12 Safest Neighborhoods in Washington DC
- Barnaby Woods
- Hawthorne
- Glover Park
- Woodland Normanstone
- Palisades
- Adams Morgan
- Foxhall Village
- Foggy Bottom
- Chevy Chase
- Mount Pleasant
- Logan Circle
- Brookland
1. Barnaby Woods
Barnaby Woods is the safest place to live in Washington DC, with a violent crime rate that is 95% below the national average. Situated in the northwest sector of DC between Rock Creek Park and Chevy Chase, Maryland, Barnaby Woods is a safe community full of great schools, churches, playgrounds, parks, and other family-friendly attractions. Barnaby Woods is a great place to raise a family and is also one of the richest neighborhoods in Washington DC.
It’s a bit more secluded than other DC neighborhoods and often gets overlooked, but if you’re looking for a safe place to settle down, it’s a great option. Your odds of being the victim of a crime in Barnaby Woods are 1 in 105.
2. Hawthorne
The second safest neighborhood in Washington DC is Hawthorne. This small residential area of only a few hundred single-family homes is in the Northwest of DC and has virtually no crime. Hawthorne has a population of 3,106 and a violent crime rate of 19 per 100,000. The property crime rate is only 162 per 100,000, so your vehicle and home will also be safe. This neighborhood has always been wealthy and is home to many doctors, lawyers, and professors. In 2032, there were zero murders in Hawthorne and very little crime at all.
3. Glover Park
Glover Park is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Washington, DC. Located in northwest DC, about a half mile north of Georgetown, Glover Park is a family-friendly neighborhood full of parks and green space. It’s also close to the US Naval Observatory and home to Glover Archbold Park, Whitehaven Parkway, and the Stoddert Recreation Center. Glover Park is a very safe community, and the total crime rate is 77% lower than the citywide average. The violent crime rate is also 81% lower than the rest of the country, and your chances of being the victim of a crime in Glover Park are 1 in 104.
4. Woodland Normanstone
Woodland Normanstone is another one of the safest neighborhoods in Washington DC. The neighborhood has a population of 4,953 and a violent crime rate of 23 per 100,000 people. Woodland Normanstone is close to the city center but is still within close proximity to many parks and green spaces. Woodland Normanstone has a suburban feel, and many of the houses in the neighborhood are residences for embassies. The median home price in this neighborhood is $1,039,367, while the average rent price is $2,043.
5. Palisades
Another one of the safest neighborhoods in DC is Palisades, which has a population of 6,912 and a violent crime rate of 192 incidents per 100,000 people. The area’s crime rate is 26% below the national average, with residents having a 1 in 65 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. Safety comes at a price, though, and Palisades has a median home price of $1.2 million, which is a whopping 315% higher than the national average.
6. Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is located in northwest DC and has a population of 13,304 people. The neighborhood is just 1.5 miles from the White House and is known for hosting multiple embassies and many historical buildings. It’s also one of the safest areas in Washington DC. Adams Morgan has a violent crime rate of 430 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,186 per 100,000 people. Due to its location, this neighborhood is very active, having lots of lively nightlife and numerous bars and restaurants.
7. Foxhall Village
Foxhall has a population of 5,363 and a crime rate of 1,756 per 100,000 people, making crime in this area 61% lower than the DC average. Residents have a 1 in 57 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. Foxhall is located just west of Georgetown University and has a quiet suburban feel. The median home price in Foxhall Village is $944,350, which is 411 percent higher than the national average.
8. Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom is one of the oldest and safest neighborhoods in DC. Foggy Bottom is located in the city’s Northwest quadrant and has a population of 11,398 people. Both the violent and property crime rates are well under 1,000 incidents per 100,000 people, making this neighborhood incredibly safe. This neighborhood is located just a short drive from the White House and downtown, making it ideal for commuters. Foggy Bottom offers both historic and modern homes to rent or buy. The median home price is $626,577, while the median rental price is $1,846.
9. Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase is an affluent neighborhood in northwest DC with a population of 18,506. The overall crime rate in Chevy Chase is 2,050 incidents per 100,000 people, making it 54% safer than other neighborhoods in DC. Residents have a 1 in 49 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. The median home price in Chevy Chase is $1,152,995, which is 398% higher than the national average. The neighborhood is also extremely popular with celebrities who live in Washington DC.
10. Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant has a population of 13,294 and is located in the northwestern Quadrant of DC. The crime rate in Mount Pleasant is 2,267 per 100,000 people, which is 50% lower than the DC average. Much of this neighborhood is a wooded suburb adjacent to the National Zoo. Mount Pleasant offers a small-town feel in the middle of the city. The median home price is $622,804, and the average rent price is $1,940.
11. Logan Circle
Logan Circle is a safe Washington, DC, neighborhood located in the Northwestern part of the city. Logan Circle has a population of 26,528, and the overall crime rate in the neighborhood is 4,391 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the city average. Logan Circle has great public transportation for getting around the city and is often described as a relaxed, quiet neighborhood. Most homes in Logan Circle are rowhouses, and the median price is $538,670.
12. Brookland
Brookland has a population of 7,500 and is located in the Northeastern section of DC. Brookland is best known for hosting numerous Catholic institutions, such as schools, religious communities, and institutes built around the nearby Catholic University of America. The violent crime rate of Brookland is 1,130 per 100,000, and the property crime rate is 6,021 per 100,000 people. The median home price is $647,575.
Safest Neighborhoods in DC Bottom Line
While Washington, DC may have some rough areas, there are plenty of safe places to live in the city. Finding the sweet spot of safety, affordability, and high quality of life in DC will invariably prove difficult. However, some of the neighborhoods on this list offer reasonably priced homes and rents.