Downtown

Business, Shopping, and Nightlife in the Heart of DC
Downtown DC offers tourists and locals plenty to do between the various restaurants, historical attractions, and boutique shopping. This walkable neighborhood welcomes its visitors to walk between the Smithsonian Museums for daytime activities and Penn's Quarter at night to meet up with friends.
Median rents in Downtown
Studio
$
1,900
1 Bedroom
$
2,450
2 Bedroom
$
3,400

Living in
Downtown

Quiet Neighborhood
Historic Vibe
Walkable
Prime Location
Safe
Noisy At Times
Great Bars And Restaurants
Easy Commute
Lively
Great Location
Downtown — 8.2/10 Rating (based on 206 neighborhood reviews)
Fairly safe around the building though not free of the city's violence around. If you're ok with hearing about stabbings a few blocks away, the occasional gun shot, and the city noise (mainly sirens and traffic), you'll be fine.
Neighborhood has metro close, supermarkets close, parks close, and overall very walkable.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Cambridge Apartments
Lots of restaurants and outdoor areas, so close to lots of events being a few blocks from the national mall, not far from the white house, and the building is located on a quiet street in the middle of so many great places. Only hard part is the lack of grocery store.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Lexington at Market Square
The location is great. Chinatown has a bunch of restaurants and bars, a movie theatre and a bowling alley. We're also a 5 minute walk from the national mall, and quite a few metro stations.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Lexington at Market Square
Foggy Bottom is super boring and not a great place for grad students. If you live here you'll hear the undergrad students partying for hours every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. There aren't many restaurants (besides takeout), no shopping, and no activities to do around here. While it's super convenient being super close to school, it's not fun.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Super safe and close to lots of different neighborhoods (walking distance to Foggy, DuPont and Logan Circle) but doesn’t have any nightlife in the immediate area. Most restaurants and stores are closed on weekends
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Camden Grand Parc
Living downtown is great because you are within walking distance of nearly everywhere you would want to go in DC. However, it can get loud, especially at night, and lots of noise from cars and sirens.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Zen Apollo
Foggy Bottom/West End are great for 1Ls -- you will get to know the area around school and you will be conveniently within a few blocks of GW. There are a lot of food options, but night life is lacking (though you're a short walk to DuPont and Georgetown). There are plenty of busses and metros around.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Good only in the sense that it is near the school, that you can receive warnings from the school and D.C. (if signing up), that you can be assured of safety generally even if coming in late due to pulling off night studies in the library. However, noise levels are high, so you can hardly study indoors at home because of people wanting to earn money in exchange for their loud and terrible performances. This means that you may ultimately end up outside for work or rest during morning/afternoon. Noise in the evening can be high too due to some people having gone drunk. Noise (some loud trucks and mostly machine sounds) and lights can be too much for sleeping deeply.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
It's really only convenient because of how close the law school is. Otherwise, I would not live here. Definitely a business/corporate area that shuts down on the weekends. Not a lot of options for going out to eat unless it's either overpriced or fast food. The only grocery store that's walking distance is Whole Foods, which I personally hate shopping at.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Since my apartment building is close to CVS which is open 24 hours, it has been a blessing for me to source snacks when I pulled all - nighters! The library and other university buildings too are close by, so even walking back home at 3 a.m. did not give me any jitters.

