What are the D.C. area’s most expensive ZIP codes for renting?

It’s no secret that some areas of the District and its environs are more expensive than others. But which are the more expensive for renting, and by how much? A new report from listings service RentCafe answers those questions by laying out the 10 priciest ZIP codes for renters. Half of these ZIP codes are in D.C., three are in Maryland, and two are in Northern Virginia.

At the top of the list—based on average rent prices from July 2019—is 20037, spanning West End and the westernmost parts of Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle. The average rent there is $2,864 a month, up roughly 2 percent since last year. This ZIP code was followed by 20003, which covers Navy Yard, Hill East, and much of Capitol Hill, and 20001, which covers Shaw, Truxton Circle, and neighborhoods north and south of them. The average rents in those areas were $2,799 a month and $2,741 a month, both up at least 4 percent since 2018, respectively.

Below is the full list, which also includes 22209, the part of Arlington around the Rosslyn Metro station. The ZIP code that saw the highest percentage rent increase was 20854, in Potomac, Maryland: The average rent grew 9.1 percent since last year, to $2,498 a month.

RentCafe

“Apartment prices in the most elite neighborhoods in metro Washington, D.C. are between $590 and $1,000 higher than the average rent in the metro area,” says RentCafe. The data come from rent charges in 50-unit-plus apartment buildings. ZIP codes with less than 200 rental units were not included, and the average rents were provided by affiliate Yardi Matrix.