365 apartments and houses for rent in Washington, DC

City Guide for Apartments in Washington

It’s only suiting that our nation’s capital offer a little bit of just about everything. From art, culture and history, to business both public and private, excellent dining and cuisine, DC has it all.

While the city has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, but isn’t that to be expected? Luckily, there’s almost always something free going on and you can leave the car back home since the Metro, Metrobus and bikability of the city are so solid (there’s also the fact that DC is one of the worst traffic cities in the U.S. too).

Outdoor Activities:

No need to worry about being stuck in the city, the region has plenty of outdoor options to enjoy. First, there is a vibrant bicycling community. For both getting to work and riding for fun and exercise, bicyclists will be pleased. Getting into the city is easy via the Key Bridge and Capital Crescent Trail and once in the city, it’s easy to get around with the well-integrated bike lanes. And for fun, there are excellent trails such as the Anacostia River Walk Trail that starts near Nationals Park. Want to get out of town for a weekend? Charlottesville, Virginia is a two and a half hour drive but is the prime destination for anyone wanting to go wine tasting on the Monticello Wine Trail. For hiking, camping and backpacking, Shenandoah National Park is an hour and a half drive and is home to Old Rag Mountain, considered one of the best hikes in the mid-Atlantic region for its unspoiled land and beautiful views.

Neighborhoods:

If you are new to the area, sooner or later you’re going to find yourself on H Street. It’s one of the coolest places in town. Seriously, though. It ranked 6th in the nation for the most hip neighborhoods. Using data ranging from walkability to number of coffee shops per capita, the availability of local food trucks and their ratings and reviews according to Zagat as well as other “cool” factors, NextDoor.com and Forbes threw together a list of America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods. Whether it’s for nighttime fun, dining, or shopping, H Street fees like it’s always adding a new shop here or there. Some fun places to hit up include the Atlas Arcade, Toki Underground or H Street Country Club.

For those that want to live near the H Street corridor, there are many options. The street and the surrounding blocks are very commercial and offer different apartments rental  options ranging from townhomes and townhouses and smaller studios in older complexes. While there are some cheap apartments in the area, they are quickly disappearing with the ever-rising rental rates. The closest residential neighborhoods include areas such as Trinidad and Stanton Park. You’ll find more community here with a strong focus on families and the feeling of being able to say hello and actually know your neighbors. This is where you should look for a house if that's your thing.

Adams Morgan is another popular neighborhood that has received national recognition, but mostly for its nightlife. Adams Morgan is renowned for the wide variety in cuisine its restaurants offer (from Mama Ayeshas’s Middle Eastern dishes to Rumba Café’s Latin American food), its sidewalk cafés and hip bars (gotta check out Havana Village and Madam’s Organ). There’s a distinctively younger atmosphere in this neighborhood. There are many mid-rise buildings, studios, row houses and small condominium buildings in Adams Morgan as well as smaller duplexes and homes rentals the further you head towards Dupont Circle. If you want to live in the middle of the action, 18th Street has a variety of lofts and converted industrial warehouses. The area is not the cheapest, so if you are trying to find a good deal or a place with utilities included to cut costs, it’s best to use a guide.

Of course, there is always Downtown. Downtown is the most expensive area to live in, but for people seeking convenience and work in government, there’s no better place. Fun fact: the city has a notoriously low skyline due to an act passed by Congress in 1899 called the Heights of Buildings Act. Residents at the time were worried that the city’s European theme would be downplayed by the installation of high-rise buildings. So if you are looking for supreme accommodations there aren’t going to be any high-rises, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the best luxury units out there. Just make sure to use an apartment finder to locate those hard-to-find pet-friendly rentals.

Average Apartment Rental Prices Nearby