The lanes are relatively well-lit and can be used at any time of the day or night. Since the GW police vehicles are seen patrolling late at nights,I believe the streets within the foggy bottom campus area are safe and secure for any one to walk, with no reported issues so far.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Monroe House
Winston House is far away enough from campus that you can walk around without seeing students everywhere you go, but still allows you to get to class on time. Stoney's, which is right across the street, is a cool place to hang out and grab some food/ a beer, and Bruger's is close by for mornings. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are both easily walkable, and CVS is right down the block. Ideal area for students, although if you're looking for nightlife you will have to walk to dupont/ catch a cab to U street.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Not the closest to nightlife but conveniently located near numerous bus stops and about a 10 min walk to the metro. It is also about 10 min away from the Mall which is very nice.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Dupont has pretty much everything you could need, although you might pay a larger price for it. It can be a little bit of a walk to the closest grocery stores, but there is a wide variety of options for stores, restaurants, and shops. The community is great and very friendly.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
Really close to campus, but not super close to great restaurants/bars/things to do. The area is pretty much exclusively GW, so it feels pretty safe, but can be noisy.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Great location to GW Law School, the monuments, and a few coffee shops, convenience stores and restaurants. I'm glad I have a car to drive to grocery stores to save myself from lugging tons of groceries home. Not a ton of nightlife, which I personally don't mind.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Foggy bottom is mostly GW. Convenient to stay here during school, lots of people around during the school year, close to everything else. Pretty safe.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Wray
Lots to do nearby, I like the area. There is only orange/silver and red at two different metros in opposite directions though. Hard to metro.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Very convenient to Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Dupont and other DC neighborhoods. Close to Foggy Bottom Metro. Very conveniently located to GW's campus. The walk clocks to about 10 minutes door to door. The neighborhood is incredibly safe.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Generally safe neighborhood with walking access to Foggy Bottom Metro and bus transit routes towards other parts of the District.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Safe, clean, plenty of restaurants and bars, walking distance from the hospital and adjacent areas like Georgetown, DuPont, etc
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Carriage House
The apartment is in the heart of foggy bottom and your neighbors are a reflection of this. The street can get loud and roudy at night because it is the halfway point between the fraternity houses and the freshman dorms.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Monroe House
Great location to live in - close to GW, Georgetown, Dupont, the National Mall and other landmarks. Whole Foods and Trader Joes as well as many restaurants close by. A very "walkable" and friendly community.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Lots of high rises, with lots of amenities available, including great bars and restaurants, gyms, public spaces, etc. Easy commute to downtown. Sometimes lacking in character, but otherwise a great option
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Gables City Vista
Tons going on. Limited food options though. Everything you generally want (dry cleaners, grocery stores, etc.) is a on top of campus. But generally feel super safe walking around because it is campus.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Not much going on as far as nightlife or a restaurant scene, but close to school (which matters most)
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
The neighborhood is very much within the college so if you are a student or don't mind college students then it is good. The neighborhood feels safe and it is extremely quiet at night and on weekends.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The York
Great neighborhood for students. Close by wholefoods and the GWU campus. 2 blocks from the law school. Easy walk down to the Georgetown Waterfront or over to the White House or the national mall.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Very safe and lots of restaurants and bars. It is great for dinner and happy hour. Very close to the mall and all the monuments. Great for running and outdoor activities. Life night and day.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Clara Barton at Penn Quarter
Its a convenient location if you go to GW because it is right on campus. Otherwise the neighborhood is expensive and doesn't really have any fun restaurants bars or a great community feel.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Great neighborhood, has everything. Capital Bikeshare is great for getting around the neighborhood and also helps with the commute to work (bike from Tysons Corner station to Westpark).
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
Across the street from the GW campus. There has been some crime but generally feels very safe. About a 10 minute walk to Whole Foods and the metro. Local eateries located nearby.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Logan Circle has been a great place to live. Very walk-able to public transportation and grocery stores. Lots of pets around and friendly people. Near good food and bars as well.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1301 Thomas Circle
I really love Mount Vernon Square as a neighborhood. It is really close to the national mall, great restaurants, shopping, and you have access to multiple different metro lines.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Lots of restaurants, multiple grocery stores nearby and right near 14th street. Metro is a bit limited outside of the green and yellow line but bus lines are very accessible
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
M Street Towers
Restaurants, bars, grocery store, the BEST Ace hardware store ever, chipotle... all within a block! Metro access is great and you're walking distance to the national mall.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Lots of students. Not that many things open on the weekends. Conveniently located CVS, two coffee shops. New building going up on the block, so some construction noise.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Not close to many fun things, but close to school and hospital
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
It is a very cute neighborhood with lots in walking distance
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Apartment is a ten minute walk from anything you need. Dupont Circle for bars, Trader Joes or Whole foods for Grocery, and directly between two subway stops.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Still an neighborhood in transition, but in my immediate area there's a Safeway, Chipotle, Taylor Gourmet, Capital One, Sweetgreen, Ace Hardware, and more.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Yale West
