Median rents, rental comps, and market trends across 15 zip codes in Washington, DC.
Government and lobbying create rental demand that genuinely doesn't care about recessions. Federal employees don't get laid off in downturns — they get promoted. Strong tenant protections though, so know the rules.
Median Asking Rent
$2,507
Rent Change (YoY)
+3.6%
Avg Days on Market
64
Active Rental Listings
3,927
Median List Price
$600,000
Average across 15 zip codes
ZIP | Median Rent |
|---|---|
| 20015 | $3,730/mo |
| 20007 | $2,900/mo |
| 20005 | $2,800/mo |
| 20016 | $2,799/mo |
| 20001 | $2,661/mo |
| 20010 | $2,500/mo |
| 20009 | $2,499/mo |
| 20003 | $2,400/mo |
| 20011 | $2,400/mo |
| 20018 | $2,399/mo |
| 20008 | $2,365/mo |
| 20002 | $2,350/mo |
| 20017 | $2,100/mo |
| 20020 | $1,995/mo |
| 20019 | $1,950/mo |
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| Unit Size | Median Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,672/mo |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,119/mo |
| 2 Bedroom | $3,000/mo |
| 3 Bedroom | $4,195/mo |
| 4 Bedroom | $4,875/mo |
Aggregated median across all Washington zip codes with available data.
| ZIP | Median List Price |
|---|---|
| 20015 | $1,250,000 |
| 20007 | $995,000 |
| 20001 | $685,000 |
| 20016 | $675,000 |
| 20011 | $664,900 |
| 20003 | $650,000 |
| 20010 | $649,000 |
| 20002 | $600,000 |
| 20017 | $559,900 |
| 20009 | $559,000 |
| 20018 | $549,500 |
| 20008 | $539,000 |
| 20020 | $489,999 |
| 20005 | $469,000 |
| 20019 | $375,000 |
| Unit Size | Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $2,730/mo |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,820/mo |
| 2 Bedroom | $3,140/mo |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,960/mo |
| 4 Bedroom | $4,660/mo |
Fair Market Rents are published annually by HUD for the Washington metropolitan area. Local housing authorities use these to set Section 8 voucher payment standards, typically between 90% and 110% of the FMR.
The median asking rent across Washington, DC is currently $2,507/month, based on active rental listings across 15 zip codes. Median asking rents have increased by +3.6% over the past 12 months.
Asking rents vary significantly across the city. ZIP 20015 has the highest median asking rent at $3,730/month, while ZIP 20019 comes in at $1,950/month.
Rental listings in the area spend an average of 64 days on market before being leased, suggesting a more tenant-friendly market.
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in the Washington metro area is $3,140/month. Current median asking rents are near or below the FMR for this area.
DC is about as recession-resistant as rental markets get. The federal government doesn't go away during downturns, and the lobbying, contracting, and nonprofit ecosystem around it keeps demand consistent. Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Capitol Hill are premium. Northeast DC, Anacostia, and the areas east of the river are more affordable and gentrifying at different speeds. DC has strong tenant protections — rent control applies to many buildings, and the eviction process favors tenants more than most jurisdictions. The renter pool here is well-educated and high-income on average, which generally means reliable tenants. But you need to understand the local regulatory environment. DC landlord-tenant law is its own animal.
Want to look up rental comps and rent estimates for a specific property in Washington? PropMetrics lets you search any address and get detailed rental data instantly.
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Fair market rent, Section 8, HUD... what does it all mean? A straightforward breakdown of how it works and why it matters.
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