Levels of Neighborhoods in DC MD VA

Are you moving to the DC Area and wondering what the different kinds of neighborhoods are in DC, Maryland and Virginia? Today I’m breaking down the five levels of neighborhoods in the DC Metro Area.

If you’re new here, I’m Melissa Terzis, DC Real Estate Mama, and I’m a Realtor in metro Washington DC to include Maryland and Virginia. I talk everything about moving to, living in and buying homes in DC. If you hit like and subscribe it helps the channel grow. 

Almost every type of neighborhood can be found here, so it’s important to know the options. Let’s dive in.

Level 1 – Wait-and-Watch

There will always be neighborhoods in the wait and watch classification. Then development comes, and sometimes the neighborhood takes off, sometimes it doesn’t. Why doesn’t it? Well. Crime. Poor Schools. Low buy-in from residents. These are some of the toughest neighborhoods in DC but buyers land here when they are tired of renting, and can’t afford a house in the neighborhood where they rent. 

• Deanwood – Lower prices, but uneven development and still evolving. Long-term hold strategy needed.
  
• Congress Heights – Don’t buy unless you really know what you’re doing.
  
• Trinidad – Gentrification is real, but there will be times of momentum, and times where things seem to fall back to the days of higher crime.
  
• Columbia Heights – Used to be the “it” spot, now crowded, more crime complaints, and resale is trickier.

Level 2 – Flashy but Fraught

These neighborhoods are great for city dwellers who have a high tolerance for noise, speed of life and sometimes – street crime. 

• Adams Morgan / Logan Circle – Beautiful but very condo-heavy. There’s minimal yard space. These are the areas where nightlife outranks nap time.
• NoMa / Navy Yard / The Wharf – The development money has poured into these neighborhoods. All sizzle, lots of rental buildings, high fees. New doesn’t always mean better. Don’t rent or buy here from afar. You need to see these neighborhoods to ensure they will work for you.
  
• Downtown Silver Spring (MD) – The downtown area of Silver Spring has had several face lifts. It’s gritty but busy, filled with shopping, restaurants and live music. The metro means this is a great option for anyone who commutes via the red line metro and soon, the purple line.

Level 3: Energetic and Enduring

• Capitol Hill (Historic Core) – Think Eastern Market, charming rowhomes, and parks galore. Strong community vibe. People hang out in their front yards and chat over their fences. This is quintessential DC.
  
• Bethesda (Downtown) – Some people may not think of Bethesda as energetic, but it’s currently going through a huge re-development and there is a lot happening here. Between downtown Bethesda and Pike & Rose, Bethesda is building itself right into a destination.
  
• Arlington – Arlington has a few different personalities, but the neighborhoods of Rosslyn, Clarendon and Ballston have a lot of activity, restaurants, retail and foot traffic.
  
• Old Town Alexandria – People love the charm, and Old Town is dripping with charm. There are awesome restaurants, great shops and such a cool historic Old-Virginia atmosphere that Old Town really draws people in.
  
• Dupont Circle – One of the oldest and most charming neighborhoods in DC. Proximity to downtown and consistent interest from potential buyers and tenants make this a staple in the lineup of DC Neighborhoods.

Level 4: Solid and Stable

Here’s where we start to see the suburbs hit the list. These are the tried-and-true, proven neighborhoods. The resale value holds but there are no wild increases year over year. Infrastructure is in place, and it doesn’t have a transient vibe. You will know your neighbors. You will not be chasing the next cool restaurant that opened in the neighborhood because it’s not going to open in your neighborhood. It’s opening in the Wharf.

• AU Park / Tenleytown – Tree-lined, Metro-accessible, top schools (Janney/Deal/Jackson Reed.) This is the suburbs in the city. You can walk over to Wisconsin Avenue and hit the library, Target, Container Store and have restaurant options. People tend to stay and the sense of community is strong. This is move-up buyer gold.
  
• Cleveland Park – Big yards, historic homes, a real neighborhood feel. Walkable to Metro, yes, but also peaceful. The library was recently renovated and it’s a great centerpiece of the neighborhood.
  
• Chevy Chase DC – Feels like a suburb with sidewalks, but you’re still in the city. Schools are great, access to Rock Creek Park is easy and you’re just over the border from Maryland.
  
• Glover Park – Tight community, great schools, near Georgetown without the pretense. Good value if you don’t need a Metro stop at your doorstep.
  
• North–North-Arlington – Once you head north from the hustle and bustle of Rosslyn, Clarendon and Ballston are, you will find the leafy suburban part of Arlington.
  
• Vienna VA – Vienna is an adorable suburb that feels like a television show’s hometown. The downtown area has a lot of restaurants and retail. The schools are great and the sense of community is strong.
  
• Burke & West Springfield VA – These two areas are so close to each other and similar so they are worth packaging together. These are the quintessential burbs, but they are more affordable compared to many of the other areas. You can still get houses here under $1M. I know, I realize the absurdity of calling something around $1M “affordable.” 

Level 5: Luxurious and Lavish

You’re not just pre-rich, you’ve arrived! And these are the neighborhoods that let others know it. These people own multiple homes and paid more for their country club initiation fee than you did for college.

• McLean – You would be lucky to get in for under $2M. It’s not impossible, but it’s incredibly difficult. If you find a house that’s been renovated and doesn’t need work, you will want to have over $2.5M.
  
• Bethesda – We already talked about downtown Bethesda and all the development happening, but the neighborhoods surrounding downtown are in another league. Bethesda has been Maryland’s ground zero for the teardown frenzy. For decades now. It won’t be long before all these 40’s and 50’s houses are McMansioned or torn down.
• Potomac – Potomac is Maryland’s answer to McLean. Big houses, big lots, a walk score of zero because everything is so spread out. You will use your car for everything, you will lose power in storms because the trees will crash through power lines and you will be keeping up with the Jones’s. Wait. You Are the Jones’s.