#1 way to describe living downtown/mt vernon square is convenience. There's a 24 hour Safeway, I can walk nearly everywhere, and always feel safe walking.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Yale West
Foggy Bottom/West End is kind of boring but you’re really close to 4 metro lines. If you really want to go to a bar, DuPont circle is ten minutes north.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
It's wonderful to be living in the central part of DC with the White House just a block away. Easy access to both metro and buses. There's CVS nearby.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Camden Grand Parc
I think the neighborhood is great for a GW student because you have easy access to class and are walking distance to plenty of social activities.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Centrally located between Chinatown, 14th St., DuPont Circle and Shaw. Very close to Silver Line metro (straight shot to McLean office)
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1150 K Street
It is very convenient being so close to school, but there isn't much going on in foggy bottom outside of the school or work scene.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Monroe House
Feels very safe, but less good restaurants that DuPont Circle simply because the school takes up so much space in Foggy Bottom
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Love being close to school, but the neighborhood lacks social hangouts, and can be very quiet on weekends and weeknights.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
Fantastic - super close to the White House and Lincoln Memorial; close to metro; can easily walk to work for internships
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The York
Best location, a few minutes walk to the campus (4 minutes to the Law School). The GW police is patrolling in the area.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Very safe. I've seen campus police around a lot because the Statesman is right across the street from a GW dorm.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
The neighborhood is quiet (although students aren't here because of Covid so that will probably change) and is right in between Dupont (hello fantastic farmer's market), Georgetown (runs by the water), and the National Mall (10 minutes from your favorite protest). The neighborhood itself has limited food options though because it is mostly federal buildings and the campus.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
I like the neighborhood - it is close to the Verizon Center, Chinatown, good restaurants, and museums. Downsides are it can feel a little bit sketchier than other neighborhoods at night and does not have quite as good of a food/bar/shopping scene as 14th St area or Dupont. It is also a little bit far from the metro.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Traffic and sirens can make it a noisy place, especially if your unit faces a major street. Walkability to campus, public transit, the mall, social areas, and businesses make it a prime location though. Mixture of GW students, Gtown students, and working professionals make up the primary population in the area if I had to estimate. I feel very safe here.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
Chinatown is great because there is always something to do and lots of good bars and food nearby (and it's just a short walk to the Safeway). The area feels safe because there are always people around. That said, all the excitement means it can be loud and Verizon Center events can clog up public transportation. Biggest downside is the distance from campus.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Avalon at Gallery Place
One of the best things about living in Camden Grand Parc is that it's located only a block away from the White House. Walking pass the White House every morning allows me to extra feel the DC-vibe. The neighborhood is relatively safe, at least for me so far. There are nice restaurants and bars nearby. In fact, you can find pretty much anything within walking distance: cafes, CVS, banks, etc. So, it's really convenient day by day.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Camden Grand Parc
Great neighbourhood if you like city life. Busy, loud, fairly safe area. Extremely accessible to the metro. Fairly central area. Near the Verizon center. Lots of restaurants and bars. Near the national mall. Can walk to work if I wanted to. Grocery stores close. No complaints for living in Chinatown!
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
Penn Quarter is a great neighborhood because you are really at the center of the city. It is walking distance to the Capitol, White House, and monuments. You are in the heart of the museum district with access to several of DC's famous museums. The restaurants and bars are great and have a ton of variety.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Apartments at City Center
Not a lot of activity during the weekend, but you live within walking distance to other great areas
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
10 minute walk to any area you’d like to go out in. Very close to school. Easy access to the metro
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Right across the street from the law school and Whole Foods, and only one block from the metro.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Mount Vernon is close to tons of options for food, bars, entertainment, etc. Grocery and CVS are nearby also. Very close to the metro, also. The are is fairly safe. I feel comfortable walking at night, but also know that I have to be careful. The area is patrolled by police pretty often.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mount Vernon Plaza
Lots of life in this neighborhood. Great restaurant and bar scene. Good diversity.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Grant
Its a safe area but a little noisy sometimes on Massachusetts Ave. There are grocery stores in walking distance but not close enough that I would want to walk back carrying a lot. Campus is definitely within walking distance and all metro lines are within a 12 minute walk.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1210 Mass
Sometimes noisy, but the front desk quickly deal with it if you ask
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
It’s already a fun neighborhood, and more things continue to open!
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Gables City Vista
I love being equally as close to school, dupont, and georgetown
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Safe, but not that convenient to find an affordable restaurant
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Woodward
Walking distance to several metro lines and going-out areas.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1301 Thomas Circle
The neighborhood is still up and coming, relatively new. Not a whole lot of bars or sit down restaurants very nearby. The Verizon Center/Chinatown is a 5 min walk with all of its restaurants. There is a Safeway just 5 mins walk which is very convenient.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass
Pros:
Near by Gallery Place, Judiciary, and Convention Center metro stops
Many close by local coffee shops
Safeway across the street

