District of Columbia · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · population 702,250
Where Washington stands
Home values down 3.0% in the last year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 19.6 price-to-rent ratio, Washington is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Washington has held up across the cycle: home values at $580,173 with -1.7% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Washington's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Washington
Washington is a city in District of Columbia, District of Columbia, with an estimated population of 702,250. It anchors the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. The median home value in Washington is $580,173 as of 2026-04, down 3.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged -1.7% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 12% below its 5-year peak. Rents in Washington average $2,472 per month, down 1.8% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 36 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Washington (Wikipedia)
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States. The district is named for Columbia, the female personification of the nation, through which human form and attributes are applied to the United States.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Things to see in Washington(Tourism)
- World War II Memorial
- National Mall
- The Washington Examiner
- Washington metropolitan area
- Tidal Basin
- Jefferson Memorial
- Washington Union Station
Extracted from the Wikipedia article. Names linked in the source — open the city’s Wikipedia page for details.
Playbook
You have leverage. Negotiate price, ask for closing-cost credits, and don't waive inspection. Walk-away power is real in a Cooling market — use it.
Price aggressively (at or below recent sold comps) or be prepared to wait. Concessions — rate buydowns, closing costs, repair credits — are how deals close right now.
Cap rates are more attractive than they were 12 months ago but the appreciation tailwind is gone. Confirm tenant demand, vacancy rates, and exit liquidity before committing capital.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for District of Columbia right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. District of Columbia routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Neighborhoods of Washington
118 tracked · ranked by median home valueSee the full neighborhood ranking →
Cities like Washington
Run the numbers for Washington
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Washington listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- DC Police release surveillance photo of viral Chipotle brawl suspects, offer reward for convictionsFox News · 10h ago
- The 51st voter guide for D.C.'s June 16 primary electionThe 51st · 1d ago
- D.C.'s leading mayoral candidates share many ideas on criminal justice. It’s become a flashpoint anywayWAMU · 1d ago
- DC Democratic mayoral debate: Time, candidates, how to watch and moreFOX 5 DC · 2d ago
- ‘Teen takeover’ descends into wild brawl inside DC Chipotle — as feds promise to charge ignorant parentsNew York Post · 2d ago
- NFL owners approve Commanders’ stadium lease in D.C.The New York Times · 13h ago
Local chatter (Reddit)
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Washington
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.
See all District of Columbia cities → Browse best-of lists →