights Dc Washington | $2,174 |
| Glover Park | $2,172 |
| Fort Lincoln | $2,157 |
| Edgewood | $2,128 |
| Good Hope | $2,124 |
| Chevy Chase | $2,043 |
| Trinidad | $2,031 |
| Carver - Langston | $1,928 |
| Brightwood | $1,925 |
| Fort Totten | $1,921 |
| Pleasant Hill | $1,873 |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,859 |
| Langdon | $1,819 |
| Buena Vista | $1,764 |
| Petworth | $1,699 |
| Hillbrook | $1,571 |
| Marshall Heights | $1,539 |
| Washington Highlands | $1,513 |
| Shipley Terrace | $1,480 |
| Congress Heights | $1,458 |
| Fort Dupont | $1,447 |
| Mayfair | $1,443 |
| Fairlawn | $1,418 |
| Bellevue | $1,379 |
| Randle Highlands | $1,374 |
| Skyland | $1,278 |
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Washington | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in 16th Street Heights is 14% lower than in Adams Morgan
$2,177
16th Street Heights rent is 11% lower than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,177
$2,545
Adams Morgan rent is 4% higher than Washington average
Average Rent
$2,545
How Washington Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Washington | $2,452 |
| Arlington, VA | $2,643 |
| Alexandria, VA | $2,140 |
| Silver Spring, MD | $1,967 |
| Hyattsville, MD | $1,888 |
| Falls Church, VA | $2,296 |
| Bethesda, MD | $2,699 |
| Mc Lean, VA | $2,793 |
| Capitol Heights, MD | $1,556 |
| Suitland, MD | $1,773 |
| Oxon Hill, MD | $1,764 |
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.