Cons:
The neighborhood is safe, but not as safe as other areas of the city.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Pretty safe area. Very close to Metro Center, McPherson Square, and Mount Vernon Square metros. There is both a Giant and Safeway in the near vicinity. Pretty quiet area as well as it is a little bit out from the city center.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mount Vernon Plaza
Located on the border of Downtown and Logan Circle, the neighborhood can feel cold sometimes. It is extremely easy to get to the Metro, but it's a bit of a walk to get to a place with a "neighborhood feeling"
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Massachusetts House Apartments
The area is nice enough, but mostly businesses. You have to walk a few blocks to get to the nightlife. It is expensive to live in this area and most students do not. I live here because it is convenient.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
Good neighborhood very close to the White House. Many restaurants are closed on weekends and there is no convenient grocery store nearby, but otherwise this neighborhood has everything you might want.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Camden Grand Parc
I am not a fan of this area. I do not feel comfortable leaving the apartment after 10 pm because it feels really unsafe. However, there are many shopping sites near here and Chinatown is so close by.
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3
/10
Neighborhood Rating
77H
Safe area close to Chinatown to the east (union station past that) and then 14th street corridor to the west (dupont past that). You can walk almost anywhere in NW DC.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Cambridge
It's whatever. You're surrounded by government buildings and are practically in GW. I hate to sound old, but the frat houses across the street get old very quickly.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
I enjoy having tons of restaurants and bars around---from neighborhood pubs, to fast casual restaurants, to sit down joints, to cafes. There's a lots to like.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass
Nice to be so close to school. Short walk from the mall and other tourist destinations. Bar/restaurant/night life scene leaves a lot to be desired.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The York
Location in Foggy Bottom provides easy access to the law school, stores, restaurants, and transit points.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Living downtown is great for convenience to the law school (15 minute walk and great access to public transportation) without being in in Foggy Bottom. There are a lot of restaurants and shops close by. If you are looking for a more residential area that's a bit quieter, downtown is not for you - but it is a fair trade off for the convenient location.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Camden Grand Parc
Generally safe and quiet. Not a ton of places to go out, but Dupont is close enough to walk to.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Monroe House
Morning commute can be difficult when in a rush; not many restaurants in the immediate area
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Lurgan
Foggy Bottom - great for class and grocery proximity, bad for social scenes.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Chinatown. Good food and located close to the Verizon Center.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mass Court Apartments
In between Foggy Bottom and Dupont, close walk to GW Law
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Close to school, but not much open on the weekends.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Great neighborhood
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
Fine, hasn't recovered from Covid
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Apartments at CityCenter
There is a good amount around here, but I thought there would be more restaurants and coffee shops around GW. We have to walk a bit to get to more options.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
It’s very safe and quiet
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
York & Potomac Park
Great, lots of restaurants
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Apartments at CityCenter
No issues in the neighborhood
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
It's Foggy Bottom. Students and tourists.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Logan Circe is a great place to live.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Belvedere
Lots to do close by
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Love it. Good scene, plenty to do.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
Good neighborhood - kind of far from campus, but I have a car and drive. It takes 12-15 minutes
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass Apartments
It is located just across the GW dorms so it feels very much like you are in school
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Its very close to the school of business
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
Loud but great energy there
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Residences at Gallery Place
Close to school but not right on campus!
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
The apartment sits almost on school campus so there are lots of amenities both on campus and around the area. Transportation is convenient through the Metro system as well and food is easy to come by with plenty of restraunts around and with wholefoods right across the street.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
There are great restaurants, a weekly farmers market, plenty of events, walking distance to the mall, and many museums. It's within walking distance to a couple of grocery stores and it's easy to access the busses and metro.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mass Court Apartments
Everything is within walking distance including groceries, metro stations, gyms and cafes. It can get louder at nights, but generally, the place is quiet as it is surrounded by offices.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Convenient location within walking distance from GW. It does get really loud occasionally. The only downside is that mainly undergraduate and graduate students live in this area so it can get noisy and there isn’t much around here aside from college dorms and school buildings.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Wray
Being a GW Law student, I like being so close to my classes but there is definitely an undergrad/college town vibe to the neighborhood. there are limited grocery options nearby but its worked out ok for me so far.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
Foggy Bottom includes the GWU campus, so it's obviously very safe, plus we have a bunch of US federal agencies and the university hospital, so there's a strong police presence. There are a good number of homeless persons living in some of the parks, but they're harmless.

