Washington, DC Apartments for Rent

Diverse, with a thriving local economy and an endless array of things to do – a lot of them free! – and a central location that serves as a hub not just for East coast travel, but as a launching point across the Atlantic…these are just a starting point of what’s great about living in Washington DC.

Much of the work in DC is either directly for or in some way related to the government – legal and financial services, lobbyists, think tanks, and policy related NGOs. Hotel giant Marriott is based in Washington DC, while Capitol One, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and dozens of other defense, research, and finance companies have their headquarters in the greater metropolitan area.

DC is home to one of the largest student populations in the nation; there are 19 colleges and universities in the district – Georgetown, George Washington, Gallaudet, and the Corcoran College of Art and Design along with a handful of religious and political institutions.

Residents commonly complain about the lack of parking and about the region’s terrible traffic. Thankfully, you really don’t need a car in DC, in fact, you are probably better off without one. Washington DC’s extensive subway system – Metro – services the entire DC area, reaching out to Alexandria, Arlington, Bethesda as well as many satellite communities. The DC subway also connects to Reagan National Airport. The Washington Flyer connects Metro to Dulles Airport.

Metro also operates the bus service that fills the gaps on the surface streets – and they run a series of limited stop express lines. The DC Circulator runs regular service on very popular routes and there’s a streetcar in the works. MARC and VRE run the commuter rail lines from Maryland and Virginia, into Washington DC.

Dupont Circle is a walker’s paradise and is arguably DC’s most walkable neighborhood and is situated over a major transportation hub. Oddball fun fact? The subway station here is home to one of the longest escalators in the world. At street level, the neighborhood is comprised of a mix of historic row houses and some elegant embassy mansions. Dupont Circle is where DC has its annual gay pride parade and is home to a large LGBT population. The ubiquitous row houses occasionally come up for rent, but mostly you’ll be looking at newer high rise buildings, studios and up to two bedroom apartments.

Across the Potomac in Arlington, there are several very walkable neighborhoods. Ballston-Virginia and Clarendon-Courthouse both have direct Metro service into DC on the Orange line. The Coast Guard and the Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters are in Ballston. There’s a well known food festival here, the Taste of Arlington. Most rentals here are in large apartment buildings though you can find units with up to four bedrooms. There’s a lot of newer construction here compared to some of the in-city neighborhoods, so if you’re looking for modern buildings with amenities, these are good neighborhoods to research.

Single family homes are harder to find in the immediate DC area, you’ll need to look at little further out – Friendship Heights and Chevy Chase are both still on the Metro line. You’ll have to compromise a little bit on walkability, but you’ll be able to park your car and you can find a historic home with a yard and a garage.

Silver Spring, Maryland, has a revitalized urban downtown with a mix of new and older apartment buildings.

To live and work in our nation's capitol, Washington D.C. you can find the perfect Washington D.C. studio where you can stroll tree-lined streets and bike to work on the city's boulevards. Prices are a little lower outside the immediate metropolitan area so if you’re open to a rail commute, it’s worth looking in Maryland, at cities that are on the MARC rail line, or south in Virginia at neighborhoods with stations on the VRE.

55% of people in the DC area currently rent their homes. Walk Score helps you find a two bedroom condo in Georgetown, family rental homes in Tyson's Corner, or a studio apartment in Dupont Circle. Discover places to live by square footage, condos with a view of the National Monument, or near the best DC coffee shops and restaurants.