Washington, DC Real Estate Market Data
Current statistics, neighborhood comparisons, and market trends, researched and updated by Robert Clarke, Coldwell Banker Realty.
Data last updated: October 2026
Market Overview
DC Market Dashboard
Key indicators shaping the Washington, DC housing market as of October 2026
$665,000
Median Home Price
Down 1.5% year-over-year
$484
Price Per Square Foot
Down about 2.1% year-over-year
26 Days
Median Days on Market
Versus 28 days a year ago; 3-month average ~63 days
~2,514
Active Listings (Aug 2026)
About 4.9 months of supply
Market Status
Balanced Market
Close to the 5–6 month supply threshold; homes draw ~2 offers on average
1-Bedroom Avg Rent
$2,309/month
Citywide average (RentCafe)
Citywide Avg Rent
$2,460/month
All unit types combined (RentCafe)
As of October 2026, the Washington, DC housing market is in a genuinely balanced place. The median sale price sits at $665,000, down 1.5% from a year earlier (Redfin, three months ending September 2026), while price per square foot is down about 2.1%. Inventory has climbed to roughly 2,514 active listings (Bright MLS, August 2026), equal to about 4.9 months of supply, and homes are receiving around two offers on average. The median days on market is about 26 days (Long & Foster, September 2026), though Redfin's rolling three-month average runs nearer 63 days, which tells the story of two markets: well-priced homes still move quickly, while others take longer. For buyers, the extra inventory means more options and more room to negotiate. For sellers, pricing strategically from day one has never mattered more. I dig into the neighborhood-level detail below, and I am always happy to talk through what these numbers mean for your specific search.
Neighborhood Price Comparison
Median sale prices across Washington, DC neighborhoods, organized by price tier
Luxury Tier ($1.5M+)
Premium Tier ($800K–$1.5M)
Mid-Market ($500K–$800K)
Value Tier (Under $500K)
A note on the numbers. Median prices reflect all home types (single-family, townhouse, and condo) for the most recent published reading available in fall 2026, and medians swing month to month in low-volume neighborhoods. An asterisk (*) marks a figure worth reading with care: Forest Hills and Dupont Circle are condo-heavy, so their overall median runs below what their single-family and townhouse homes command (Forest Hills single-family sales clustered around $2.4 million), while Cleveland Park and Shaw show large year-over-year swings driven by a small number of sales. Petworth and Brightwood sit above the ceilings of the tiers they are grouped under, and as of this fall Petworth is essentially flat year-over-year. Navy Yard's published medians ranged from roughly $510,000 (Redfin, January 2026) to about $630,000 (Homes.com, 12-month median), so that reading is marked n/a rather than guessing. Robert is happy to break down what any of these medians mean for the specific home type and block you have in mind.
Figures reflect median sale prices for all home types as published in fall 2026 by Redfin (neighborhood market pages) and Homes.com. Figures vary by source and update frequently; specific sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Suburbs
Virginia & Maryland Suburbs
Key suburban markets within the DC metro area
Arlington and Alexandria figures are Redfin median sale prices for the most recent three-month windows published in fall 2026; Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Bowie reflect Redfin city medians (three months ending June–September 2026). Silver Spring medians range widely by ZIP and source, from roughly $540,000 on a 12-month basis to about $672,000 depending on the window.
Market Comparison
DC vs. New York, Northern Virginia & the Maryland Suburbs
A side-by-side cost and lifestyle comparison for relocators
For relocators weighing their options, DC holds up well against every nearby market. Washington's median home price of $665,000 runs about one-quarter below New York's $885,000 (PropertyShark, September 2026), and New York's overall cost of living runs roughly 19 to 26 percent higher once rent is included (Numbeo, Salary.com). Rents make the gap personal: New York's average rent of about $5,221 is roughly double DC's $2,460 (RentCafe). Against its own suburbs, DC's median is below Arlington's ~$861,000 and well below Bethesda's ~$1.25 million, while Silver Spring (~$672,000) and Bowie (~$500,000) offer room to stretch a budget. BestPlaces puts Arlington about 8 percent more expensive than DC overall and Silver Spring about 13 percent cheaper, with Alexandria landing about 7 percent below DC. In short, DC gives you a big-city lifestyle at a meaningful discount to New York, and its own suburbs let you choose between city energy, walkable urban-suburban living, and more space for the money. If you are comparing two or three of these markets right now, reach out and I will walk through the trade-offs with you.