In terms of food, there's some decent food places, but not many. Georgetown, West End, and Dupont are within walking distance, so that's not so much of an issue. There's a Whole Foods and Trader Joes within a 15-minute walk from my apartment, but I prefer to drive to the Georgetown or Columbia Heights Safeway because they have cheaper/more options.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
There are always places to eat and things to do. Also the apartment is only about 1 mi from the Mall so it's great if you are a runner. In terms of getting to work it typically takes me 50min-1 hour on the metro one way and the metro stop is a couple of blocks from the building. I typically drive to work which (by commuting slightly before peak morning traffic and slightly after peak evening traffic) is around 35-40 min one way. The building is right off of 395, which means you don't have to do too much city driving ever.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
In terms of proximity to school, the location is perfect. There aren't a lot of bars and restaurants close by (though there are some), but a 24-hour CVS, grocery store, liquor store, coffee shops, fast-casual places all within about a 5 minute walk so it doesn't feel inconvenient, it's just quiet on the weekends and by no means a center of nightlife.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
I love the location - pretty close to everything you want - shopping, entertainment, restaurants, bars, public transportation, etc. I also like the residential feel of the area, unlike apartment buildings down in Chinatown. Unfortunately, there is some higher rates of car break ins and robberies in the neighborhood, due to a relatively affluent population adjacent to lower income areas. Additionally, there has been a crackdown on prostitution in the area - I saw a few women in the early morning hours, and I am glad the police are focusing on this issue. Other than the normal problems of lack of parking, a very attentive police team writing tickets, I love the area!
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mount Vernon Plaza
The Aston is the furthest GW housing from the campus, so we had to walk more than any other student to get to class. We are also the furthest away from any Metro station, but still not considerably far when you look at the big picture. There are grocery stores, bars, and restaurants nearby which is a perk, but it is pretty noisy around here. But I guess that's anywhere in Downtown DC. There are always cars honking, ambulance sirens, etc. But the area seems pretty safe.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
The neighborhood is great. I am close to work; close to the law school I attended; close to Safeway (and I would highlight close to Walmart, but they have been dropping off lately, i.e. not selling extension cords and other common things you would expect and continually shrinking their product selection); and you are also close to several different metro lines and all sorts of entertainment in the area. This neighborhood is an outstanding one to live in.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mass Court Apartments
A lot of college kids around but still not to noisy. Some food places a 5 to 8 minute walk away. Also a block away from Tonic, which is a great, cheap happy hour place for drinks, burgers, and tater tots. It seems pretty safe. Love the short walk to GW though (4 or 5 minutes).
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
A little far from campus but is a 15 min bike ride or 35 min walk. I can pretty much walk to most places in DC from my place! Lots of restaurants, parks, access to museums.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Stoneys on L is a mere 5 second walk away and a great spot to grab a drink and watch a game. Whole Foods and Trader Joes are both about two blocks away so you don't have to carry groceries home. Overall I love the neighborhood.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Pricey coffee shops, DuPont farmers market, etc are nice. North of K street, so there is noise which I find tolerable but might bother sensitive folks.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Bars and restaurants nearby, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, CVS nearby for groceries, close to red (Farragut North) and blue/orange/silver (Foggy Bottom) lines. Georgetown and Dupont Circle are walking distance for more bars, restaurants, and shopping
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
The West End is an incredibly safe and desirable DC neighborhood. Walking distance to DuPont, Adams Morgan, U st, and 14th st where the majority of DC nightlife is located. Plenty of restaurants both upscale and casual in the neighborhood.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Carriage House
As previously mentioned, the neighborhood is great with lots going on, tons of restaurants and the Safeway right next door. Super accessible to everything, especially since we're a 5 minute walk from the Gallery Place metro (red line).
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The L at City Vista
Lots of cute restaurants and coffee shops for studying. Very close to transport hubs and walkable to the mall and many museums.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
455 Eye Street
I love being so central to everything. While being close to the silver line to get to work with a reasonable commute, I can walk 10-20 mins in any direction from my neighborhood to be in a variety of other cool neighborhoods.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1210 Mass
It's a great neighborhood, but like I said, you can get a far better lease in the exact same neighborhood for less money. This is not a good deal, do not do this, it is very easy to find housing near GW if need be.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
Foggy Bottom is a very convenient place to live as a GW student. But, note that it is a very student populated area. We are also pretty close to Whole Foods about about a 15-20 minute walk from Trader Joes
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Right by GWU, so a lot of things to do for college students. Walkable to the National Mall and all the museums. This part of Foggy Bottom is very nice and relatively quiet. Everything you need is nearby.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
I wish there were more cheaper grocery stores nearby but other than that it is a great place to live.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Chinatown is rough. There's plenty of people looking for a fight or drugs. I've been assaulted by somebody and have helped a guy out of the street after he was beat up. Drug deals are common.
For my grad students, coming back from classes that end at 11:00pm is rough. Even the 8:00pm ones mean you'll be coming back around 9:00pm. If you're taking evening classes, get back as early as possible. Unfortunately this neighborhood just isn't safe at night. Additionally, you've got plenty of food options. Most are fairly mediocre and way too expensive. A Safeway is very close by though, so groceries aren't an issue aside from being more expensive than if you went to Walmart.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
Very close to campus and grocery stores (Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s). Also right by the metro.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Right across the street from a Safeway, bank, takeout food options, hardware store, cafes, etc. It is always well-lit and feels very safe. You hear sirens, but no more than any other place in DC.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
It's a nice neighborhood, relatively safe. There are restaurants a plenty in Chinatown. The Winston House is within biking distance of Georgetown, and within walking distance of the subway.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
2140 L St NW
The neighborhood is in easy walking distance to Shaw and is quiet enough without being isolated from the rest of the city. There's also easy access to every metro line and the circulator.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Gables City Vista
Walking to class is very easy, but there’s not much to do close by on weekends.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
Being right near the law school is very convenient. The streets outside the building are nearly always busy due to the large number of undergrads at George Washington University.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Great neighborhood with a lot of new buildings and businesses. Easy walk to the metro or to bars and restaurants. It also doesn't hurt being on top of a 24 hour grocery store.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Gables City Vista
West End is busy during the 8-6 business hours but becomes a ghost town at night. You can easily walk to the bars/restaurants in Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, DuPont, 14th Street.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
I enjoy the fact that there are numerous places to eat and happy hour at in the neighborhood. My only complaint is that it doesnt necessarily have a "club" or "lounge spot".
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Cosmopolitan Condos
Great neighborhood for those who want convenience to the school and to some of the great sights in the city. However, not the best for nightlife or for pets for example.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Very walkable and safe but limited restaurants and no nightlife
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
The area is growing so quickly! New restaurants and buildings are popping up all the time. It's also very easy to get any part of the city from the neighborhood.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
It's downtown, straddling Dupont and Foggy Bottom. plenty of restaurants and the Whole Foods being in the same building is super convenient. Right by the metro
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
I appreciate being close to GW, to the metro center, and within walking distance to Dupont. However, the closest bars are in dupont (around 15 minute walk).
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Generally safe neighborhood. Protests/Rallies can be a nuisance. A lot of options for food and dining. Close to government buildings for internships/jobs.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Whitman Condos
Walking distance to the MCI Center and metro makes living in Mt Vernon easy as can be. Not to mention all the local restaurants and safeway on our block.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
It's a great place to live to go to school and get around DC (Foggy Bottom metro is very close), but the undergrads can get really loud on the weekends.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Very close to GW, excellent for anyone who wants to walk to school. Neighborhood no longer offers much as businesses were hit very hard by pandemic
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
I feel very safe in the neighborhood and I am very satisfied with the surrounding community. I love all the stores near by and the convenience.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
It is very close to Safeway and within walking distance from restaurants. However, I do see some shady characters from time to time.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Foggy bottom is pretty boring, but it's nice to be near campus and have close access to the metro. Also near the national mall.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
I’m a law student so I don’t make much use of the neighborhood but there are plenty of quiet places to study and check out
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
York & Potomac Park
I really like my neighborhood. There is a grocery, pharmacy, many restaurants, dry cleaners all within a short distance.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass Apartments
The neighborhood is awesome. Great new restaurants and very close to the metro (Mount Vernon, Metro Center, McPherson).
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mount Vernon Plaza
Great location! Perfect for commuting to Capital One (~40 min via metro) and close to Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
Safe, active restaurant/social nightlife, metro accessible from multiple lines,and child and pet friendly
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1210 Mass
The neighborhood is pretty nice. It's almost across the street from the library and there are a number of green spaces close by. Lots of restaurants and bars nearby. There are a number of homeless that hang out somewhat close to the building, but I feel pretty safe as the streets and sidewalks are all well lit.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
Honestly the neighborhood is pretty boring. The advantage of living here is being close to school. While most of the essentials are pretty close (CVS, Starbucks, Liquor Store) getting groceries is a bit of a walk to either Whole Foods ($$) or even further to Trader Joe's. It can also be nice to be close to the monuments, only takes about 15-20 minutes walking to go say hi to Lincoln.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
The neighborhood itself is very quiet, but it's really close to U Street and downtown. I walked to campus everyday and it was a lovely 25-minute walk past the White House. There's an awesome Mexican-Asian grocery store about 2 blocks away and a Giant about 20 minutes. There's a 24 hour CVS around the corner as well as a liquor store so basically everything you could want is in short walking distance.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Belvedere
Great location. It is so close to the law school - its about an 8 minute walk away from class. Whole Foods is close and so is Trader Joe's. A downside is that there are no "typical" grocery stores close to hear. Also, it is not too far from Dupont Circle which is great to go to for some more dinner options.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Penn quarter is close to most places. Out of three roommates, two of us work in NoMa and one works near Farragut. All three of us walk when it is nice weather. The area doesn't have a lot of really cool, cultural bars but for every day places they are totally fine. There are lots of nearby groceries - safeway and walmart are walking distance from me. Its a safe area that can be a little pricey for rent.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
The Mount Vernon area has great walkable access to most things you need, making it a very convenient place to live. Safeway, good fast-food options like sweetgreen chipotle and taylor gourmet, hardware store, coffee shops, public transportation, bike share, restaurants in shaw, city center, chinatown.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Mount Vernon Triangle
The area is safe and easily accessible by bus and metro. You can access the Red, Blue/Orange and Yellow/Green within a few blocks of walking. The area is close to Chinatown but far enough away if you want a break from all the people and. There are great restaurants and bars that are great for both residents and those new to DC.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Apartments at CityCenter
Love this area, right near Logan Circle and 14th street which has so much good food and nightlife!
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Midtown Condominiums
there's a whole foods nearby as well as a trader joe's. very close to the monuments and the metro.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
Good location, close to school and transit. Some cafes and restaurants nearby. A little quiet.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Winston House
Amazing neighborhood. Close to GW and close to so much good food and nice restaurants.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Close to school, close distance to DuPont circle, nice places to eat around here
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Aston
Close to campus, generally safe, lots of shopping/restaurants, metro!
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Good neighborhood convenient to hospital and most clinics. Have been able to suffice with metro and uber which saves a lot of money. Area has lots of restaurants, but somewhat limited options on weekends. Not the area for going out every night, more business-focused.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Carriage House
Up and coming with plenty of restaurants and other social needs
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Lydian
West End is amazing! Such great restaurants and stores around!
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
Great, Safe neighborhood with great food and close to campus.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
Downtown is a great location! Close to a lot of things!
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
The best thing about the apartment is that it is two blocks from GW. It is within a mile or so of Georgetown, Dupont, the Metro, etc, which is nice. The York building is located in a residential quiet zone, but that doesn't make much difference.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The York
I only live here because it's close to school. Otherwise, there is not much to recommend the neighborhood. It's very touristy while also being full of college kids. Transportation is not bad in relation to general DC options.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
not a lot open on the weekends right around the place but very close to 14th street, shaw, mt vernon where there is plenty open on the weekends. next to firehouse which is so disruptive but you get used to it.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Massachusetts House Apartments
Pros: Safe area, quiet at night, 3 close grocery stores, close to bars and restaurants (U St, DuPont, 14th St, Shaw)