Rentals
Rental Market Snapshot
Average monthly rents in Washington, DC by unit type
Average rents as reported by RentCafe for 2026. Figures vary by source and by neighborhood: Zillow's citywide average is about $2,497 and Apartment List's median about $2,174, so treat these as citywide averages rather than a quote for a specific building.
Trends
Market Trends to Watch
Five key themes shaping the DC housing market through the rest of 2026
The market has settled into balance
About 2,514 active listings in August 2026 (Bright MLS), or roughly 4.9 months of supply, puts the city close to the 5 to 6 month threshold that defines a balanced market. Starter-home segments are accumulating unsold inventory while the overall market stays steady.
Prices have softened modestly
The median sale price sits at $665,000, down 1.5% year-over-year, with price per square foot down about 2.1%. Appreciation has cooled to a steadier, more negotiable pace than the hot years.
Timing matters more than it used to
The median days on market is about 26 days (Long & Foster, September 2026), shorter than the 28 days of a year ago, while Redfin's rolling three-month average runs near 63 days. Homes average about two offers, so priced-to-move listings still sell quickly and overpriced ones sit.
Strength is spread unevenly by neighborhood
Georgetown is up about 7.6% year-over-year and Capitol Hill about 2.8%, while the hottest momentum sits just across the river: Arlington is up about 14.8% and Alexandria about 11.2%. Meanwhile Logan Circle (-1.3%) and Brookland (-21.3%) have cooled on their most recent readings.
The rental market stays steady
Citywide average rent sits around $2,460, with a studio at $1,829, a 1-bedroom at $2,309, and a 2-bedroom at $3,115 (RentCafe). Renting remains a strong option for many new arrivals, and the suburbs still offer meaningfully lower rents in most cases.
Ready to Make Sense of These Numbers?
Whether you're buying, selling, renting, or just exploring the Washington, DC real estate market, Robert Clarke can help you turn these statistics into a plan. Contact him for a personalized market analysis built around your goals, your timeline, and your budget.
Robert Clarke, Realtor · Coldwell Banker Realty · 310 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314 · (202) 681-9556 · Licensed Salesperson SP99196, DC · MD · CT · MA
Sources & Methodology
Figures on this page were researched and verified in October 2026 from the following sources: Redfin (Washington, DC city and neighborhood market pages; Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Bowie market pages), Bright MLS market data as summarized by Wardman AI (active inventory and months of supply), the Long & Foster Market Report for Washington, DC (median days on market), Homes.com (neighborhood 12-month medians), RentCafe (DC average rents by unit type and the DC-vs-NYC rent comparison), PropertyShark (New York City median sale price), and Numbeo, Salary.com, and BestPlaces (cost-of-living comparisons). Median prices reflect all home types for the most recent published windows; monthly medians in low-volume neighborhoods can swing sharply, and figures vary by source. Where a specific figure could not be confirmed on this research pass, it was omitted rather than estimated. For the most current data and what it means for your specific search, contact Robert Clarke at Coldwell Banker Realty (robert.clarke@cbrealty.com) or call (202) 681-9556.
- • Redfin: Washington, DC housing market
- • Wardman AI / Bright MLS: DMV housing market, fall 2026
- • Long & Foster Market Report: Washington, DC
- • RentCafe: average rent in Washington, DC
- • PropertyShark: New York City residential market trends
- • Numbeo: Washington, DC vs. New York cost of living
- • Homes.com: Washington, DC neighborhoods