Cons: Commute is about an hour out to Tyson's Corner and about 45 minutes to McLean
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1301 Thomas Circle
Filled with undergrad students, but good access to metro and easy to walk downtown to work. Also good access to supermarket, though the Whole Foods is geared more towards grab and go Foods than groceries
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Generally improving, though still unsafe and prone to typical urban crime particularly late night/early morning. Rapid plans to develop property in this area is rapidly changing the community, though.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass
It's an undergrad neighborhood, next to a hospital, a Whole Foods, and a metro station. If you like noise and the hustle&bustle, you might be able to look past it.
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3
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Not so much going on there, but very close to GW campus, which is what I cared about the most. Beyond that, the foggy bottom metro and whole foods aren't too far away
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Close to downtown DC and main offices (walking distance to work), little or no noise in neighborhood, Safeway, CVS and restaurants nearby, 2 metro stations nearby.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Lyric 440k
Easy access to every metro line within 15min walk. Close to popular dining/bar areas, as well as downtown. Only 30min walk to the National Mall and monuments.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1115 12th Street
Everything here is closing. There are people sleeping on all the sidewalks and they yell at you all day and night.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Meridian at Gallery Place
There is some noise on the weekends from undergraduates in the area. In addition, it is right on a main street for the hospital. This means it's generally busy, but it does quiet down most nights. There are restaurants and grocery shopping nearby. It is great for students, as it is across the street from campus and only a block or two from the law school.
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6
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Letterman House
The Empire is right in the middle of Foggy Bottom. Very close to restaurants, Whole Foods, and CVS
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
I like that it's close to the law school. I wish there was more nightlife or even more cafes.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Monroe House
Safe neighborhood, close to GW, close to blue, orange, silver, and red lines.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Savoy
I have not talked to my neighbors, nor do I hear them. It works for me.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The York
Foggy Bottom can be a little boring for nights and weekends.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums
Super close to campus. Decent food options in the area.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
It is on the border of a less safe/secure area so sometimes at night you will come across groups lingering. It is also right next to the police station. However, I have never experienced any issues and usually feel very safe.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Gables City Vista
Friendly staff and neighbors
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
York & Potomac Park
It is a nice, quiet, clean neighborhood with access to everything that counts. It can be a bit hard to find things that are open at night, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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7
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Tons of awesome restaurants nearby! If you’re more of a bar hopper it’s perhaps not for you, but close metro means those spots are a 10 min ride away!
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Apartments at City Center
Great area
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Bond
Good balance between Georgetown and the downtown.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Carriage House
Fantastic.
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Residences on The Avenue
Love the neighborhood! Very walkable.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Mount Vernon Plaza
Lots of fun stuff for young people
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
425 Mass
Safe and everything is in walking distance
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10
/10
Neighborhood Rating
Empire Apartments
Metro, social, busy, crowded
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
1301 Thomas Circle
Safe and walkable, close to the national mall, not many restaurants/bars in walking distance
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Woodward
It's near the campus and safe.
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
It is five minutes walking from the law school.
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
A lot of students
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8
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The Statesman
Very convenient Andean the middle of things
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9
/10
Neighborhood Rating
The President Condominiums


Getting to Know
Downtown

Neighborhood Boundaries
East to West Boundary: 23rd St NW to North Capitol St NW
North to South Boundary: M St NW to Constitution Ave NW
dining
Devon & Blakely
Founding Farmers
Momiji
The Alibi
grocery
FoBoGro
Streets Market
Whole Foods Market
convenience
7-Eleven
CVS Pharmacy
Walgreens
Wawa
fitness
CorePower Yoga
GG Yoga
MINT - Downtown
Orangetheory Fitness
parks
Franklin Square Park
John Marshall Park
Lafayette Park
West Potomac Park
coffee
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Milk Bar City Center DC
Paul Bakery & Café
Teaism
bus
32/33/36 (bus)
32/36 (bus)
80 (bus)
D6 (bus)
rail
Blue/Orange (metro)
Green/Yellow (metro)
Red (metro)
parking
Atlantic Parking Columbia Center
Laz 600 E Street
Quikpark 2033 K St NW
About your Neighbors
Data from the 2013 American Community Survey

Zip Codes
Downtown includes zip codes 20001, 20006, 20004, and 20005
Rent vs Own
66
%
of Downtown residents are renters
Driving to Work
20
%
of Downtown residents drive to work
New Construction
19
%
of housing units in Downtown have been built in the last 15 years
Building Types
28
%
<20 units
9
%
20-49 units
63
%
50+ units
Demographics
Children (under 18)
9
%
18 - 34
98
%
35 - 54
37
%
55+
22
%
Unit Mix
28
%
Studio
38
%
1 Bed
21
%
2 Bed
13
%
3+ Bed
Occupation or Education
Working Professional
53
%
Undergrad Student
37
%
Grad Student
8
%
Unemployed
4
%
Retired
-2
%
What Downtown Residents Think About Their Apartments
overall
8.0
value
7.5
amenities
7.0
social
7.0
management
7.5
safety
7.9

Best Apartments
in Downtown


Studio $2,395
1 Bed $2,900
2 Beds $4,900

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Studio $3,192
1 Bed $3,749
2 Beds $5,732

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1 Bed $2,750
2 Beds $3,995
3 Beds $4,600

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Studio $2,039
1 Bed $2,524
2 Beds $3,552

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Studio $2,854
1 Bed $3,352
2 Beds $4,851

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1 Bed $3,715
2 Beds $4,291

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Nearby Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Guide
Adams Morgan
The bustling nightlife and the quiet residential areas of Adams Morgan welcomes both families and young professionals
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Van Ness
A Former Civil War Site and a Place to Enjoy Art, Culture, Food, and Fashion Together
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Bloomingdale
DC Neighborhood Full of Colorful Culture and Cuisine
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Judiciary Square
Central Business Location for Large Companies and Government Offices
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West End
Modern Neighborhood with a Lot of History
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Georgetown
Best Neighborhood for GW and Georgetown University Students
Neighborhood Guide
Chinatown
Vibrant, busy, and always something to do
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Petworth
Friendly Neighborhood Where Residents Truly Enjoy Living
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Forest Hills
Diverse Neighborhood that is Fantastic for Outdoor Activities
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Columbia Heights
Columbia Heights is a great place for foodies and shopaholics
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Glover Park
Residential and Cozy Neighborhood on the Outskirts of DC
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Mount Pleasant
Exotic cuisines, exciting nightlife and historical architecture makes Mount Pleasant a great place to live in
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U Street Corridor
Bustling Part of DC that Never Sleeps
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Cleveland Park
Walkable Neighborhood with Beautiful Residential Space
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Dupont Circle
Beautiful, Well Established, and Close to Everything
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Penn Quarter
Amazing Arts, Entertainment, Food, and Shopping Options
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Mount Vernon Square
Growing Neighborhood with New Businesses Being Constantly Established
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Embassy Row
One of the Most Historical Locations in the Country
Neighborhood Guide
Shaw
A great neighborhood which makes the Ethiopian culture part of everyday life
Neighborhood Guide
Logan Circle
Vibrant Neighborhood Loved by its Residents with Plenty of Restaurants and Bars
Neighborhood Guide
Foggy Bottom
Art and Culture in the Capital City
Neighborhood Guide
North Capitol Street
A Good Choice for People Working in the Area
Neighborhood Guide
Cathedral Heights
Historical Neighborhood with a Contemporary Lifestyle